The ARK May 2011 Volume 22, Edition 5

16 Pages·2011·0.89 MB·English

by  Mary Jane Glauber

International Standard Serial Number: ISSN 1943-6467 (print)
K
ISSN 2160-682X (online)
http://www.interchurchfamilies.org/aaif/ARKJan2011Volume22Edition1.pdf
R
MAY 2011
A
VOLUME 22
EDITION 5

e
h Interchurch Families: Christian Unity
Made Visible in our Households
T
!
© Copyright 2011 AAIF
all rights reserved
The ARK, a Publication of the American Association of Interchurch Families
“A prayer that God might be one and might be saved.” For all
Christians then being able to share
change our minds and hearts so
this Eucharistic prayer is what
that the obstacles to visible
unites us. Father Falardeau points
unity might be removed by out Cardinal Kasper’s book:
Sacrament of Unity: The Eucharist
God’s grace, forgiveness and
and the Church in which he “speaks
the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
of the “ecumenism of life”, by which
Father Ernest Falardeau explains he means the prayer needed
that “This “epicletic” dimension of throughout the year that we might
the Eucharist, the work of the Holy make ecumenism real in our lives.
Spirit, is at the heart of the He quotes the Second Vatican
Eucharist we offer. All other prayers Council’s Decree on Ecumenism
have their beginning and summit in saying that the heart of the
the prayer of Christ that we might ecumenical movement is spiritual
ecumenism.” (Please see page 2)
Spiritual Ecumenism Make plans now to attend the next
as a way of life
AAIF Biennial Conference
to be held in 2012
2011 Please see www.aifusa.org for on-going updates
The ARK May 2011 page 1 Volume 22, Edition 5
AAIF IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA
Continuing the theme we began during this year’s
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
Ecumenical Corner shelter. They held everything in life”, by which he means the
common and shared what they prayer needed throughout the
Praying with the
had and what was needed (Acts year that we might make
Church of 2: 42-45). ecumenism real in our lives. He
quotes the Second Vatican
Jerusalem
The Eucharist (breaking of Council’s Decree on Ecumenism
They devoted themselves to the bread) was the heart of the saying that the heart of the
apostle’ teaching and fellowship, liturgical life of the Jerusalem ecumenical movement is spiritual
to the breaking of bread and the community. It still is. The ecumenism. The living of the
prayers (Acts 2:42) Eucharist is not simply ritual, Christian life to the full, drawing
something that is made by near our Savior Jesus Christ, is
The leaders of the Christian human hands. As St. Isidore of the heart of the movement for
churches of Jerusalem were Seville pointed out, it is God’s Christian unity. This is making
asked to prepare the theme and “good gift” (Isidore’s translation ecumenism a spirituality, a way
reflection for this year’s Week of for eucharistia ) by which we are of life, and a visible reality. If we
Prayer for Christian Unity. The able to give worthy thanks to spend the Week of Prayer in this
initial work of the Jerusalem God. The Eucharist is not way, we will be implementing the
group was further developed by something that is added to the prayer of the churches of
the World Council of Churches saving sacrifice of Jesus on Jerusalem in apostolic times and
and the Vatican’s Pontifical Calvary; it is that very sacrifice, today. We will be making unity
Council for Promoting Christian offered “once for all” (Heb real and visible, while waiting in
Unity. On December 7, 1965, 10:10). It is his sacrifice which hope for the coming in glory of
Pope Paul VI met the becomes the offering of the Christ and his kingdom.
Ecumenical Patriarch Church and each Christian.
Athenagoras of Constantinople
in the wake of the Second The prayers that we offer are not Father Ernest Falardeau
Vatican Council, and consigned a nostalgia for the unity of the
to oblivion the mutual early church of Jerusalem. It is a
excommunications of 1054 and prayer that God might change
prayed for Christian unity. The our minds and hearts so that the
impetus of that meeting obstacles to visible unity might
continues to move the Christians be removed by God’s grace,
of Jerusalem to work and pray forgiveness and the gift of the
for an ever deeper unity among Holy Spirit. This “epicletic”
all Christians. dimension of the Eucharist, the
work of the Holy Spirit, is at the
United in Hope heart of the Eucharist we offer.
All other prayers have their
What keeps the churches of
beginning and summit in the
Jerusalem united and hopeful for
prayer of Christ that we might be
greater unity? It is the word of
one and might be saved.
