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AUSTRALIA
Brisbane
In 1998 we reported that interchurch families in Brisbane, Queensland, were
busy writing their stories in the hope that these would be useful to other couples,
and to those working with couples (6, 1, January 1998, p.8). A year later an
attractive illustrated 16-page booklet appeared, entitled Stories of Interchurch
Families: Living the hopes and difficulties of the path to Christian Unity (Aust
$5). The introduction explained that the Interchurch Families Association,
Brisbane (IFAB) was formed in 1993 for the mutual support of interchurch families
who face special problems because of the couple’s commitment to two churches.
Such problems "don’t exist if both or one of the partners in a mixed denominational
marriage doesn’t have a strong commitment. These problems are more apparent
when one partner is a Roman Catholic." Help is offered to couples contemplating
a mixed denominational marriage, whether or not it will be an interchurch marriage.
Six authentic family stories follow, without using the couples’ real names,
illustrating a range of backgrounds and experience. Some refer to the "Blessed
and Broken" guidelines on eucharistic sharing issued by the Archbishop
of Brisbane in 1995 (see Interchurch Families, 4. 2. Summer 1996, p.8)
and say what a difference these have made to their family lives. "We sought
permission, in line with these guidelines, for Hilary to receive holy communion
each time she accompanied her family to a Catholic mass, on the basis of our
interchurch marriage. Receiving this permission was another marvellous step
on our journey." "The priest was aware of the guideline and willingly
supported Ken receiving communion at mass." Peter and Donna write: "For
couples in our position the new guidelines allow us to be a clearer sign of
what future unity promises for both our denominations."
Pat and Debbie Mullins have replaced Peter and Monica Sharwood as co-ordinators of IFAB, and the group has been working on the question of baptism in interchurch families.
Melbourne
Margy Dahl and Jeff Wild,
who co-ordinate a group of interchurch families meeting quarterly in Melbourne,
Victoria, and their prayer chain, are especially pleased to welcome the joint
report summarised on p.13. Margy is a minister in the Uniting Church in Australia
and Jeff is executive secretary of the Commission for Ecumenism of the Catholic
Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Newcastle and Hunter
The interchurch families group in Newcastle and Hunter, New South Wales,
remains small but enthusiastic; "it is not a numbers game".
Following Bev Hincks’ address in May
to the New South Wales Ecumenical Council about the role of interchurch families
at the Harare Assembly of the World Council of Churches, she was asked to speak
in Sydney to the New South Wales Faith and Unity Commission of the Uniting Church.
This led in turn to an invitation from the New South Wales Synod of the Uniting
Church, where the interchurch families video made in England in 1992 was shown;
the Revd Christine Sheppard, a Uniting Church minister who is also a member
of the group, led a discussion. They were particularly interested because of
the on-going dialogue on interchurch families that issued in the report summarised
on p.13. The video has also been used locally, and this has led to more invitations.
Bev Hincks is also glad to report that the Roman Catholic diocese of Broken Bay (which covers the northern part of Sydney adjoining the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle) has recently produced a document entitled One Body Broken – Pastoral Guidelines for Eucharistic Hospitality. This is very similar to Blessed and Broken, the guidelines for the Archdiocese of Brisbane. The Anglican diocese of Newcastle covers parts of both the Catholic dioceses, and the Anglican bishop relates to both Catholic bishops in a series of public events called "Two Bishops Dialogue". At a recent meeting one of the topics for dialogue was Interchurch Families; the Anglican bishop asked Bev "to respond to a particularly searching question, since he had no lived experience such as the Hincks did".
Perth
AIF Western Australia met in May and decided to attempt a "coalition"
of Australian groups. This has not happened formally yet, but a radio programme
on interchurch families that went out from Brisbane on 7th November
gives evidence of a cross-Australia network. Fiona Sharwood (an interchurch
child from Brisbane who recently spent a term at the Irish School of Ecumenics
in Dublin) spoke on the programme, as did Margy and Jeff from Melbourne. There
were problems beforehand in Perth because of the time difference, but Mary
Paton reports that eventually she and Ian were able to join in, as was David
White of Perth. The Perth group were visited recently by both the Wild-Dahls
from Melbourne and Bob and Margaret Wood from England – "so we feel a bit
more on the map now, here in Western Australia", writes Mary Paton.
