[Anglican Communon News Service] The centennial of the Malines Conversations, a milestone in Anglican–Roman Catholic dialogue, was marked Sept. 21 in Mechelen, Belgium, with a four-day conference, an academic session and a concluding Evensong service at Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral.
The Malines Conversations were a series of five informal ecumenical conversations held from 1921 to 1927 that explored possibilities for greater unity between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England, forming one stage of Anglican–Roman Catholic dialogue.
The conference brought together church leaders and scholars and heard contributions from Monseigneur Luc Terlinden, archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels; the Most Rev. Bernard Longley, archbishop of Birmingham; the Rt. Rev. Robert Innes, bishop in Europe; and the Most Rev. Ian Ernest, retired archbishop and primate of the Province of the Indian Ocean.
Following the conference there was a further academic session including speeches on Anglican-Catholic dialogue that was introduced by Terlinden. His Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity; His Excellency Johan Bonny, bishop of Antwerp and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell shared their reflections.
Speaking of the importance of dialogue and the Malines Conversations, Cottrell said, “I am often struck by how our disunity weakens our witness to the world. We have grown too used to a broken body of Christ. Yet, I have also seen how, when we walk, work and pray together, people glimpse the heart of the Gospel and turn to Christ. The ecumenical journey that was begun in the Malines Conversations continues today, and it is a privilege to celebrate the progress that has been made. But there’s more to do. God is inviting us to live more deeply into the unity we already share. For the sake of the world.”
Terlinden said, “The Malines Conversations remind us that dialogue and friendship are vital steps on the road to unity.”
A solemn service of Evensong followed the conference sessions and was presided over by Terlinden and Cottrell, with Koch reading one of the lessons.
A plaque also was unveiled commemorating Cardinal Mercier, who was the leading Catholic in the 1921-25 conversations.