Must Ecumenism be about Control?

More than a century ago, the sociologist Max Weber wrote at length to argue for a fundamental difference between the two religious groupings [Protestants and Catholics], which resulted in Reformed Protestants becoming identified with self-discipline and a 'spirit of capitalism', and Protestants associated with a highly regulated 'work ethic' rarely possessed by Catholics.  The notion still holds some sway in popular consciousness, but detailed acquaintance with the story of Reformation and Counter-Reformation makes it dissolve into qualifications and contradiction; it is an idea best avoided.  Discipline and the urge to order people's lives were ecumenical qualities.  (From: A History of Christianity , by Diarmaid MacCulloch, page 685)

I'm still reading Diarmaid MacCulloch's book and my eye was caught by this paragraph and particularly the last sentence.  Most likely MaCulloch means ecumenical in the sense that all traditions shared the same urge.  However, I must confess I do feel at times that the aim of full visible unity is discipline and the desire to order people's lives. 

This is, of course, a desire not restricted to ecumenical Christians.  Indeed, it seems the more authoritarian the church, the less ecumenical it is likely to be.  Christians tell themselves their desire to order other people's lives is because they care about everyone's immortal souls.  I am somewhat sceptical about this.  After reading of the violence doled out by many Christian traditions, in the name of upholding the law, control seems to be more about the lack of faith of would-be controllers than any innate problem on the part of the mass of humanity.

Ecumenists tend to avoid the rhetoric of control.  At least, insofar as most would see the authority and discipline structures of the churches as barriers to ecumenism.  But dig deeper and the argument is turned on its head.  If the aim becomes to reconcile these differing structures, then it is easy to conclude authority and discipline is the goal of ecumenism.

How much authority and discipline do churches need?  For a faith that is about God's love superseding the law of Israel, there seems to be an awful lot of law around.  (A glorious example was Anne Widdecombe's recent contribution to the Channel 4 series: The Bible A History.  It was fascinating to learn that at one time the 10 commandments were on display in every church in England but it does leave me asking, whether the 10 commandments are really as central to the revelation of Jesus Christ as she seems to believe.)

It seems there needs to be a conversation about what we want as churches together.  Are there traditions in Christian history, where an ecumenical spirit is coupled with a reverence for diversity?  Here is one example: Dionysius bar Salibi , a 12th Century Syrian theologian was a miaphysite  and a member of the Syrian Orthodox Church.  Nevertheless he is revered by Chalcedonian Orthodox believers.  This is what he said about ecumenism

The fact that people of every country pray differently, and have something which singles them out from the rest, goes to their credit.  First because it indicates the wealth of their devotions and spiritual vigour.  Secondly because it is a sign of the incomprehensibility of God, who wishes to be glorified in different ways in different countries, cities and towns.

This was brought to my attention through a private communication and I don't know the origins of this quote.  Does anyone know of other similar Christian statements?

Comments

[Chris Sissons]

Martin Deane commented on Facebook today: Huh? Then what's Communism about?? :)

[Chris Sissons]

I replied: I'm not sure I follow your question. If you're saying communism is about control, then yes I suppose it is. The Reformation laid the foundations of Capitalism and so presumably the foundations of Communism too. Give me a bit more to chew on if you want a proper answer.

[Stephen Brown]

Here's the source for the quote, I think:
http://www.archive.org/stream/woodbrookestudie01theouoft/woodbrookestudie01theouoft_djvu.txt
Thanks for an interesting post, will try and comment more later. I've coined the term "opensource ecumenism" to distinguish the "bazaar" (open) approach from the "cathedral" (hierarchical) approach.

[Chris Sissons]

Thank you. This looks like an interesting document and I will read it as soon as I have time. I look forward to hearing more about opensource ecumenism. I wrote recently about metropolitan ecumenism (http://chrississons.typepad.co.uk/exploring_ecumenism/2010/02/metropolitan-ecumenism.html), is this the same as what you mean by cathedral ecumenism?