Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants

Malagasy Ecumenism

Since my arrival in Mahajanga, Madagascar as the Anglican Bishop, I have come to recognize the very real significance of ecumenical relationships - most especially in this part of Madagascar where Islam is growing rapidly. I have met several pastors and priests from various denominations, and I have had meetings with the leaders of the various churches. In Madagascar the Christians understand the denominational breakdown very simply - there are Roman Catholics, there are Anglicans, there are Protestants, and there are sects.

It is intriguing for me to note that the Christians here see Anglicans as neither Protestants nor Roman Catholics, but a distinct and unique denomination which is a combination of the two. This has afforded me as an Anglican Bishop a great opportunity to be a bridge builder between various Protestant groupings and Roman Catholics. This is, I believe, the unique calling of God on Anglicanism in these days. The Anglican Church in North America is a great example of how the Lord is using the ‘Anglican Way’ to bring various church denominations together.

The relationship between the Anglican Diocese of Mahajanga and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mahajanga is very warm and encouraging. In fact, I had asked that all the Anglican churches in the diocese would include in their public weekly prayers intentions for our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters and especially for those Cardinals who are tasked with electing the next Pope. Now we turn our prayers to giving thanks for the election of Pope Leo XIV.

While we as Anglicans do not a firm and infallible Pope, we do certainly affirm the Bishop of Rome as the successor of Peter, and we acknowledge that a theologically strong Pope will help determine the trajectory of the universal church

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Therefore, would you join me to pray as Jesus prayed in His high priestly prayer, that Ut Omnes Unum Sint - that we all may be one!