AUSTRIA
At the ARGE-Ökumene conference held at Salzburg in autumn 1998 a decision was taken to bind the local groups together in a national structure with an elected committee, membership subscription etc. John and Vita Jenkins and Claire Malone-Lee from England were at Salzburg, and the Jenkins were at the 1999 annual conference held at Puchberg, Wels 22-24 October 99. A representative from an ecumenical organisation in Hungary was also there. The theme was: Two Churches – One Path to Salvation? One of the speakers was Silvia Hell, author of a book on interchurch families: Die konfessionsvershiedene Ehe: Vom Problemfall zum verbindenden Modell (Herder, Freiburg i.Br. 1998, 498 pp.) A major focus at Puchberg this year was the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification later officially signed by representatives of the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church on 31st October 1999 at Augsburg. There were both academic theological lectures on the justification theme, and also small discussion groups on "the personal path to salvation".
CANADA
Groups in Montreal and Saskatoon still flourish. The Calgary group meets regularly on the last Saturday of each month. Ray Temmerman in Morden, Manitoba continues his great work for interchurch families world-wide by organising the aifworld web site (see back page) and the aif list service. The Canadian groups are closely linked by their preparations for the international interchurch families conference to be held in Edmonton 1-6 August 2001. Cathy Harvey, Ecumenical Officer for the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, Alberta, with her husband David, is taking an important role in the preparations, and has involved both the Family Enrichment Centre and the Ecumenical Commission in hosting Canada 2001 in Edmonton. The proposed theme for the conference is: Interchurch Families: Living the Path to Christian Unity. An internet "chat" began in June 1999 to allow the Canadian groups (and others who might wish to join in) to exchange proposals and ideas for the conference. If you are interested in participating in conference preparations, contact Ray Temmerman at for further information.
CROATIA
Boris and Marina Peterlin and their four children were present at the World Gathering of interchurch families at Geneva in July 1998. After they returned home Boris had great hopes that the Ecumenical Co-ordinating Committee of Churches in Croatia would put the pastoral challenge of interchurch families on its on-going agenda. He is disappointed that this has not happened, but ecumenical issues are "still not a part of our common awareness, let alone experience". There are now plans to launch a subsidised ecumenical magazine with wide circulation, aimed at inspiring and encouraging lay people to take initiatives across denominational boundaries.
ENGLAND
Cardinal Hume
Cardinal Basil Hume, Archbishop of Westminster, who died in June 1998, became
a President of the Association of Interchurch Families almost as soon as he
was appointed to Westminster in 1976. The Spode 1975 annual conference had realised
that it would help the Association to become better known if it could obtain
the agreement of the leaders of the main churches in England and Wales to become
Presidents of AIF; their names would carry weight on its notepaper and publicity
materials. It was agreed to await the appointment of a new Archbishop to Westminster,
and to approach him first.
Martin Reardon and Fr John Coventry SJ as AIF co-chairs sent a letter explaining this and asking the Archbishop to do the Association the honour of accepting the title of President at the beginning of April 1976. Basil Hume replied almost by return of post. Yes, he agreed to be President. He did not know too much about AIF, "but what I do know of it makes me think that you are on to a good thing".
The Cardinal’s support was important for the Association. It reassured Catholics who wanted to understand the pastoral needs of interchurch families, but found them alarming and even threatening, that AIF was working within and not against a Catholic perspective. This was important in the days when the Catholic Church in England and Wales had not yet officially committed itself at national level to working with other churches within a single ecumenical body; in the 1970’s it decided not to become a member of the British Council of Churches. It is a tribute to the Cardinal’s ecumenical perspective that at Swanwick in 1987 his appeal to the churches to move "from co-operation to commitment" was a decisive factor in the formation of the new ecumenical instruments of the 1990’s. The Catholic Church in England and Wales now participates fully in Churches Together in England, CYTUN and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
At the request of Fr George Kilcourse, the Cardinal, as a President of AIF in England, sent his best wishes on the inauguration of the American Association of Interchurch Families in 1989 (see the newsletter Interchurch Families, 22, Winter 1989-90, p.2). By that time he undoubtedly had reservations about the importance that some interchurch families gave to shared celebrations of baptism and especially to eucharistic sharing. He feared any blurring of the fact that the churches are divided; any weakening of the Catholic witness to the inseparable link between eucharistic communion and ecclesial communion. He wrote: "The pain is real, because the divisions between the churches are also real. But through their experience of carrying that pain, interchurch couples take a part in drawing us all further on through the healing power of Our Lord into a vision of fuller unity, which is to be found for us all in Christ."
