Each day I read the commentary written by the Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary, today, I appreciated his brief and apt comment about the Anglican Communion and his assertion that it does matter...read the rest below, and read his commentary each day HERE.
Friday, February 22, 2008
2/22/2008
Make no mistake about it, the Anglican Communion matters. My ordination as an Episcopal priest is recognized by 80 million Anglicans worldwide – the third largest group in Christendom (after the Roman Catholics and the Orthodox churches). Many members of the Episcopal church settle in our tradition having come from the West Indies and else where in the Communion: these people want to continue to be in the same church as their siblings. In addition, Christians are exhorted by our Lord to be united – and it is not our place to add to the division. And it is both a privilege and a challenge to live in a global world, required to live with the diversity of culture: in this respect we anticipate the heavenly kingdom.
So it is a great honor to have on the campus today the most senior officer in the Anglican Communion - the Revd Canon Kenneth Kearon. He is the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Office in London. Born and educated in Ireland, he became a priest in 1982. He was the Director of the Irish School of Ecumenics in 1999 and has an academic interest in medical ethics.
We are delighted that Canon Kearon and his wife staying with us on the campus. He will be offering today a ‘Fridays at the Seminary’ exploration of the Anglican Communion. And last night he participated in a student panel. We are grateful for his willingness to visit and hope and trust that this is the first of many visits to Virginia Theological Seminary.
The Very Rev Ian Markham
Dean and President
