The lack of any real center of authority in ecclesial matters has always been a weakness for Protestants. It is interesting that this conference seems to be focused on finding a scriptural warrant for an authoritative Magisterium. It will be interesting to hear if any of these guys think that such a center of church authority can be "worked up" outside of apostolic secession.
Auch! ...succession.
A Full and Exciting Day of Lutheran/Catholic Beer Brawl (with of course, them folks from out East)!
Phil:
See you tomorrow. I'm very much looking forward to meeting you and Fr. Newman. And I'm very interested in hearing what Fr. Reardon has to say. Needless to say, I have an unsolicited manuscript for him to consider. 
Best,
Mike
John, you're absolutely right. This is the issue, and the conveners of the conference -- particularly the director of the Center, Dr. J. Larry Yoder -- as well as the Catholic and Orthodox speakers at the conference are painfully aware of it. The Orthodox speaker, Fr. Reardon, however, will make a good run at arguing that authority can be found in the episcopal collegium, a bit of an ironical thing, considering there is debatably nearly no such thing among the multiple, autocephalous anti-Western churches. As you say, it will be interesting.
Sean, on the Lutheran-Catholic thing, check out the link to Beer Brawl.
Michael, I look forward to meeting you, at last. It will be a pleasure, finally.
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