It was very difficult for the Cardinal to conceive that that "healing power" might perhaps be evidenced already in the Catholic Church’s pastoral opening up of eucharistic sharing for some interchurch families, so that they might actually become concrete signs of that fuller unity in Christ. Those present at his meeting with AIF members in February 1997 clearly saw his struggle and his own pain (see Interchurch Families, 5, 2 Summer 1997, p.2). They were immensely grateful to him for sharing so much of himself and his own spiritual life with them. AIF remembers Basil Hume, our first Catholic President, with the greatest affection, respect, and gratitude.
30 years of AIF
The AIF annual conference held at Swanwick over the late August Bank Holiday
weekend in 1999 celebrated 30 years of AIF under the theme Growing Together
in Love and Unity. It focused both on growing together in marriage, and
on growing together in the life of the churches. There were three visitors from
Canada: Ray and Fenella Temmerman and Linda Buchanan. This overseas participation
was very welcome, as had been the presence of Rudolf and Rosmarie Lauber from
Germany at the 1998 conference.
After 30 years Ruth Reardon has retired as honorary secretary of AIF. The Association is grateful for funding which has allowed it to appoint Keith Lander, a member of AIF since the mid-1970’s, to the new post of executive secretary. Ruth Reardon remains editor of the journal Interchurch Families, and co-ordinator for Education and Representation, one of the six AIF Areas of Work.
FRANCE
Traditionally the interchurch family movement in France has not been expressed in the form of an "association", but groups in different parts of France and Switzerland have been linked together by the quarterly review Foyers Mixtes. This has existed since 1968, published by Fr René Beaupère OP, from the Dominican Centre St Irénée in Lyon. The correspondants of the review come together every two years in Lyon to exchange news and plan ahead.
French-speaking interchurch families
French and Swiss interchurch families formed a committee to prepare the
first bilingual World Gathering of interchurch families, which took place in
Geneva in July 1998. Following Geneva the committee stayed together and has
constituted itself as the Comité francophone permanent (CFP). It published
its first Lettre aux amis at Ascensiontide 1999. This has been translated
into English as A Letter to Friends.
The aims of the CFP are set out as follows:
1 To help to co-ordinate the movement in French-speaking areas, particularly in France and French-speaking Switzerland.
2 To strengthen links with similar bodies in English-speaking countries: the Associations of Interchurch Families in Britain and Ireland (AIFE, SAIF, NIMMA, AIFI), the American Association of Interchurch Families (AAIF) in the USA, the Canadian Association of Interchurch Families (CAIF) in Canada, and with any future German-speaking bodies which may be formed.
3 To work with the ecumenical movement, and in particular with the two bodies which are responsible for this movement on an international level (the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity); might it be possible for interchurch families, a part of the wider international ecumenical movement, to have a place in the Forum planned alongside but independent of the WCC?
The Letter to Friends, to be sent out two or three times a year, will complement the work of the review Foyers Mixtes. It will provide information, not on a local, but on a national and international level. "It will be sent to all our friends, and especially to church leaders and those working in the ecumenical movement who seek to go a little way alongside interchurch families on our common pilgrimage towards full Christian unity."
The CFP has two addresses: the Centre Saint Irénée, 2 place Gailleton, F-69002 Lyon; and Eric and Pamela Fiévet, 9 rue du Bourbonnais, F-92600 Asnières (email )
French-speaking conferences
A first francophone conference was held at Versailles in November
1995, and a second at Lyon in June 1997. Three visitors went to each from AIF
England. The third francophone conference is planned for Melun, near
Fontainebleau, 6-7 May 2000. The theme is: In my Father’s house there are
many rooms: the fear and the joy of difference. Interchurch families from
other countries are welcome, and for those who can stay on for a day, tourism
in Paris is proposed for 8 May. Details from the Fiévets, address as above.
