The love story that is the Association of Interchurch Families
The Love Story that is the Association of Interchurch Families!
As the Executive Officer of the Association of Interchurch Families for the past two years, I've had the privilege of becoming intimately acquainted with our organisation's beautiful love story. Though I wasn't there at the beginning, I've been deeply moved by the accounts of our founding members and the legacy they've built.
It all began in 1968, I'm told, with a couple's struggle that still resonates with many today - the heartache of not being able to involve both their churches in their baby's baptism. That catalysed a week of silence between them, and that silence became the catalyst for a movement that has touched countless lives, including my own.
I've heard wonderful stories about Ruth and Martin Reardon, the couple who opened their home and hearts to others facing similar challenges. Their living room became a sanctuary where couples could share their experiences and find comfort in each other's company. The first national meeting that they called in November 1968 marked the birth of the AIF, and with it, a new chapter in our collective love story.
In my short time here, I've seen firsthand how our association continues to be a beacon of hope for couples navigating the complexities of interchurch marriages. We've maintained and expanded the support network built by my predecessors through the years, offering guidance on issues that can cause tension - marriage, baptisms, communion. It's incredibly rewarding to be able to help people, and a joy when they realize they're not alone.
While I wasn't present for many of the historical milestones on the ecumenical journey of the past 50 years, I've seen the lasting impact of these improvements and changes (I'm a 1970's child from an interchurch family, so those aren't just words but genuine lived experience!). Couples today still benefit from the ability to celebrate shared baptisms and to explore whether they can, in some limited situations, take communion in both churches, but they still sometimes need help and guidance to know this can happen and to negotiate these things.
What moves me most about our work is how our members embody Christian unity in their daily lives. I often reflect on Pope John Paul II's words from 1982, that interchurch families "live in their marriage the hopes and difficulties of the path to Christian Unity". It's a profound responsibility and an incredible honour to support these couples.
Although I missed our golden jubilee in 2018, I've heard wonderful accounts of over 60 members gathering to celebrate 50 years of love, understanding, and unity. The ecumenical service, led by leaders from various Christian denominations, stands as a powerful symbol of the bridges we've built over the years.
In my role today, I'm filled with hope for our future. We remain committed to supporting interchurch couples from whatever christian traditions they span, providing information, and being a voice for these families in the broader Christian community. Our work continues to expand beyond national borders, fostering connections worldwide through the integration of the interchurchfamilies.org site into our own website, and even maintaining links with the Vatican and other denominational headquarters.
The romance of our Association is a testament to love conquering differences, faith strengthened through diversity, and unity found in the most intimate of human bonds - marriage, and family. As I help guide our organisation in supporting couples on their own paths to unity, and their grown interchurch children in their own faith paths, I'm reminded daily that love truly knows no boundaries. It's a privilege to be part of this ongoing love story, and I look forward to contributing to the chapters yet to be written in the coming years.
