Bishop writes October - Glenn Davies

Glenn Davies | 1 October 2007

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A common word used to describe the nature of the Anglican Church worldwide is the word “Communion”. It is a translation of the Greek word koinonia, which can express communion, fellowship or partnership. Its use in the New Testament reflects the reality of two (or more) persons sharing in a third entity. Accordingly, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is not a description of a Spirit-inspired feeling of goodwill among believers, but rather a description of our sharing together in the Spirit of Christ.

The reality of being united by faith in Christ is the essence of this fellowship or communion. Similarly, the words often used to describe the Lord’s Supper are “holy communion”, for in this sacred meal believers share together in Christ. It is fundamentally and necessarily a corporate activity for believers, a participation (koinonia) in the body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16).

However, the word is also used by the apostle Paul in terms of mission. Thus he thanks the Philippians for their “partnership in the gospel” (Phil 1:5). The use of koinonia describes the Philippians’ involvement with Paul in his gospel work, including no doubt their financial support of him (Phil 4:18). Local expressions of such “communion” are usually more tangible than the kind of communion we experience across the globe with other Anglicans. As an example of such “gospel fellowship” the newly formed provisional parish of East Chatswood (Hope Anglican Church) has been welcomed by the churches of Willoughby as a “partner” rather than a “competitor”.

Unfortunately Anglicans do not have such a good track record for partnership across parish boundaries, with complaints of letter box dropping “out of bounds” or leaflets being handed out at a train station close by, but not quite within, parish boundaries. Not so the churches of Willoughby. The parish of St Barnabas’, Roseville East was more than happy to doorknock together with parishioners from Hope Anglican Church. They were keen to be partners in the cause of Christ. Similarly St Paul’s Chatswood happily shared their stall at the local Willoughby Council Fair with Hope Anglican Church, a witness to their collegiality, their right hand of fellowship in Christ (Gal 2:9).

While the Anglican Communion worldwide suffers various tensions at the present time, let us make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace at the local level, that outsiders may indeed see that Christians are noted by their love for one another and what they share in common.

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