The Statements by the ARCIC and BEM on Eucharist - Essay Example

The ments by the ARCIC and BEM on Eucharist has served to address the major differences that were there between the Catholic and the Anglican Church. The statements were reached through a series of meetings that were held between the leaders of the Catholic and those of the Anglican Church. These statements by ARCIC on Eucharist and the Baptism Eucharist Ministry have significantly changed the historical perspective of theology (Jeanes, 2008 p30). There were several issues that were in contention between the churches. These issues included the ordination of women by the Anglican Church, differences in the interpretations of the bible, the authority of the scripture, and the importance of the resurrection of Jesus and sexuality issues. Such changes can be indentified in the subsequent revisions of the order of masses, the change in common catholic and Anglican traditional and custom practices as well as the liberty and freedom of religion and worship that has changed over time (Miller, 2002). It is through such changes that the common doctrines have changed and so the connection and relationship of the conventional catholic and Anglican Church to the original church that was left when Christ ascended have changed too (Jeanes, 2008). Following the consecration of one Robison, a homosexual by the Anglican Church as a bishop, and the ordination of women as to participate in Anglican Communion, the sexuality issue became a significant point of contention between the two churches (Miller, 2002 p302). Whether the sacrifice of Eucharist should be administered to the dead was another point of disagreement (WCC, 1982). While according to the historical traditions of the Catholic Church, it can be administered while the Anglican Church held a different viewpoint. Adoration of the Eucharist by Christians as a custom of the Catholic Church seemed unpopular with the Anglican Church (Dennis, 1998). These are some of the fundamental principles and doctrines of the Catholic and Anglican Church that were addressed by these statements, that threatened to strain the relationship between the two churches. These doctrines have greatly changed over time, and caused a complete revolution on the history of theology observed by the Churches. The statements served to clear and iron out these differences and create a commonality on the religious ground of the two churches. The doctrines and practices observed by the two churches have ever since the provision of these statements changed. The doctrines and practices that were harmonised include the art of baptism, the relevance of Holy Mary in the lives of individual Christians and the art of administration of the Eucharist and the Holy Communion (Miller, 2002 p121). This has seen many changes being effected to accommodate the practices of the Anglican Church in Catholicism. A good illustration being the proposal that the Anglican church can rejoin and get united with the Catholic church, while preserving their structures (Bradshaw, 2004). The Anglican Church priests were allowed to join the Catholic Church and still maintain their marriage status, very contrary to the Catholic doctrines that requires that priests should observe the fundamental principle of celibacy. Another way in which the provision of these statements transformed the history of theology is the observance of the conversion of bread and wine as a symbolic representation of the body of Jesus Christ (Jeanes, 2008 p32). This is because, the Anglican Church used to administer the Eucharist but not observe the bread and wine as the body and blood of Jesus. While the Anglican doctrines did not recognize the role of the pope, the provision of the statements through agreements by both churches, causing the call for a reunion of the churches means that that the Anglican Church has to recognize the pope as the head of the Church. The Anglicans theological history was changed to accommodate the role of mother Mary in the prayer life of the Christians (Miller, 2002 p315). On the side of the Catholic Church, the attitude towards marriage by pries changed, with some priest under the reformed Catholic Church marrying and still serving the church and administering sacraments. Though the Anglican Church did not use to pray through the saints, the provision of he statements, through agreements struck by both Churches has seen the church recognize prayers through the saints (Dennis, 1998). The historical theology and doctrines of the Anglican church did not recognise the transformation of life from earth to purgatory, where the sins of the dead are cleansed before the individual’s soul ascends to heaven the provision of the statements has seen a change towards this belief. While only the bread used to be received by the members of thee congregation in the Catholic Church, this theological doctrine has changed to include wine mostly in special occasions such as baptism and confirmation (Jeanes, 2008 p41). The central liturgy became a fundamental doctrine to be observed in the Anglican Church, with similar organization and procedure as the mass in the Catholic Church. The two churches trace their origin to the twelve disciples and to the church that was led by Saint Peter. The statements of agreements were meant to be an indicator that the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic have come to an agreement that will override the historical differences between the churches and serve to make evangelize, pray witness and serve God together (WCC, 1982). The points of contention were in both practices of baptism and Eucharist. Whether the Holy Spirit is received, through water or chrism are the points of contention that the statement needed to handle. While one party believed that the Holy Spirit is received through the immersion in water, the other one (catholic) believed that it was bestowed on people through the application of chrism on the individuals being baptized (Bradshaw, 2004). Therefore, the Catholic Church has a baptism practice that does not require the immersion of individuals in river water. Such requirements and regulations as to who should administer baptism is yet another difference that the commission handled, through the statement. This has been through the introduction of practices and definitions that were introduced through this statement. ARCIC is a commission that was meant to find a common ground between the catholic and the Anglican Church. There having been many terms used to describe the Eucharist, such as the liturgy, the holy mysteries, the Lord’s