Liturgists focus on healing & reconciliation

Representatives from throughout the Anglican Communion came together last week in Dublin for a meeting of the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation (IALC).

The six-day consultation took place in The King’s Hospital, Palmerstown. It was the first time the IALC had met in Dublin since 1995.

The consultation was organised by the Revd Alan Rufli, rector of Clondalkin, who is also the Church of Ireland’s Electronic Liturgical Officer and Diocesan Liturgical Officer for Dublin and Glendalough.

Mr Rufli worked closely with his fellow members of the IALC steering committee, which holds responsibility for arrangements between successive IALC meetings. Members include Cynthia Botha (Southern Africa, who is the IALC secretary and liaison officer), Bishop Kito Pikaahu (Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia), Eileen Scully (Canada) and Nak Hyon Joo (Korea).

The conference attracted a total of 41 respresentatives from Provinces around the Anglican Communion including South Africa, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Scotland, England, the Philippines, South Sudan and Ireland.

During their time in Dublin delegates visited and worshipped in both Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick’s Cathedral. Cultural tours of Dublin were also arranged, with opportunities to view the Book of Kells in the Long Room of Trinity College, Dublin, and to visit Marsh’s Library, the Chester Beatty Library and St Michan’s church.

Healing and Reconciliation theme

Taking the conference theme of Rites Relating to Healing and Reconciliation, participants reflected on issues ranging from forgiveness to ministry to the sick and dying.

During the meeting there were presentations by Philip Tovey and Colin Buchanan (England), Lizette Larson-Miller (USA), Tomas Maddela (Philippines), and Terry Brown (Solomon Islands).

A number of papers were delivered on subjects including the changing approaches in the Anglican Communion to the ministry to the sick, palliative spirituality shaping ritual and prayer, confession and absolution in the Anglican Formularies and issues surrounding private auricular and general public confessions.

There was also a review of the work of past lALCs and a report to the Anglican Consultative Council was discussed, as were the draft revised guidelines for the networks of the Anglican Communion.

Official network for liturgy

IALC conferences bring together liturgists and liturgical theologians from the Provinces of the Communion for focused study of particular liturgical issues and the building up of Communion life through the mutual sharing of resources and insights.

The consultations are the official network for liturgy in the Anglican Communion, recognised by the ACC and the Primates’ Meeting and holding first responsibility in the Communion to resource and communicate liturgical developments and information on a Communion-wide basis.

Membership is open to all who hold Provincial responsibilities for liturgical matters; all Anglican members of the international and ecumenical society for liturgical study and renewal, Societas Liturgica; and anyone whom the steering committee may invite.

Historically, the consultations date from 1983 when they developed alongside the congress of Societas Liturgica. The IALC currently meets every two years.

Read the official communiqué here in English, French and Spanish

For further information please contact Eileen Scully, IALC chair at [email protected] or Cynthia Botha, IALC secretary at [email protected]