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ATLANTIC ECUMENICAL COUNCIL |
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The Atlantic Ecumenical Council Conferences
The Churches in Canada owe a great debt to the consecration and competence of the Reverend W. J. Gallagher, the General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches from its inception in 1944 until his death in 1964. William James Gallagher was born in Ontario in 1894 and ordained as a Presbyterian Minister in 1919. After becoming active in the Church Union Movement he joined the United Church of Canada at its inception in 1925. For two decades he served the Canadian Council of Churches with vision, statesmanship, and devotion, and became known throughout the world as an outstanding ecumenical leader.
Dr. Gallagher worked mostly in central Canada, but he did his utmost to promote ecumenism at both extremes of the country. His policy was that, in the intervening year between regular meetings of the Council, there should be regional meetings east and west. In the east, small groups of representatives from several denominations met with him in the immediate post-World War II years. In 1951 the first regional ecumenical conference in the east was held at Mount Allison University. Since then eighteen biennial conferences have been held, usually at University centres. Dr. Gallagher’s assistant, the Reverend Fred N. Poulton, Secretary of the Department of Social Relations, often accompanied him to these ecumenical gatherings in the Atlantic Provinces. Mr. Poulton made a major contribution, his addresses on the potentialities of ecumenical social instrument through which the Churches could express their social concerns.
The 1951 “Regional Ecumenical Conference for the Maritime Provinces” under the auspices of the Canadian Council of Churches, the first of its kind in Canada, was held at Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, 17-19 September, under the chairpersonship of the Reverend Dr. Evan M. Whidden, Dean of Theology at Acadia University. The Reverend Dr. W. C. Machum, General Secretary of the Baptist Maritime Convention, took a leading part in planning the conference, assisted by an ecumenical committee. The conference membership, exclusive of speakers and officers, was about 90, and included the Presidents of Acadia and Dalhousie Universities and many leading Canadian churchmen. The Reverend Dr. Gordon A. Sisco spoke on the history of the ecumenical movement; the Reverend Dr. W. J. Gallagher outlined the nature of the Canadian Council of Churches; the Reverend Fred N. Poulton and the Reverend Canon W. W. Judd shared a presentation on the Church and Social Relations; and the Reverend Professor Elton Scott, of Bishop’s University, gave a paper on Evangelism.
Similar conferences have been held biennially, Designed to promote the ecumenical vision in the Atlantic region. Those who have attended have been inspired to go back to their own communities and promote ecumenical worship, work, and the spirit of unity. The list of the conferences with some details about them is as follows.
FIRST CONFERENCE, 1951, Mount Allison University. Attendance, 93. Theme, ”The Ecumenical Movement.” Chairperson, Rev. Dr. E. M. Whidden. Speakers: Rev. Dr. W. J. Gallagher (“The Canadian Council of Churches”), Very Rev. Dr. J. William Barclay; Rev. J. S. Clarke; Rev. Canon M. W. Judd; Dr. Watson Kirkconnell President, Acadia University); Dr. A. E. Kerr (President, Dalhousie University); Rev. Fred Poulton (“Why Christian Social Action?”); Rev. Professor Elton Scott (Bishop’s University); Rev. Dr. Gordon A. Sisco (“History of the Ecumenical Movement”).
SECOND CONFERENCE, 1953, Mount Allison University. Attendance, 70. Chairperson, Dr. Watson Kirkconnell. Speakers: Rev. Dr. W. J. Gallagher (“Emergent Problems Facing the Canadian Council of Churches”, ”Obstacles to Ecumenicity at the Local Level”); Judge J. Aiken Dickson (“Christian Responsibility and our System of Justice”); Rev. Canon R. K. Naylor (Montreal, “Christian Education in Schools and Colleges”); Rev. H. L. Puxley (“Our Conception of Christian Missions”); Very Rev. Dr. C. M. Nicholson.
THIRD CONFERENCE, 1955, King’s College, Halifax, NS Attendance, 50. Theme, “The Ministry and Social Responsibility of the Church in Canada”. Chairperson, Very Rev. Dr. C. M. Nicholson. Speakers: Rev. Dr. D. F. Forrester (”The Anglican Ministry”); Rev. Frank Lawson (“The Ministry of the Reformed Churches”); Rev. Fred Poulton (“Our Social Responsibility in Canada”); Rev. Dr. Harvey Denton (Germain Street Baptist Church, Saint John, N.B.); Rev. Dr. W. J. Gallagher (”Whither the Canadian Council of Churches?”).
