Exploring Ecumenism

Arguments For and Against Ecumenism

I received a comment the other day which asked for positives and negatives about ecumenism to enable the reader to come to a conclusion.  I'm not sure I can achieve the last part because ecumenism is in its nature something we all have to make a decision about.  The aim of this post is simply to suggest some things you may wish to consider if you are unsure about ecumenism.

The Future of 'Exploring Ecumenism'

I have, during the last week, been reviewing my blogging and now I am at the stage where I can announce the changes I intend to make over the coming months.  Why am I making these changes?

Mythos and Logos

I want to conclude this sequence about communion by explaining what I think about it.  This is what works for me.  I don't insist it is the answer for anyone else but if you find it helpful ...

Why is Communion so Divisive?

I think there are three reasons why Communion is so divisive. 

1. There are the issues to do with authority. Communion is the foundation liturgical practice of all the churches and it matters. It spills over into all manner of faith and order issues.
2. Even closely related traditions have grown apart. This covers what we believe about communion and also how we decide what constitutes right practice.
3. There is the matter of ecumenical reception and that is what I intend to focus upon in this post.

Anglican Methodist Covenant 4: Disposal of the Elements

Let me be clear from the outset I have no particular problem with consuming the elements immediately after the service.  I don't see any objection to feeding the bread to the birds either, or pouring the wine back into the bottle, although there seem to be hygiene considerations here.

My problem with the report I referred to yesterday is the assumption that there is one correct interpretation of communion.  I fully appreciate we need to consider the sensibilities of those who believe differently from us but that means we need to be clear about what we're doing out of conviction and what is to protect the sensibilities of others.

Anglican Methodist Covenant 3: The Common Cup

I do not find Chapter 5 of In the Spirit of the Covenant terribly helpful.  This first report of the Joint Implementation Commission for the Anglican Methodist Covenant, includes the chapter 'The Bread and Wine of Holy Communion'. In it, from section 5.4.12, the question of the use of the common cup in communion is raised.

As far as I can remember, the first trays of small communion cups were imported from the United States during the first decade of the twentieth century.  Today the overwhelming majority of Methodist churches use them. As the report says, the reason is probably non-alcoholic communion wine, introduced around the turn of the century and fears of contacting some infection without the sterilizing effect of alcohol.  It appears such an infection from a single common cup is remote, at least it was in 2005.  Perhaps swine flu has raised the question again.

Anglican Methodist Covenant 2: Interchangeability of Ministry

Interchangeability of Ministry is a fascinating problem because it is almost invisible.  Let us say we have a Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership between the Church of England and the Methodist Church.  A Methodist Minister regularly presides over Communion in the Parish Church, with the permission of the Bishop and using the Church of England rites.  Nevertheless this service is Methodist and not Church of England.  Similarly a Church of England Minister's communion services are Anglican, whatever the venue and rites.

Anglican Methodist Covenant: Outstanding Issues

The Anglican Methodist Covenant was signed on 1 November 2003.  The photo is from the signing ceremony.  The Covenant commits both churches (the Church of England and the Methodist Church of Great Britain) to a closer working relationship.  It is an example of bilateral ecumenism and so I intend to write a a few posts about it as a case study of ecumenism in England.  As most of the outstanding issues that separate the two churches relate to communion, one way or another, it seems appropriate to discuss the Covenant here.

Mass and Communion

It is always difficult to write about traditions other than your own.  Indeed the temptation to criticise others is always with us and it can make for amusing reading.  But if we are to learn how to live with one another, we need to learn to appreciate each other's beliefs.  Beliefs which mean a lot to others might not mean so much to us.  We can try to understand and appreciate, but at some level, maybe we cannot bring the same passion to the subject as others might.

Nevertheless it is always important to attempt interpretation for the benefit of others; to try to encourage understanding.  Of course I am bound to fail at some level but the effort is worth it.  One reason failure is guaranteed is because I am setting out to simplify and to generalise.  I am not seeking depth of understanding, let alone the experience of attending the Mass.  What I want to show is how those of us who are non-episcopal Christians can at least see a path through the fog. 

Holy Communion: The Sacrament that Divides

I thought it might be helpful at this stage to write about communion.  Communion is possibly the most divisive practice between the churches, and so if we are to understand modern ecumenism we need to understand the problem we have all inherited.