The Catholic, Anglican, Uniting and Lutheran churches of Port Macquarie acknowledged the anniversary with a joint service on October 31 at St Agnes Church followed by supper at St Thomas’ Hall.

More than 500 people attended the service with opening statements from Father Leo Donnelly, Pastor Dr Gordon Watson, Reverend Malcolm Hausler and Reverend Stuart Webb.

Uniting Church minister and Charles Sturt University professor of theology, Reverend Professor James Haire, and Jesuit priest and historian, Father Peter L’Estrange, were guest speakers.

Reverend Professor Haire spoke about common ground and what could be learnt from the movement, while Father L’Estrange spoke about Martin Luther, Luther’s family and how he worked.

The reformation was a movement for reform within the medieval church.

Reverend Professor Haire said because of political, religious and economic reasons, the church split, forming the Protestant churches and the continuing medieval church, which became the Catholic Church in a reformed way.

Father L’Estrange said by the 1520s, the Lutherans had great influence in the Netherlands, the Baltic nations and the Nordic nations, and less so in France, Spain and Italy.

 The joint service to mark the Reformation’s 500th anniversary was significant, Reverend Professor Haire said, because it wouldn’t have been done in the past.

“The significance is we all face our common history,” he said.

“We face it in a very positive way in that we are regretful for the unintended consequences of the Reformation.

“It was a renewal movement, which had unintended consequences, so we regret that but we also give thanks that there were good things that came out of it for all of us.”

The Lutherans and the Catholics in 1999 came to an agreement about the central theological points.

Father L’Estrange said there had been very serious theological discussion and ecumenical discussion and coexistence.

Charles Sturt University Emeritus Professor Ross Chambers said there had been tremendous work with people carefully listening to each other, and clarifying things that seemed to keep people apart but didn’t, and so discovering the things we held in common.

“The other side of that has been that we also recognise there will also be diversity,” he said.

“We can learn from each other and the different experiences.”