God (didache) which the early
Jerusalem church received from
the apostles and passed on
mjg ©
(tradition) to succeeding Ecumenism of Life
generations. The description of Cardinal Walter Kasper in
the fellowship (koinonia) which Sacrament of Unity: The
the early Christians exemplify, Eucharist and the Church (New
Blue Hyacinth in bloom
consisted in seeing that no one York: Crossroad, 2004, p. 57-83)
was wanting in food, clothing and speaks of the “ecumenism of
The ARK May 2011 page 2 Volume 22, Edition 5
CBS ENTERTAINMENT- RELEASED THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SOON
AFTER THE 2008 AAIF BIENNIAL CONFERENCE IN LOUISVILLE

08.26.2008 "CHRISTIAN UNITY," AN INTERFAITH RELIGION SPECIAL, TO BE
BROADCAST SUNDAY, SEPT. 21 2008 [Old News reviewed] ON THE CBS TELEVISION
NETWORK CHRISTIAN UNITY, an interfaith religion special, will be broadcast Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 on the CBS
Television Network.
Over the centuries Christians have split into many groups, not always on friendly terms. Christian Unity
is an ongoing attempt to bring Roman Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Eastern and Oriental
Orthodox into further dialogue and cooperation. This year The Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
celebrates its 100th anniversary in this country.
The Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, in Garrison, N.Y. is a Roman Catholic Community that is home to the
Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement and where Christian unity is encouraged year-round.
The group sponsors its annual "Week of Prayer" during the month of January, to encourage Christian
unity, which a tenth century Abbot described as a, "unity that Christ wills, as he wills and when he
wills". Rev. James J. Gardiner, SA, is director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, and he offers an
historical perspective on the center's significant contributions to the ecumenical movement.
The program also includes interviews with the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of the
National Council of Churches, a leading voice in ecumenism and the state of the movement today, and
with Rev. George A. Kilcourse, professor of theology at Bellarmine University, Louisville, Ky., author of
Double Belonging: Interchurch Families and Christian Unity, and a pioneering voice in the field of
ecumenical marriages. He joined by a colleague, Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, Associate Professor of
Theology at Bellarmine, who adds her perspective.
We explore Louisville, Ky., a southern, Bible-belt community where the ecumenical spirit thrives. We
learn how the city effectively embraced the idea of unity among Christian denominations, not only
through community outreach but also in helping to bridge racial divides.
The Rev. Joe Phelps, Pastor of Highland Baptist Church, is interviewed alongside Rev. Clay Calloway,
Associate Minister of St. Stephen's Baptist Church, as they talk about "No Murders Metro," an inter-
denominational campaign they created to raise awareness about local homicides. Rev. Phelps says,
"We've found common cause in our faith, and in the issues that face us as people across the
denominational and racial lines that unite us. "
Also featured is Rev. Lincoln Bingham, Pastor, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, who has devoted
much of his religious life to the ministry of reconciliation. As co-chairman of the Greater Louisville
Christian Reconciliation Ministries, he is quoted as saying, "What we do helps to open eyes. When I get
in a dialogue with a ministerial group of different denominational affiliation my understanding is opened
and broadened." CHRISTIAN UNITY reveals the wishes of many that the one Christian faith be fully
united once again.
John P. Blessington is the executive producer; Liz Kineke is the producer. The special is produced with
the cooperation of The National Council of Churches, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
The Islamic Society of North American, the Union for Reform Judaism and The New York Board of
Rabbis.
In the January and February issues of the ARK this year, several suggestions were
included for ways that we might be able to keep that ecumenical dialogue on-going in
our own communities. Please share your journeys and stories with other ARK readers.
Please send your written stories to the ARK: [email protected]
The ARK May 2011 page 3 Volume 22, Edition 5
“So that you might have hope”
Here is the link for the February 2011 edition of the ARK: http://www.interchurchfamilies.org/aaif/ARKFeb2011Volume22Edition2.pdf
preside at the wedding, since together on a regular basis to
Ecumenism
they are usually marriages try to better understand how it
outside of Mass. could affect their own practice
in in the future.