FOURTH CONFERENCE, 1957, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS Attendance, 64. Theme, “The Nature of the Unity We Have and Seek.” Chairperson, Dr. Watson Kirkconnell. Speakers: Rev. Dr. W. J. Gallagher; Rev. Dr. H. L. Puxley; Rev. A. F. MacLean; Rev. Fred Poulton (“The Function of the Laity in the Church”); Rev. Dr. Evan Whidden; Rev. Dr. Ralph Chalmers (reporting on the Oberlin North American Conference, “The Nature of the Unity we Have”); Rev. A. Stanley Hart; Rev. W. E. Hart (”The Challenge of the Word “One” in the New Testament.”).
FIFTH CONFERENCE, 1959, University of New Brunswick. Attendance, 60. Theme, “Ecumenical Themes”. Chairperson, Rev. Dr. J. D. MacLeod. Speakers: Rev. Dr. W. J. Gallagher (“Theology of Evangelism and Missions”, “The Problem of Refugees”); Rev. R. M. Bennett (“The Changing Pattern of Christian Missions”); Rev. F. E. Vipond (“The Use and Understanding of the Bible”); Rt. Rev. A. H. O’Neil, Rev. W. E. Hart (“How to Make Ecumenicity Local”); Rev. R. E. Osborne (“A Plan of Action”).
SIXTH CONFERENCE, 1961, University of King’s College. Attendance, 55. Theme, “Ecumenical Topics.” Chairperson, Rev. Canon A. Stanley Hart; Rev. Dr. W. J. Gallagher; Rev. David W. Hay; Rev. Frank Lawson (“Witness to Community, Nation and World”); Rev. Dr. M. R. Cherry (devotional speaker); Rev. Dr. L. H. Hatfield (“Service”); Rev. Fred Poulton (“International Peace”, “Immigration of Refugees”); Rev. Dr. Ralph Chalmers.
SEVENTH CONFERENCE, 1963, Mount Allison University. Attendance, 40. Theme, “Faith and Order”. Chairperson, Rev. Dr. E. D. Murray. Speakers: Rev. Dr. J. C. McClelland (”The New Testament Church, Ministry and Sacraments”); Rev. Dr. R. C. Chalmers (“Impressions of the Faith and Order Conference, Montreal, 11-26 July 1963”); Rev. Dr. E. R. Hay (Devotions based on the Fourth Gospel); Rev. Dr. C. M. Nicholson. It was agreed at this conference that the series of conferences originally entitled “Regional Ecumenical Conference for the Maritime Provinces” be changed to the “Atlantic Region Ecumenical Conference”.
EIGHTH CONFERENCE, 1965, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS Attendance, 60. Theme, “Unity in Mission”. Chairperson, Rev. Prof. R. B. Lovesey. Speakers: Rt. Rev. R. L. Seaborn (devotions); Rev. Dr. R. G. Demarsh (”Unity in Missions”); Dr. W. J. Nottingham (Associate-Secretary, Youth Department, World Council of Churches, “Some Ecumenical Perspectives”). A book display was presented by the Reverend M.C.P. MacIntosh (Nova Scotia District Secretary of the Canadian Bible Society).
NINTH CONFERENCE, 1967, Anglican Diocesan Centre, Halifax. Attendance, 49. Theme, ”The Church and the Secular World”. Chairperson, Rev. Dr. R. C. Chalmers. Speakers: Venerable A. Stanley Hart (devotions); Mr. Lloyd Shaw (”What is the World? or, The World We Live In”); Rev. C. Russell Elliott (“What is the Church?”); Rev. Fr. Colin Campbell (“The Church’s Mission to the World”); Rt. Rev. Leonard Hatfield (“Evangelistic Uncertainties in the Contemporary Situation”, “Impressions from the World Council of Churches’ Central Committee Meetings in Crete”).
TENTH CONFERENCE, 1969, Mount Allison University. Attendance, 51. Theme, “Listening to Youth”. Chairperson, Venerable A. Stanley Hart. Speakers: Dr. Boss Snyder (Chicago Theological Seminary), Rev. Maurice Wilkinson (Canadian Council of Churches); Miss Betty Milligan (Student Christian Movement Secretary); Rev. Alan Reynolds (Chaplain, Mount Allison University); Youth of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Sackville, N.B.; Rev. Don Trivett (Chaplain, Dalhousie University).