GERMANY
Interchurch family seminars
Thirty years of interchurch family seminars held annually at the Benedictine
Abbey of Neresheim in Bavaria were celebrated at the conference held there 23-25
April 1999, with the theme: Searching for paths of faith for us and for our
children. Pater Beda Müller, a monk of the Abbey now in his mid-eighties,
was co-leader as usual, and this time he had with him Pfarrer Peter Hompa, a
Protestant minister who had been present at some of the earliest seminars. Because
of contacts made by Rosmarie and Rudolf
Lauber with overseas interchurch families at the Geneva World Gathering
in 1998, Fr René Beaupère, OP from Lyon and Claire Malone-Lee and Martin and
Ruth Reardon from England were there. The single-eucharist pattern at the weekend
was the one that had been worked out over the years: the Protestant pastor preached,
a Catholic priest presided, and the pastor administered the chalice. It was
the last of this series of seminars in their present form; it is proposed now
to run marriage preparation seminars for interchurch couples, at which married
couples will contribute from their own experience.
Since 1998 seminars for interchurch families have also been held annually in the Protestant centre at Dornstadt on Ulm, with the regular participation of a Methodist pastor and a Catholic priest. The 1999 seminar took place 8-10 October; its theme: Salt in the Soup: What role can interchurch families play in their parishes and congregations? One of the suggestions was that house-calls might be made by interchurch couples to other, inactive interchurch couples. A French/American couple from Cologne who discovered interchurch families through the internet were delighted to be there. Vincent Randy writes: "My wife and I were struck by how successful these families have been in creating a truly positive way of living out their mixed religious traditions in their homes, in spite of the difficulties."
A network of interchurch couples and families
Both at Neresheim and at Dornstadt there was excitement about proposals
for the formation of a network that would offer a national forum for interchurch
families. This Network for Interchurch Couples
and Families in Germany was officially launched on 30th October
1999 at Augsburg, the day before the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
was signed there by representatives of the Lutheran World Federation and the
Roman Catholic Church. Interchurch families received a mention at this ceremony
itself, when a leading Lutheran in his opening speech of welcome expressed the
hope that the Joint Declaration would lead to a practical outcome. "Our
expectation from the signing of the Joint Declaration", he said, "is
for an improvement in the situation in the parishes and especially for interchurch
families." One of the intentions of the network is to keep in close touch
with other national associations and groupings of interchurch families. There
is an interesting development of terminology following the new Austrian practice
(see Interchurch Families, 6,2 Summer 1998, p.8). Whereas the Neresheim
weekend was for konfessionsverschiedene (of separate denominations) couples
and families, the network is for konfessionsverbindender (bringing the
denominations together) couples and families. An explanatory leaflet has been
produced, and the secretary is Rosmarie Lauber. The network is associated with
the AOEK, the national Council of Churches in Germany.
ITALY
The sixteenth Italian-French-Swiss conference at Torre Pellice near Turin was hosted by Italian coppie interconfessionali 9-12 July 1999 (the first was in 1970). The theme was:Interchurch families: domestic church; it was introduced, as usual, by Fr René Beaupère, OP from Lyon. A special note was added by Pastor Bruno Rostagno by his focus on the Holy Spirit as Comforter in interchurch families. For the third time running AIF England was represented at Torre Pellice; in 1999 by Alys Blakeway and Patricia Sears (see p.3). There was the traditional visit to the Waldensian Museum (see Interchurch Families 4,1, January 1996 for an account of Waldensian history). "Patricia and I came away feeling deeply moved by the past sufferings of the Waldensians, and aware that it is now time to concentrate on the very different problems of indifference and materialism faced by the church as a whole", wrote Alys. As usual the gathering split up to join local churches for Sunday worship, one group going to the Waldensian community at Pomaretto and the other to the Catholic church at Mentoulles. The same "Message" from interchurch families was read out in both. It is hoped to hold another Italian-French-Swiss gathering in 2001.