In those cases where a couple
would like to be married in a “Unfortunately, many couples
interchurch
non-Catholic facility, permission who do this tell me they feel
from the archbishop must be more welcomed at the non-
marriage obtained. The Catholic party in Catholic liturgy than at the
the wedding is asked to sign a Mass. The non-Catholic often
by Rich Heffern document indicating the feels like an outsider while the
Nov. 27, 2009 intention to teach the children Catholic is welcomed at the
about the Catholic faith. In non-Catholic liturgy.”
those cases where the non-
Reprinted with permission from
Catholic party is not baptized, a In the Savannah, Ga., diocese,
Rich Heffern of the National
dispensation must be obtained an area where Catholics are
Catholic Reporter
through the chancery, fewer in numbers, the split
according to Merritt. between Catholic and interfaith
When Steve and Jo Ann
marriages is about even, said
Schweitzer, a Cincinnati couple
Merritt said that there are as Pat Brown, a sister of St. Mary
in a Catholic-Presbyterian
many interchurch marriages of Namur and director of the
marriage, first presented
family life office. “From 1998 to
a workshop 13 years ago
2009 pretty consistently we
on what canon law still
have had almost 50/50
refers to as “mixed
mjg © Catholic and interfaith
marriages,” one couple
marriages. In 2009 there were
attended. Today similar
236 Catholic marriages and
workshops draw 75
178 interfaith marriages. In the
couples or more.
Hispanic community we find
most of the marriages are
Deacon Fred Merritt of Catholic.”
the Cincinnati
archdiocese’s family life
She said marriage preparation
office told NCR he
in the diocese does not focus
estimates that nearly 40
specifically on or offer a
percent of marriages
special session for interfaith
there are interchurch.
couples, “although that would
be ideal. Many of our couples
“We approach these find it difficult to schedule even
marriages like any the one-day workshops since
marriage. The couple many are military, students or
requests a wedding date young professionals, so we
at the parish and then haven’t offered an additional
they enter into the parish’s between Catholics who seldom workshop for them. We do
specific marriage preparation attend Mass as there are with encourage discussion of
process.” those who frequently attend. “I spirituality, religious values and
find that many times the
decisions around raising
interchurch engaged couples
He said many times a deacon children while respecting each
attend each others’ liturgy
is asked to prepare and other’s faith.”
The ARK May 2011 page 4 Volume 22, Edition 5
“So that you might have hope”
Here is the link for the March 2011 edition of the ARK: http://www.interchurchfamilies.org/aaif/ARKMar2011Volume22Edition3.pdf
Interdenominational, speaks of the scandal of as brothers, with respect and
ecumenical, interreligious, baptized Christians and affection.”
interchurch -- all these terms churches being divided,
are used. “Some involved in according to Kilcourse. “For Kilcourse said that a pair of
ministry prefer ‘interchurch’ that reason, the church steps could move the church
because it defines toward healing this division
each partner’s with regard to interchurch
commitment to marriages. “First, Catholics
mjg ©
remain true to his need to recognize the
or her religious integrity with which
heritage while interchurch families
working to restore constitute a ‘domestic
unity among church,’ a church of the home
Christian that responds to Christ’s
churches,” said universal call to holiness.”
Elizabeth Bookser
Barkley, professor
Second, bishops need to
at Cincinnati’s
embrace and put into
Mount St. Joseph
practice all the pastoral
College who
possibilities envisioned in the
writes about
Vatican’s 1993 “Directory for
Catholic marriage.
the Application of Principles
irreversibly committed itself to
and Norms on Ecumenism.”
the visible restoration of full
“Whatever you call them, these
communion. In the same way,
marriages can enrich both
“The extraordinary possibility of
the council’s reference to ‘the
partners and their churches if
limited eucharistic sharing is
separated brethren’ suffers
couples, along with their faith
pastoral care especially
from misunderstanding. Such a
communities, acknowledge
relevant for authentically
separation or division of
early on that they’ll have to
interchurch couples. They are
Christians implies an anomaly.
work to keep both faiths intact.”
very different from ‘mixed
It is a situation which ought not
marriage’ couples because
to exist among baptized
Couples in interchurch they conscientiously remain
persons.”
marriages “don’t like to see active in their own church,
their marriages treated like participate to varying degrees
It’s not that Protestants have
problems,” says Fr. George in their spouse’s church, and
arrogantly separated
Kilcourse, professor of both take an active role in the
themselves from the Catholic
theology at Bellarmine College religious education of children.
church; Catholics and
in Louisville, Ky., and founder They bring both extraordinary
Protestants alike are victims,
of the American Association of gifts and unique needs to the
Kilcourse said.
