Cursillo movement branches out in USA: CEN 9.11.09 p 8. September 20, 2009
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Church of North America, Church of England Newspaper.trackback
Fears of litigation from the Episcopal Church have prompted the have prompted the formation of an independent Cursillo movement for members of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
At an Aug 29 meeting in Bedford, Texas, alumni of the National Episcopal Cursillo and the Canadian Anglican Cursillo formed ‘Anglican 4thDay’ to serve breakaway Anglicans in North America.
The weekend renewal movement was first organized by Roman Catholic laymen in Spain in the 1940’s, and was introduced into the Episcopal Church in 1970. A Cursillo weekend is a three-day retreat led by lay people with clergy serving as spiritual advisors. The organization’s literature states the weekend is not intended to be a “conversion experience but an enriching and deepening of what is already there.”
“The weekend begins Thursday evening spent in the Chapel with meditations, discussions, and Compline. Then blessed silence is kept until after the worship on Friday morning. After breakfast participants are assigned to table groups for the weekend. The three days are filled with talks and group discussions with emphasis on the doctrine of Grace, the Sacraments, and the great Cursillo tripod: Piety, Study, and Action,” its literature states.
The Cursillo weekend is “not an end to itself,” But a “starting point that lasts the rest of your life” or the “Fourth Day”, where the lessons learned are lived out.
The name Anglican 4thDay was selected as it best symbolizes the Cursillo experience, Kathleen Adams, one of the organizers said. “Though we are changing our name, we will be continuing the traditions passed down to us in the Cursillo experience.”
4thDay spokesman the Rev. John Nuzum told The Church of England Newspaper said legal considerations prompted the formation of the new group. “Cursillo is a registered trademark licensed to the Episcopal Church,” he said, adding that “legal counsel” recommended the formation of the new entity in light of the hostile climate of North American Anglicanism.
At its 2009 meeting, the Canadian House of Bishops stated “diocesan bishops have the authority to decide who may serve on Cursillo leadership teams. The House, with regret, is of the opinion that clergy and laity who are members of the [ACNA affiliated] Anglican Network in Canada (ANIC) should not be given permission to exercise a leadership role in the Cursillo Movement of the Anglican Church of Canada.”
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As a former member of a local secretariat. And in light of the highly polictical nature of the Anglican Church of Canada, I responded to the call to minister outside the Anglican church of Canada. Shortly there after I was hurt by the Bishop’s statement excluding me and others from the Cursillo movement. I have witnessed clergy of other denominations take leadership roles and so I was surprised by the Bishop decision. I beleive strongly in the method of Cursillo and practice my 4th day weekly, both in my daily life as a Disciple of Christ, but also in weekly grouping. I am very encouraged by the foresight that has gone into creating “4th Day” and in the future I hope to bring “4th Day” to the church community in which I now serve. I would be willing and eager to be part of any local “4th Day” movement should that arise in my area in Ontario.