Supper among others, an agreement that the right term to refer to this was the Eucharist arose (Dennis, 1998). The other agreement that was struck by the statement was on the purpose and the meaning of Eucharist. The importance of Eucharist is to have people share in the body of Christ. The application of this symbol is to constantly remind the Christians that Christ died and was buried, then resurrected, and so the Christians need to share in the tribulations of Jesus. Though there was a lot of disagreements on whether the host would actually represent the body of Christ, there was an agreement that there was a need to have something that would represent this. Through the biblical reference where Jesus took a piece of bread and broke it giving it to his disciples, then there had to be a continuity of this to the present day Christians (Bradshaw, 2004). The art of baptism was also covered by this statement. This includes the importance of baptism and its importance in the Christian life. These agreement by ARCIC have changed the whole doctrines and practices of the Christian life. The art of baptism is rooted in the birth and death of Jesus Christ. Through the immersion of the individuals in water, a resemblance of Jesus death is signified and when the person is lifted up, it signifies the rise of Christ (Dennis, 1998). However, there was a point of contention on how this art of baptism should be carried out. While one party required that such baptism should be done in a river as it happened with Jesus Christ himself, there was a contrary argument that the importance of baptism is on what it represents and symbolizes and not much to do with the way it is done. The reasoning behind baptism is to have the Christians get into a covenant with god, that the Christians are ready t share in the tribulations of Jesus Christ. Baptism is to be done in the name of the holy trinity, the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is the indicator that an individual has been re-united with God and is ready to undergo all the sufferings that Jesus went through and keep their steadfast faith in God (Bradshaw, 2004). Those individuals who have undergone baptism are no longer slaves to sin and death but it becomes to them that they have been set free of sin and are now worth of the kingdom of heaven. The issue of authority and the church was tackled in the statements issued after an agreement by the Catholic and the Anglican churches. Authority in the church was to be perceived as a gift, with different people in different leadership categories in the Church playing different leadership roles (Bradshaw, 2004). Though the Anglican Church did not recognize the role of pope as the leader of the church, the subsequent agreements made the role of the pope appreciated. Any exercise of authority should be done in accordance to the scripture, acknowledging that leadership and authority are gifts bestowed on a person by God. The leadership is also supposed to be aligned with the traditions and the customs of the church, where different cadres existed in the initial church that was left under the leadership of Saint Peter. The teachings done in the church were to be perceived as teaching with authority (Dennis, 1998). To present day, both the Anglican and the Catholic church gives teaching s with authority, observing the issues surrounding the society and recommending the appropriate ways and measures to handle them. The agreement reached covered the subject of communion and morality. Both the churches agreed morality in receiving the Holy Communion by individuals Christians. All Christians participating in Eucharist and receiving the Holy Communion should be free of sins and sanctified (WCC, 1982). Therefore, any individual who have committed sins should not participate in receiving the communion, until they have undergone sanctification through the confession and forgiveness of their sins. The morality of sacraments and the married couple, who did not undergo a church wedding, was addressed too. The agreement was they should undergo confession before participating in the communion, since they went against the requirements of the sacrament of the holy matrimony. The moral basis of ordinations of the bishops, priests, deacons and other church leaders reached an agreement. Though the Anglican Church does not observe the doctrines of celibacy, the anointing of these church leaders and their ordination was to observe a similar procedure and requirements (Miller, 2002 p342). The vision of unity became an agenda that was to be pursued. The authority of the word of God and its relationship to the church required that God’s people be united under one holy and apostolic church. Establish the theme of dialogue became an element of the issued statements, where a proposal to unite the Anglican and the Catholic Church was generated. However, due to some fundamental differences that were not fully agreed upon, such as the principle of celibacy for the priest and the ordination of women to priesthood and communion leadership, the proposal is yet to see full implementation (Dennis, 1998). The liturgical traditions and order of masses and summons was harmonized to have both churches follow the same liturgical orders. Since the church and holiness are inseparable, the apostle’s creed was incorporated in the liturgical order of both churches. Both churches should observe a life of love, compassion, and righteousness (Dennis, 1998). The real presence of Jesus in Holy Communion is a fundamental on which both churches operate. In conclusion, it is with the provision of these statements, arising from the agreements between the Anglican and the Catholic Church that the historic theological differences between the two churches changed. Although in reality the agreements and their subsequent statements, did not solve all the fundamental differences and controversies that threatened to divide the two churches, the contentious issues were ironed out. This has overcome the historic theological differences between the Catholic and the Anglican Churches. Works Cited Dennis, H. (1988). The Catholic Anglican Churches dialogue: A step towards change in Theological doctrines. Journal of Religion. Springer. Jeanes, G. (2008). Signs of God's promise: Thomas Cranmer's sacramental theology and Book of Common Prayer. T&T Clark. P18-115. Miller, P. (2002). The Futility of ARCIC - Chasing false unity with a faltering sect. Seattle Catholic. p120-378. Bradshaw, P (2004) Bradshaw Eucharistic origins SPCK. WCC. (1982). Faith and order 111: Baptism, Eucharist and ministry. Read More