Interchurch Families. “The church.”
problem is not their marriage,
but the division between He cited the words of the
Newly married interchurch
churches into which they’ve “Decree on Ecumenism,” which
couples benefit from open-
been baptized. We need to said: “The children who are
mindedness, listening to one
start putting the emphasis born into these communities
another’s religious story, and
where it belongs: Christian and who grow up believing in
making visible in their
churches’ indifference to unity.” Christ cannot be accused of
relationship the unity that
the sin involved in the
Christ wills for the church,
separation, and the Catholic
The Second Vatican Council’s according to Kilcourse.
church embraces upon them
“Decree on Ecumenism”
The ARK May 2011 page 5 Volume 22, Edition 5
“So that you might have hope”
http://www.interchurchfamilies.org/aaif/ARKApril2011Volume22Edition4.pdf
“I often remind such couples Source URL: http://ncronline.org/ The purpose of this “Update”
that in the marriage rite we news/ecumenism-interchurch- was to “remind the whole
marriage
affirm, ‘What God has joined, Catholic community of the vital
we must not divide.’ In that role interchurch couples can
Interchurch
sense, we priests and deacons play in working toward full unity
who witness interchurch of those whose common bond
marriages are defenders of the is Jesus Christ. That these
Marriages:
bond in a special ecumenical marriages succeed is the
sense. The church even concern of us all.”
delegates to the Protestant
spouse a special ministry in the How to Help The introductory paragraph
church -- to see that children notes that “For Catholics about
are raised according to the law to set out on the journey of
of Christ and the church. In Them marriage with a person of
light of Vatican Council II’s another Christian
‘Declaration on Religious denomination, the path ahead
Succeed
Liberty,’ a Protestant spouse is - may seem fraught with perils:
free to make an equivalent dispensations to be obtained,
promise as the Catholic about in-laws to placate, serious faith
baptizing and then raising the by matters to ponder, such as the
child in his/her own church. Elizabeth Bookser Barkley religious education of children.”
“So couples need to work out, In this Catholic Update they However, on the other hand,
in the context of their unique explain that it is our tendency we are left with a sense of
relationship, the religious to often focus on the two hope and of purpose as
identity of children in a way that partners in an interchurch interchurch couples and those
respects their ecumenical, or marriage, in this article it notes who give them pastoral
interchurch, identity.” that it is also a valuable tool support. Why? The article
for: family members, friends explains, “... couples who have
The council reminded us, and fellow parishioners, as we lived creatively and faithfully, in
Kilcourse said, that “whatever reach out to support such a marriage, counsel that
is truly Christian never conflicts interchurch couples in their what may look like obstacles
with the genuine interests of faith journey. can actually lead to real growth
in this exciting journey of love
the faith; indeed, it can only
This article from “Catholic together.”
result in more ample realization
Update” notes that “Many
of the very mystery of Christ
Catholics married to persons of Please note that we are all
and the church.”
other Christian denominations working toward the same goal
feel left out of parish activities and that it is not uncommon
Rich Heffern is an NCR staff
because they don't fit the that what we have struggled
writer. His email address is
profile of the "normal" Catholic with the most becomes the
[email protected]
marriage.” The percentage of best lesson from God.
marriages in the Roman
reprinted with permission from This article examines what
Catholic Church to other
Rich Heffern and the National Christian Unity means, why it is
Christian denominations is
Catholic Reporter important and the role that
significant enough that this
interchurch families play in this
topic should be examined for
process for our Church United
the potential it holds. This
of tomorrow, and that
article begins that journey for
"
reconciled Church “That they
the churches.
The ARK May 2011 page 6 Volume 22, Edition 5
“So that you might have hope”
may be one” that Christ wished at Bellarmine College in interchurch, there may be many
for us. ~ John 17:21 Louisville, Kentucky, and author ways to help them to succeed
of Ecumenical Marriage. as interchurch couples.
Working toward
"The problem is not their
marriage, but the division Laying the foundations
Christian unity between the Churches into
which they've been baptized. of unity
We need to start putting the
Couples in interchurch emphasis where it belongs:
By supporting these marriages,
marriages “don't like to see Christian Churches' indifference
the greater community would
their marriages treated like to unity."
be moving the churches along
problems," says Father George
further toward that unity for
Kilcourse, professor of theology “Since the Second Vatican
which they hope and aspire.
