Continuing the Conversations

<p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The Malines Conversations are often described as a precursor to the theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion initiated after the Second Vatican Council.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The fruit of a friendship between a French priest and an English aristocrat Cardinal Mercier's initial invitation in 1921 to a group of thinkers from both communions led to several rounds of discussion focused on issues that have long divided Catholics and Anglicans.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Since 2013 an informal and international group of Anglican and Catholic friends known as the Malines Conversations Group has been meeting annually for discussion and fellowship.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This volume represents the fruit of some of these conversations. The informal nature of the group allows for wide-ranging interrogation of diverse topics. The discussions acted as a kind of theological laboratory enabling us to explore afresh some of the issues at stake both between and within our churches.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This volume of essays includes contributions from sacramental theologians liturgists ecclesiologists historians and philosophers. Most are actively involved in Christian ministry.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Interspersed throughout are very short reflections from other theologians and Church leaders who have participated in the conversations as guests over the last decade.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In the words of Rowan Williams' epilogue the hope and prayer of the contributors is that 'this celebration and exploration of the heritage of Malines [might] give us again the grace of being surprised by the gift of Catholic communion.'</span></p>