NEW ZEALAND
Inspired by a talk given by Mgr Brian Arahill from Auckland (who was present at the 1988 international conference of interchurch families at Lingfield, Sussex, England), Sue Devereux, Director of the Catholic Family Life Office in the Archdiocese of Wellington, began a group for interchurch couples in Wellington. A year ago she wrote: "I began this group after seeing 68% of our couples getting married going into interchurch and interfaith marriages and subsequently about 80% of these couples giving up their association with church as it was too hard to deal with. I have learned so much from them, and they thoroughly enjoy being together. What I learned most was the reluctance of all our hierarchy to accept this group. They were really frightened about radicals trying to change history overnight. I have spent a lot of energy changing the thinking to one of pastoral concern for these families. Our clergy come on board wonderfully after they think about it, and support is growing." Diana Simons from AIFEngland met some of the group when she was in New Zealand. Recently Sue wrote: "Our group is growing in numbers but more importantly, the members are growing in confidence. At present they are putting on paper their thoughts about being an interchurch family and ways in which the churches could help all interchurch families. This exercise is motivating everyone to be more supportive of each other and of other interchurch families who are not part of our group. The document just published by the Australian Roman Catholic and Uniting Churches on interchurch families [see p. 13] is so close to home that we know it will promote dialogue in this country which we welcome."
UNITED STATES
The first biannual national conference of the American AIF was held in 1997 in Louisville, Kentucky; the second was hosted by the Omaha chapter of AAIF and took place in Omaha, Nebraska 9-11 July 1999. The theme was: A Celebration of Unity. Nine states were represented at Omaha, from Virginia to California, and one couple came who had been involved in an interchurch family group in Kansas for some years, but did not know until two months earlier that any group like theirs existed anywhere else. Several families among the 100 or so participants came at the suggestion either of their Diocesan Ecumenical Officer or of their Family Life Office, not having had previous links with AAIF. Ray and Fenella Temmerman from Canada were also able to participate in the conference.
Two local speakers addressed the gathering: Professor Michael Lawler on the results of his research and Sr Barbara Markey, Associate Director of the Creighton Center for Marriage and Family, on conflict resolution in interchurch families. The second was an interactive presentation, offering practical actions that served as tools for bridging the gaps between partners. It was encouraging for participants to learn that interchurch couples who make a real commitment to their marriage by worshipping in both churches have a high degree of probability of having their marriages endure. Sr Barbara commented that interchurch families need to work harder at their marriages, but if they do they also reap more ample rewards. There was also plenty of time to share experiences informally with other participants, and this was much appreciated.
Since Louisville 1997 much work had been done on a constitution for AAIF (Bonnie Mack) and on the by-laws (Tom Mack and Peter Glauber). These were approved at Omaha, and Barbara and Michael Slater were elected national co-chairs, with Mary Jane Glauber secretary. Now that AAIF has a constitution, the newly-elected treasurer will work on getting charity status, so that the Association can apply for grants and ask for donations. Fr George Kilcourse and Fr Ernest Falardeau, SSS were appointed spiritual advisors, and it is hoped that clergy of other traditions will join them later.
The constitution requires a bi-annual meeting, so the next general meeting and conference will fall in 2001 – the year already fixed for the international conference of interchurch families in Edmonton, Canada. It was decided, therefore, to give the fullest possible support to the Canadians planning for Edmonton, and to hold the AAIF general meeting there, at the time of the international conference.
The children and teenagers at Omaha enjoyed the conference and many friendships were made. At the closing mass they presented candles to each couple; they had decorated them, and written on them the traditions from which the couple had come. Finally Fr George and Fr Ernie gave a special blessing to the newly-elected board of AAIF and asked everyone to pray for them.
INTERNATIONAL LINKS
AND ACTION
To gain a wider perspective
To share our experience
And encourage one another
To support interchurch families worldwide
To give interchurch families a voice
In the churches at every level
Published by the Association of Interchurch Families
Return to Journal index
Vol 8.1.6-7
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