ELEVENTH CONFERENCE, 1971, Acadia University. Attendance, 74. Theme, ”Ecumenism And—“. Chairperson, Rev. Dr. M. R. B Lovesey. Speakers: Rev. Dr. I. Judson Levy (Devotions); Dr. Donald G. Dodds (Professor of Biology, Acadia University, ”Ecumenism and the Problems of Hunan Environment”); Rev. Dr. T. E. Floyd Honey (General Secretary, Canadian Council of Churches, “Ecumenism in Canada and the World”}; Rev. Don Trivett (“Ecumenism and the Continuing Task of Theological Restatement”); Rev. Dr. J.R.C. Perkin (“Ecumenism and the Radio Ministry”). Reports from nine Local Councils of Churches were presented.
TWELFTH CONFERENCE, 1973, NS Agricultural College, Truro. Attendance, 85. Theme, “Man in Community”. Chairperson, Rt. Rev, H. L. Nutter. Speakers: Rev. Dr. A. 0. Dyson {Principal, Ripon Hall, Oxford, gave three lectures under the title “Man in Community”, (1) The Local Community – Change and Decay, (2) Issues and Projects in the Local Community, (3) The Local Community and the Gospel}; Rev. Dr. T. E. Floyd Honey (”Churches in Community? Ecumenical Developments in Canada and the World”). At an Ecumenical Service of Worship and Witness in St. John’s Anglican Church, Truro, attended by 300, the “Friends of the Atlantic Ecumenical Council”, with the Rev. Dr. M.R.B. Lovesey as its organizing secretary, was formally constituted.
THIRTEENTH CONFERENCE, 1975, Acadia Divinity College. Attendance, 87. Theme, “The Churches Face the Future”. Chairperson, Rev. Dr. Gregory A. MacKinnon. Speakers: Rev. Canon David L. Edwards (Rector of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, and Chaplain to the British House of Commons, who preached and gave three lectures under the theme title); Rev. Dr. E. S. MacKay (Associate-Secretary, Canadian Council of Churches, “Ecumenical Development in Canada and the World”).
FOURTEENTH CONFERENCE, 1977, St. Francis Xavier University. Attendance, 107. Theme, “Christian Unity and Christian Diversity”. Chairperson, Rev. Dr. Reginald S. Dunn. Speakers: Rev. Dr. John MacQuarrie (Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity and Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, who preached a sermon and gave three lectures under the theme title of the conference; the second lecture dealt with Visible Unit : Ten Propositions); Rev. Donald Anderson (General Secretary, Canadian Council of Churches, reflected on the work of the Council).
FIFTEENTH CONFERENCE, 1979, University of King’s College. Attendance, 99. Theme, “All in Each Place”. Chairperson, Rev. Canon S.J.P Davies. Speakers: Rev. David M. Gill (Director of the World Council of Churches’ Sub-Unit on Renewal and Congregational Life, Geneva, who preached and gave three lectures under the theme title, (1) Ecumenism and the Local Church, (2) Structures for Local Ecumenism: Five Models (3) Where Do We Go from Here?); Rev. Alan McIntosh (Sydney, NS, Vice- President of the Canadian Council of Churches); Rev. Roger Cann (staff member, Canadian Council of Churches); Rev. Professor Thomas A. ~ Mabey (Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax, NS).
SIXTEENTH CONFERENCE, 1981, Memramcook Institute, St. Joseph, N.B. Attendance, SO. Theme, “A Society to be Transformed”. Chairperson, Rev. Dr. Roy DeMarsh. Speakers: Rev. Dr. Robert McAfee Brown (Professor of Theology, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California) who preached and gave three lectures under the theme title, (1) Larger Horizons, Smaller World, (2) Liberation: what happens when it gets closer to home? (3) The Church as Agent of Transformation.
SEVENTEENTH CONFERENCE, 1983, Acadia University. Attendance, 75. Theme, “Jesus Christ, the Life of the World: Vancouver Follow-up”. Chairperson, Rev. D. Murdo Marple. Speakers: Mrs. Heather Johnston {Vice-President, Canadian Council of Churches); Rev. Fr. Thomas E. Ryan, CSP (Associate Director, Canadian Centre for Ecumenism, Montreal, PQ); Rev. John E. Boyd; Rev. W. E. Moore; Rev. Dr. J. K. Zeman. This conference shared the inspiration and challenge of the 6th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, Vancouver, BC, July 24 to August 10, 1983, with the representatives of the Christian communities in the Atlantic region. All the speakers listed had participated in the Vancouver experience.
