More thoughts about Subversive Ecumenism

The Sheffield Jesus Seminar drew about 30 people to its meeting, on 22 May 2010, mostly over thirty and lay people with teaching or preaching roles in the church.  It took place at St Mark's, Broomhill in Sheffield and so perhaps most were Anglican, with a sprinkling of Methodists and URC, and one Catholic.

The following are some of the issues that arose from my paper, presented at the meeting.  They represent the concerns of that particular group of people, who had an opportunity to reflect upon four other papers too.  So, whilst of interest, they do not necessarily relate directly to my paper.

1. The scribe in the story about the Greatest Commandment is the only person who gets a straight answer from Jesus.  His story follows a series of questions designed to trap Jesus, and he is the one person asking a genuine question.  It is also worth noting Jesus does not quote the Shema directly, he adds in to love with mind as well as heart, soul and strength (NRSV).  Presumably, the addition of mind is an example of Jesus speaking directly to the condition of the scribe, who is a scholar.
2. Is ecumenism anti-pluralist?  I suspect this question, often unspoken or hinted at, is behind some of the coolness some feel towards ecumenism these days.  The fear is the Meccano model will lead to a monolithic church.  What started as a movement of lay people, has been hi-jacked by church hierarchies and become an exercise in power.  Whether or not this view is right, it is certainly prevalent.
3. Closely related, were questions about the role of ministers.  Given the way in which ministers seem to have cornered doctrine, who should be leading in today's church, lay or ordained?
4. Another lively issue is the problem of loving those who exclude others.  The concern here is inspired by the upcoming debate about women bishops and prejudices about sexuality.  Is it possible to love your neighbour's view as much as your own?  Indeed, is it our calling to love our neighbour or their point of view?
5. Usually we think of ecumenism in terms of reducing the numbers of denominations.  Is it worth asking whether there are enough denominations?  Maybe we need a variety of expressions of church to reflect the wide variety of structures.  This is an interesting question, raised by the fresh expressions of Church in the Church of England and Methodist Church.  To what extent do these many small specialist churches undermine the sense of all Christians being called to learn to live together?  What does it say about a culture where the young would rather not worship with the old?
6. All churches have questions and issues that remain unaddressed.  This does not prevent them from working together. 

My paper was the only one about ecumenism and I suspect these issues reflect some of the concerns the participants were discussing with the other authors.  Perhaps there needs to be more and deeper reflection about subversive ecumenism.