In the third in a series of webinars on bilateral dialogues, a discussion of \u201cAnglican-Orthodox Dialogue: History, Results, Reception\u201d as well as the Canterbury Statement \u201cStewards of Creation: A Hope-Filled Ecology\u201d offered an overview of history as well as a vision for the future.<\/p>\n
Rev. Prof. Dr Jennifer Wasmuth, director of the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, moderated the webinar. \u201cDialogues are valuable in themselves as places of deeper understanding and also as a witness to the world,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, Ecumenical Patriarchate, offered an overview of the context between Anglican and Orthodox Christians. \u201cThe Orthodox and Anglican churches maintained friendly scientific and diplomatic relations from the beginning,\u201d he said. “I think we have the duty to continue to work together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Most Rev. Dr Richard Clarke, retired Archbishop of Armagh, Anglican Communion, reflected on how bilateral dialogue describes both agreement and divergence. \u201cI rather like to describe it as being like a Venn diagram,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat is the common ground? What, in Venn diagram terms, is the common set?\u201d<\/p>\n
In the second half of the webinar, discussion centered around \u201cStewards of Creation,\u201d which considers the implications of the Christian understanding of the human person as part of creation.<\/p>\n
\u201cStewards of Creation,\u201d a statement on ecology jointly published by the Anglican Communion and the Orthodox Churches in October 2020, builds on the commission\u2019s previous work, \u201cIn the Image and Likeness of God: A Hope-Filled Anthropology.\u201d The document was introduced and presented by the cosecretaries of the commission.<\/p>\n
Very Rev. Dr Protopresbyter Christos Christakis gave an overview of the content of \u201cStewards of Creation,\u201d describing its six sections. \u201cThe first one establishes the goodness of creation and actually builds the concept of the world as a sacrament,\u201d he said, and continued with a summary.<\/p>\n
Very Rev. Dr William Adam reflected that \u201cStewards of Creation\u201d is an important milestone in a range of Anglican-Orthodox dialogues. \u201cThere is much in common but also real differences,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n