Council, one of the most
These are the concrete ideas
important thrusts of Catholic
AAIF for making marriages work.
Church teaching has been
ecumenism, a vision that some
City Chapters & Elizabeth Bookser Barkley
day Christian Churches will
notes that interchurch families
Listening Project return to the unity that marked
are living examples of a
the early Christian Church. "No
Are you interested in Christian Unity for which the
place does this occur more
meeting and talking to rest of us can only aspire and
deeply than in homes where
other interchurch should aspire.
married Christians of different
families in your city
Churches live and share the
between AAIF Biennial
faith, trying to understand what
Conferences? Elizabeth Bookser Barkley,
they have in common," affirms
Ph.D., is a professor of English
Father Dohrman Byers, pastor
Please See at the College of Mount St.
of Old St. Mary's Church in
www.aifusa.org for Joseph in Cincinnati. She is the
Cincinnati, Ohio.” reports E.B.
membership information author of three books and
Barkley
- 2011 dues are due numerous feature articles.
'What's in a name?' Please see the following link for
Please contact:
information about how to
[email protected]
This part of the article will purchase copies of the full
or Laura & Franz Green
explain why the term article
at [email protected]
interchurch serves this ministry
for information about
best.
how to form a City
http:www.americancatholic.org/
chapter in your area or Eight pointers
Newsletters/CU/ac0690.asp
how to find the AAIF City
Chapter closest to you. for success
Reprinted with permission
of St. Anthony Messenger
AAIF Listening Project
Elizabeth Bookser Barkley
Please contact: Press, 28 W. Liberty St. ,
researched and found eight
[email protected] for the
pointers for success in Cincinnati , OH 45202 .
ARK - AAIF Listening Project
interchurch marriages.
800-488-0488.!www.americ
Materials to be used by your
aaif City Chapters. Although there may be no ancatholic.org. ©1990.!All
single path for interchurch rights reserved.
families to be or to become
The ARK May 2011 page 7 Volume 22, Edition 5
“So that you might have hope”
IFIN - Interchurch Families International Network:
A Report From Around the World - Germany
“Kirchentag,” an ecumenical event that is particular to
Germany, took place in Munich last year. “Kirchentag” is a
significant ecumenical event in Germany. At Munich last
year there were 110,000 people who paid for the whole 4
days, and more than 300,000 people who got a day ticket for
one of the 4 days that the event was held there.
In a very full hall statements
Members of the Netzwerk were presented by Bishop Dr.
Committee also organised an Jaschke, Bishop Junkermann,
Report on the Seminar:
ecumenical service for myself, Dr. Moga and Dr. Plisch
Separated at the
interchurch couples in a the big on the questions: What does
table of the one St.Maximilian church with the the Lord’s Supper mean to
theme: “Unity despite me? What do the fellowship
Lord?
everything”. of the Lord’s Supper and
held at the Ecumenical Members of the Netzwerk eucharistic hospitality mean
Kirchentag in Munich. Committee were involved in to me? What questions do I
three panel discussions in large have about the practice of
At the Second Ecumenical exhibition halls with an other churches? which were
Kirchentag, which attracted audience of more than 5000 then commented on by Prof. Dr.
more than 130,000 visitors to people: the panel on which I Otto Hermann Pesch.
Munich from the 12 – 16 May, include a report below; the
on the theme: So that you panel on the theme: “Pioneers The Catholic Bishop Jaschke
might have hope, the German for unity or the ones who are and the Orthodox theologian
interchurch families association suffering from the separation of Moga explained that a shared
( N e t z w e r k Ö k u m e n e : the churches? Interchurch eucharist and the unity of the
Konfessionsverbindende Paare families as domestic Church”; Church belong closely together,
und Familien in Deutschland) and the panel on “Living today while the Lutheran Bishop
was responsible for the first the Church of tomorrow”. Junkermann said: It is the
time for seven events: And other members of the same Lord in whom we are
We had a stand in the Agora in Netzwerk organized an act of united by our Baptism, who
Hall 6 of the Exhibition Centre, worship in the exhibition hall. invites us to His table. In his
where fifteen couples in turns commentary the Catholic
ran the stand, and another I was invited to take part in the theologian Pesch called for
stand in the Icesports Centre, a seminar held on the 14 May: believers to make a decision
big hall where the international Separated at the table of the according to their conscience.
