“While our Anglican – Roman Catholic dialogue has led to significant agreement on the understanding of ministry, the ordination of women to the episcopate effectively and definitively blocks a possible recognition of Anglican Orders by the Catholic Church.”

This was the message from Christchurch Bishop Barry Jones to the 14 clergy and lay members of the Anglican – Roman Catholic Commission of Aotearoa New Zealand (ARCCANZ) which met from 21-23 October at the Catholic Mercy Spiritual Life Centre in Epsom.

Bishop Jones was quoting Cardinal Walter Kasper’s address to the Anglican Communion’s recent gathering of bishops at Lambeth, England.

Archbishop David Moxon quickly replied that Cardinal Kasper also noted that, though full visible communion as the aim of dialogue has receded further, it has not disappeared. He added that Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor further reminded the Lambeth conferees that the path to Anglican – Roman Catholic unity is a road with no exit, because unity is Christ’s will, however long it may take.

Over 20 years of semi-annual, two-day meetings between Anglicans and Roman Catholics here in New Zealand have built up enough trust and friendship that such frank, courteous discussion is possible.

As well as the Lambeth Conference, dialogue during the most recent ARCCANZ centered on John Paul II’s Ecclesia de Eucharistia. Fr Paul Williamson, SM, offered the Catholic perspective; the Rev Rob McKay the Anglican response. The ensuing discussion, as usual, tended toward the scholarly, both sides again conscious of Cardinal Kasper’s advice that ecumenism is synonymous with neither kindly humanism nor ecclesiological relativism.

Such honest dialogue over the years has borne fruit in the pastoral realm as well. For several years ARCCANZ has fostered shared Ash Wednesday services. During this most recent gathering, it worked on an ecumenical advent wreath celebration and a Lenten discussion resource on Church as Communion.

Archbishop Moxon, heavily involved in the international Anglican-Catholic Dialogue, stated that New Zealand, with its ongoing commission, prayer in common and even shared church buildings and facilities, has become a model for ecumenism world wide.

As usual, the commission prayed together throughout the conference. On the last day, it was the Catholics’ turn to celebrate the Mass. The Anglicans attended, coming forward for a blessing at communion.

The converse will happen at the next meeting of ARCCANZ in March at the Anglican Retreat Centre in Long Bay. Dialogue will turn on the theme of Biblical hermeneutics – interpretation of Scripture. There will be an evaluation of the shared Advent wreath liturgies. And on the last day, an Anglican will preside at liturgy; the Catholics will receive a blessing.

• Picture shows members of ARCCANZ:

Bottom, from left: Rev Pat Scaife, Bishop Barry Jones, Archbishop David Moxon, Dr Dan Stollenwerk. Top: Fr Paul Williamson, Mr Stephen Anderson, Mrs Bev McDonald, Rev Canon Prof Douglas Pratt, Rev Br Brian Harley, Mrs Kathryn Waters, Rev Rob McKay. Absent: Bishop Philip Richardson, Fr John Fitzmaurice, Fr Yvan Sergy, Fr Peter Janssen.