by Matthew Davies

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams, delivered a keynote address today at St Albans Abbey, Hertfordshire, as part of a major conference on Christian Unity.

The Director of the St Albans Centre for Christian Studies, Canon Iain Lane, said that the conference, entitled May they all be one...but how?, "aims to stimulate, encourage and inspire a renewed commitment to discover a form of unity which is practical and achievable in the next generation."

During the welcome, the Very Revd Christopher Lewis, Dean of St Albans Abbey, emphasized that Christian Unity and Ecumenism are central to the life of the church. The Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St Albans, announced that there are more ecumenical partnerships in the diocese than any other in the United Kingdom.

In his address, Archbishop Rowan stressed the importance of prayer and mission and explained that unity is when people are drawn into Jesus' own relationship with God the Father. "Unity relies on the everlasting fact of self-giving," he said. "It is most fundamentally what is happening in Jesus...contemplative emersion in His relationship to the Father."

As a framework to exploring Christian Unity, Dr Williams defined four pillars: Contemplation; Pilgrimage; Festival; and Service. "Pilgrimage is being rediscovered through a Christian action. Walking together becomes a transforming reality.... Festival is celebrating together.... Service is a celebration of what calls us in Christ's name."

Furthermore, Archbishop Rowan said that the church is a community where Christ gives in each to all. "When we recognise this we know God's eternal giving," he said. "Recognition of the gift that God gives - that seems to be a category that encapsulates everything that I've been trying to say about prayer and mission being fundamental to unity."

The Archbishop also talked about his intentions for the Anglican Gathering of bishops, clergy and laity in 2008 as being a chance for exploration and celebration as opposed to a forum for discussing issues.

The other keynote speakers were Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and a leading Catholic theologian; and the Revd Elizabeth Welch, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2001/2 and a former member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches.

The conference was jointly organised by: the Newman Association, the Catholic organisation promoting an informed laity; the Society for Ecumenical Studies, an organisation committed to the search for Christian unity through dialogue, study, and mutual understanding; and the St Albans Centre for Christian Studies, an ecumenical centre for Christian learning based at St Albans Cathedral.

A CD of edited highlights of the day will be available from Churches Together in England, 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH, UK.

A video is also being produced and can be obtained from: MEDIA INK, 28 Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts, AL3 5PE, UK. Email: bobwalters@btinternet.com