movement of Christian one Lord? Considering the He pointed to interchurch
communities “Together for Lord’s Supper and the couples and families as the
Europe” held events for a whole Eucharist. nucleus of the future church
day. community. And Dorothea
The ARK May 2011 page 8 Volume 22, Edition 5
“So that you might have hope”
IFIN News continued
Sattler, Director of the View into one of the large convention halls with a sign "HALLE
Ecumenical Institute in UBERFULLT, " which in English means "the hall is full, no more seats". In
the hall C1 of the Exhibition Centre, where seminar No 6 took place, there
Münster, explained that work
were seats for 5000 people. Since it was full, there was a need for the sign
was ongoing towards a
"Halle uberfullt" as shown below. Also note the extremely large number of
common definition of the
hopeful people desiring to be able to get in who had to be turned away.
Lord’s Supper and the
!

Eucharist.
In my own statement I said
among other things that we
h a d g i v e n u p t a k i n g
Communion at both the Lord’s
Supper and the Eucharist for
20 years, as we did not want to
participate separately. We had
married in a Catholic church in
1965 as my husband would
otherwise have been excluded
from the sacraments of his own
church.
Our three children were
baptised Catholics. After the
First Communion of our
youngest daughter I went to
our Catholic priest and showed
him the results of the
theological dialogue, after
which we were invited to share
the Eucharist at Mass. There
are still couples who suffer
through not being invited
together to the Eucharist and
the Lord’s Supper. Shared
pastoral care by the churches
is so rarely possible.
(Friday 16:00 – 17:30 Hall C1,
#
I finished by saying: At least Exhibition Centre)
interchurch couples and
families should be officially (Rosmarie Lauber, Methodist /
invited to participate fully in Statement for Seminar No 6 husband RC / 3 adult children
the Eucharist and the Lord’s RC)
Supper, as an essential part
Separated at the
of their Christian marriage
What does the Lord’s
and family life. table of the one
Supper mean to me?
Lord?
So that you might have hope? The Lord’s Supper is an
Don’t let’s give up hope! Considering the important element of my faith.
In the celebration of the Lord’s
Lord’s Supper and
Rosmarie Lauber Supper Christ offers himself to
the Eucharist. us for the forgiveness of our
Translation by Melanie Finch sins.
The ARK May 2011 page 9 Volume 22, Edition 5
“So that you might have hope”
IFIN News continued
In the celebration we experience the fellowship of our church community.

What do the fellowship of the Lord’s Supper
and eucharistic hospitality
mean to me?
We were married in 1965 and we have always attended worship together, alternate weeks in each of our
churches. We experienced great suffering when for 20 years we had to give up taking Communion at the
Lord’s Supper or at Mass, as we both found it impossible to do so on our own. We only shared the
Eucharist together at the interchurch families conference in Neresheim. After our daughter’s First
Communion I could no longer bear being excluded from the Eucharist. Following an invitation from our
Catholic priest we have taken Communion together at Mass since 1985. We do the same in my church
at the Lord’s Supper. The results of the dialogue between the churches have been a great help.
What questions do I have about the practice of other churches?
Although the theological dialogues have brought a wide measure of agreement on the theology of
marriage as well as the Lord’s Supper and the Eucharist, the Catholic bishops have not taken any further
the decrees on interchurch marriage given by Rome through the Ecumenical Directory (1993) or the
paper from the Ecumenical Commission of the German Bishops’ Conference on the question of
eucharistic hospitality with regard to interchurch couples and families (1997).
Interchurch families suffer from the fact that they are not officially invited to Communion. They often
have difficulties in finding a church community where they feel at home. Many stay away from the
church, because for them the most important expression of Christian marriage and family life is not
officially granted.
Shared pastoral care to interchurch couples is so rarely possible.
At least interchurch couples and families should be officially invited to participate fully in the Eucharist
and the Lord’s Supper, as an essential part of their Christian marriage and family life.
~ Rosmarie Lauber

Translation into English
by Melanie Finch
*** Kirchentag Dresden 1-5th June 2011 ***
http://www.kirchentag.de/
If you are interested, or require further information,
please contact Birte by email " fischer_birte(at)web.de.
To secure a place you need to give Name/Address/Telephone/Date of Birth.
The ARK May 2011 page 10 Volume 22, Edition 5