NCCA is pleased to invite you to the the following upcoming events:
NCCA Ltd AGM Public Forum
Spiritual Ecumenism
Dr Antonia Pizzey will be sharing her presentation given at the 2021 online study day on Receptive Ecumenism: Heeding the Spirit: New Horizons in Receptive Ecumenism. Held on 17 June 2021 and hosted by the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University in partnership with the Christian Council of Sweden, University College Stockholm, and the Sigtuna Foundation.
The presentation will focus not just on Receptive Ecumenism, but on the future of ecumenism and spiritual ecumenism, with receptive ecumenism as a development of spiritual ecumenism.
“Ecumenism can only move forward by diving deeper. It is imperative to foster spiritual and virtuous approaches to ecumenism, such as Receptive Ecumenism, which emphasise that the primary ecumenical relationship is not between Christians, but between us and Christ.”
Presenter: Dr Antonia Pizzey, Lecturer, School of Theology, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane campus
When: Wednesday 27 October, 3:00 - 4:00 pm (AEDT)
RSVP: please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register your attendance and receive the Zoom meeting link by COB Tuesday 26 October 2021
NB: Guests will join via a waiting room until all NCCA Ltd AGM business is finalised. We will endeavour to finish business on time however should it go longer, the meeting host will advise those in the waiting room of progress. Please remain in the waiting room and keep any eye out for a message prompt from the host.
Download:
pdf AGM flyer 27102021 final low res (937 KB)
pdf AGM flyer 27102021 final high res (2.96 MB)
NCCA Assembly
'Where are we at with dialogues as the heart of ecumenism?'
“You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?” (Matt 7:16 NRSV)
You are warmly invited to our third NCCA Assembly for 2021 to share with our friends across Australia the fruits of current bilateral dialogues in Australia and to hear from Australian Christians involved with WCC Faith and Order on the current publications on synthesised responses to study documents of past years.
[From Liz Stone, NCCA General Secretary: And I apologise for the clash of dates to those affected – the national Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue is meeting on the same day as this NCCA Assembly! (Maybe the only national dialogue continuing these days?)]
Each hour of the Assembly webinar will consist of a presentation or moderated panel discussion, followed by online breakout small discussion groups.
We invite you to take this opportunity to celebrate the achievements and outcomes of the bilateral dialogues.
When: Thursday 28 October, 2:00-4:00pm (AEDT)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89643094732?pwd=UkxNMXhrYlNJQTBPcCs5MFRRMUFFQT09
1. Current status of bilateral dialogues in Australia
Scope of topic:
“The challenge of turning the results of ecumenical dialogue into new ways of living together locally: … Recent decades have witnessed astonishing convergence on questions that once were cause for open hostility; but such convergence often has little impact on congregational life.” (Kessler Diane and Michael Kinnamon, Councils of Churches and the Ecumenical Vision, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2000. p 84)
Attention to the present context will be important:
- Many of the bilateral dialogues have ceased meeting or have struggled to keep meeting
- There had been a trilateral dialogue (Anglican, Lutheran, and Uniting) well over a decade ago, but it has stalled
- Women’s ordination is still an issue for some churches; it has affected the progress of some dialogues
- Many churches are putting energy into interfaith dialogue
- It seems to the NCCA Faith & Unity Commission members that some of the bilateral dialogues have run out of steam.
Ways to develop this topic:
- Consider bilateral dialogues as the agenda for a future Assembly (scheduled for Thursday 28 October at 2-4pm AEDT)
- Use this occasion of an Assembly as an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and outcomes of the bilateral dialogues.
- An Assembly could help the churches decide that there are things to talk about. If there is not the energy for bilateral dialogues then might they give energy to the interfaith dialogues.
2. Assisting Australian churches to respond to WCC and Faith and Order work
Work already undertaken:
In recent times, the NCCA Faith & Unity Commission has responded to two WCC Faith and Order documents: moral discernment, and evangelism. As well as written responses, there was a workshop at the 2019 NCCA Forum and more recently at a 2020 NCCA Assembly.
Scope of this topic:
- i) Make use of an Assembly in 2021
- ii) When the WCC F & O Commission publishes the responses to The Church: Towards a Common Vision, use this as an opportunity to engage the churches more deeply in reflection on ecclesiology
- iii) To continue the work on moral discernment, develop resources to help the churches to reflect on authority and authoritative decision-making. This could also explore (historic) examples where churches have agreed and have developed agreements
- iv) Any further work from the WCC on the pilgrimage of justice and peace: see NCCA Statement here:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89643094732?pwd=UkxNMXhrYlNJQTBPcCs5MFRRMUFFQT09