Participants in the Roman Catholic-Evangelical Dialogue as of December 2017. Left to right, top row: Frank Patrick, Brett Salkeld, James Pedlar. Middle row: Mark Yenson, Carole Tapin, Jo-Ann Badley, Aileen van Ginkel, Bishop Christian Riesbeck. Front row: David Freeman, Aurélie Caldwell, Lisa Radice, Carolyn Chau.
The national Roman Catholic–Evangelical Dialogue met for its semi-annual meeting on 13 December 2017 in Mississauga, Ont. Dialogue participants discussed questions relating to evangelization, vocation, and mission based on a variety of readings provided by both the Evangelical and Catholic participants.
A primary focus of the meeting was dialogue surrounding the roles of lay and clerical vocations in relation to mission. The readings recommended by both caucuses contributed significantly to the depth and richness of the conversation. Catholics and Evangelicals affirmed the fostering of vocations within the Church by living the message of Jesus Christ in their lives, both individually and as communities.
The Catholic–Evangelical Dialogue is jointly sponsored by The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Dialogue was officially launched in 2010, following recommendations from a working group that was established in 2008-2009.
The goal of the Dialogue is to seek mutual understanding and learning from one another, to dispel harmful stereotypes and to seek ways and means to foster Christian unity. Members of the Dialogue pray together and seek to gather together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit so as to witness to their common faith in Jesus Christ.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 8 May 2018, and will focus on reflections from both caucuses related to tradition, Scripture, salvation and the Church.