Anglican liturgists focus on healing and reconciliation

Representatives from throughout the Anglican Communion came together recently 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 Rev. Alan Rufli, rector of Clondalkin, who is also the Church of Ireland’s electronic liturgical officer and diocesan liturgical officer for Dublin and Glendalough.

He 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, 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 representatives from countries 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.

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.

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