Full Communion

[PaladinValer]

How many churches/denominations are in Full Communion with the AC? I know that the ELCA, the Old Catholic Church in Germany and the Netherlands, the Churches of North and South India, The Philippine Independent Church, and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church in India (aren't they an Oriental Orthodox Church?)

Are there any others? Also, what is going on with the Full Communion talks between the Church of England and the Methodists over there?

[September]

The Canadian Anglican Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are in Full Communion. The Anglicans and Lutherans in my town have always had a good relationship and the move to Full Communion was seen by most as a very positive thing.

[BAChristian]

The Canadian Anglican Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are in Full Communion. The Anglicans and Lutherans in my town have always had a good relationship and the move to Full Communion was seen by most as a very positive thing.
That's a very good thing.

...now if we can just get those two in communion with the Catholic Church. :P

[artybloke]

That's a very good thing.

...now if we can just get those two in communion with the Catholic Church. :P

OK... your move... ;) :P

[Polycarp1]

What BAChristian and Artybloke said.

Yep.

Let's not minimize the problems -- Catholicism as an institution has serious questions about Anglican beliefs and orders. People of good heart on both sides of the divide are working to eliminate or minimize that.

As you may or may not know, BA, any baptized person who is prepared to meet the criteria mentioned in the catechism (repentance of sin, intent to live a life in Christ, being in love and charity with one's neighbor) is welcome to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord at our altars. That emphatically includes Catholics. Issues such as our defining the Holy Sacrament as Real Presence generally vs. transubstantiation specifically, our lack of adherence to the authority of the Pope and the Magisterium, etc., and the Catholic teaching regarding Anglican orders in Leo XIII's Apostolicae Curae, preclude a loyal Catholic from accepting that invitation. Likewise, our sincere devotion to the right to ask questions, to welcome all who can in good conscience join in our worship instead of providing detailed authoritative statements of belief to which one must subscribe, etc., mean that the Catholic Church cannot, in due respect to what it believes to be essential and important, extend communion to us short of conversion.

But I agree it would be wonderful if we might get beyond the issues that divide us and become one again. William Laud, Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury who was thrown out by the Puritans, wrote a prayer in which we can all share:

Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen.

[BAChristian]

OK... your move... ;) :P
:P...nice...