WASHINGTON (BWA) — The second round in the second series of conversations between the Baptist World Alliance and the Vatican was to take place Dec. 2-8 in Rome.
The first round in this series was held at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 10-15, 2006.
The meetings are jointly planned by the study and research division of the BWA, headed by Fausto Vasconcelos, and the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Paul Fiddes of England, co-chair of the commission on doctrine and interchurch cooperation of the BWA's study and research division, chairs the conversations, along with Arthur Serratelli, Roman Catholic bishop of Patterson, N.J. Joining Vasconcelos, Fiddes and Serratelli in Rome were to be BWA general secretary Neville Callam, as well as other noted Baptist and Catholic leaders, scholars and academics.
The Baptist team consists of permanent members and persons specially invited as “esteemed guests.” Permanent members include Fred Deegbe from Ghana, Lilian Lim from Singapore, Tadeusz Zielinski from Poland, Tomas Mackey of Argentina and Timothy George, Steven Harmon and Nora Lozano of the United States.
Guests for this round of conversations include Massimo Aprile of Italy and Curtis Freeman and Denton Lotz from the United States. Tony Peck, BWA regional secretary for Europe, will also participate.
The theme of the second round of meetings is “Baptism and Lord's Supper/Eucharist as Visible Word of God in the Koinonia of the Church.”
The first series of talks between the BWA and the Vatican took place between 1984 and 1988. The current series, which began in December 2006, continues until 2010.
The BWA general council, meeting in Mexico City in July 2006, approved the present series of theological conversations with the Vatican.
The BWA has previously held theological conversations with the Anglican, Lutheran, Mennonite, Reformed and Orthodox churches.