EIGHTEENTH CONFERENCE, 1985, NS Agricultural College. Attendance, 51. Theme, “Education for Ecumenism”. Chairperson, Most Rev. H. L. Nutter (Anglican Bishop of Fredericton and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada). Speakers: Rev. Dr. Robert K. Welsh (Vice-President, Council on Christian Unity of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, who preached and gave three lectures under the theme title, (1) The Nature of the Ecumenical Movement Today, (2) Learning to Live with Diversity, (3) The Relation between Spirituality and the Ecumenical Future); Rev. John E. Boyd “Educating Youth for Ecumenism”); Rev. Debbie Aitken (devotions).
NINETEENTH CONFERENCE, 1987, NS Agricultural College. Attendance, 82. Theme, “Mission and Ministry – Called and Sent – An Ecumenical View”. Chairperson, Rev. John E. Boyd. Speakers: Most Rev. Edward W. Scott (Former Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, who preached and delivered three lectures under the theme title, (1) The World, (2) Mission, (3) Ministry); Archbishop H. L. Nutter; Rev. W. J. Moore; Rev. P. A. McDonald; Rev. Mark Innes.
TWENTIETH CONFERENCE, 1989, Mount Allison University. Attendance, 67. Theme, ”Ecumenism Today”. Chairperson, Rev. Sandy McDonald. The keynote speaker was Dr. S. Glen Hinson, Professor of Church History, Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, U.S.A., a member of the World Council of Churches, who delivered three lectures, (1) “Not My Prayer, But Yours”, (2) “Reception of the Baptism, Eucharist Statement”, (3) “Confessing Apostolic Faith Today”. A new feature of the Conference was workshops. These were held in the areas of World Religions (led by Dr. Tom Sinclair Faulkner); After the Canadian Christian Festival, led by Rev. Neil Bergman; Media an the Churches, led by Rev. Heber Kean.
TWENTY- FIRST CONFERENCE, 1991,August 26-28, U.P.E.I., Charlottetown, PEI Chairperson Rev. Arthur Pendergast. Keynote speakers were Rev. Ruth and Rev. Philip Jefferson, and Rev. Dr. Roy Wilson. The Jeffersons spoke on “Spirit of Truth – Set Us Free” and ”Holy Spirit: Transform and Sanctify Us”. In addition, there were three workshops, (a) Liturgical Renewal – Rev. Roland Hutchinson, (b) Personal Transformation – Rev. Paul Vavasour and Rev. Ross Howard, Experience in Unity – Leadership from some PEI Council of Churches.
It is recognized that these conferences continue to be a most important contribution of the Atlantic Ecumenical Council to the growth of the churches working together in their one ministry. The first move to form an Ecumenical Council in the Atlantic region came at the University of King’s College in 1955 when Canon H. L. Puxley, President of King’s, proposed in a resolution “that steps be taken to promote a Maritime Ecumenical Council for Social Action”. The seed was sown, but did not germinate that year. It was not until the next conference at Acadia in 1956, following closely on the First North American Faith and Order Conference, Oberlin 1957, and reported on by the Reverend Dr. R. C. Chalmers of Pine Hill Divinity Collage, that a move was made to form a Council in the Atlantic region of Canada.
The formation of this Council, following action in 1957, began as a Faith and. Order study group in Halifax attended by men from Halifax, Dartmouth, Wolfville, and beyond. This group met about eight times each year. Professors from Acadia, King’s, Pine Hill, and nearby universities, assisted in presenting stimulating papers for discussion. The group still continues as the Faith and Order Commission of the Halifax-Dartmouth Council of Churches.
Then it came about that the original idea of an Ecumenical Council for social action took root through the studies of this Faith and Order group. Out of this ferment and decision for more ecumenical organization was formed the Halifax-Dartmouth Council of Churches in 1961, with Canon Puxley as its first president.
It was at the University of King’s College in September 1961, on a motion by Canon Puxley, strongly supported by the Reverend Max DeWolfe and the Reverend H. H. Hilchey, that the decision was made to form a Maritime Ecumenical Council. Later the name was changed to the Atlantic Ecumenical Council in order to include Newfoundland. In 1964 the Council was formed provisionally with Dr. R. C. Chalmers as president; Archdeacon A. Stanley Hart, vice-president; Captain F. A. Watkin (Salvation Army), secretary; and the Reverend D.F.L. Trivett, treasurer. The Council formally came into being on 15 February 1966. |