2005

Tuesday 16th August 2005
Newcastle to host international gathering of interchurch families
An international conference being held in Newcastle ( Australia ) this week will explore the challenges and the rewards experienced by married couples who are committed to two different Christian denominations.

The eleventh International Conference of the Interchurch Families Association is the first to be hosted in Australia at Noah's on the Beach, Newcastle from August 18-21, 2005.

According to conference committee organiser, Mrs Bev Hincks, inter-Church families are increasingly found all over the world. Mrs Hincks, a Newcastle-based Roman Catholic married to Kevin, a committed Anglican, says “about 70% of marriages of Catholics in Australia are to a person from another Christian denomination and a recent survey revealed that 55% of worshipping Catholics today belong in this category.

“More and more theologians see these types of families as living at the cutting edge of Christian unity, but too many inter-Church couples, struggling to live their call to unity amidst their divided Churches, end up either individually or as a couple, dropping out of Church worship and life altogether. This is tragic for them, for their families, and indeed, for the whole Christian community,” said Mrs Hincks.

This week's conference will bring together more than 60 people, including married couples, pastors and their friends from Australia , New Zealand , Canada and the United Kingdom .

Participants will have the opportunity “to share experiences – good and bad – to worship and pray together following several traditions, to consider where God is leading us in our families and beyond, in our parishes and our Church communities”, said Mrs Hincks.

Reverend Dr Gerard Kelly, a theologian who teaches at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and has written extensively on Eucharistic sharing, inter-Church families and theological education, will be one of the conference keynote speakers. Dr Kelly has also participated in the Roman Catholic Dialogues in Australia , and the Faith and Unity Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia .

Mrs Elizabeth Harrington from Brisbane , who was a member of a dialogue between the Uniting Church and the Roman Catholic Church, will collaborate with Newcastle-based Uniting Church Minister, Reverend Dr Chris Budden, in another keynote presentation on inter-Church marriages, their ecumenical significance and challenge to the Churches.

Other special guests include: Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress John and Cathy Tate, Bishop Michael Malone (Catholic Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle), Cardinal Edward Cassidy, Bishop Brian Farran (Anglican Bishop of Newcastle), Bishop Graeme Rutherford (Anglican Assistant Bishop of Newcastle), Reverend Michael Grosas (Hunter Lutheran Church), Reverend Dr Don Evans (Uniting Church of Australia, Hunter Presbytery), and Reverend David Campbell (Moderator, Presbyterian Church of the Hunter)

Inter-Church couples began meeting in the 1960s. There are now groups in more than 12 countries. Previous international conferences have been held in Rome (2003), Canada (2001), Geneva (1998) and Virginia (1996). For more information about the International Association of Interchurch Families visit www.interchurchfamilies.org

NB. This media release is being distributed by Catholic Communications (Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle) for the Australian Interchurch Families Conference.

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