Exploring Ecumenism

Horizontal and Vertical Ecumenism

This idea has been around for a long time and I think it is something anyone who is involved in ecumenism will eventually encounter.

Usually we think of ecumenism as a movement to bring reconciliation to the historic mainstream churches.  So, we may be inclined to think of ecumenism as simply agreement between the councils of the various churches.  Such agreement may be a long way off but it is the vision that keeps ecumenism going.

The diagram shows the historic churches as columns but the rows are additional theological positions, which divide the historic churches and at the same time unite Christians with similar views across the churches.  So, for example, evangelicals are found in most traditions and will have more in common with evangelicals across the traditions than with non-evangelical members of their own tradition.

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.

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. 

The Catholic Spirit

John Wesley in his sermon On A Catholic Spirit suggested that Christians when they relate to one another must get away from a focus upon differences in belief.  He starts with a verse from the Old Testament where one warrior, in a chariot, says to another, on foot, 'if you heart is right with my heart, climb up beside me'.

Inerrancy

I really don't want to spend a lot of time on this topic.  Is scripture inerrant?  Of course not.  Is it the word of God?  Of course it is.

The paradox is that to make Scripture inerrant is to take God out of it.  The canon is fixed, nothing can be added or taken away.  It is complete.  The big advantage of this is that it allows us to interpret it for every age and every place.  Whatever interpretation we make, the original is always there to return to. 

Using the Pastoral Cycle

I first encountered the pastoral cycle during my study year, 1981-2, at the Urban Theology Unit.  In those days theology was still seen as something studied at university and the idea of 'doing theology', as an activity available to all, was new and exciting.  Central to this was the idea of praxis, that interaction  between action and reflection at the heart of the pastoral cycle.

Alternative Ecumenisms

Apart from ecclesiology I suppose there are three main reasons for divisions between Christian traditions.  Of these, theological differences and historical persecutions immediately spring to mind but in recent years ethical divisions have become more prominent.  It is interesting that traditions otherwise divided find unity of purpose on ethical grounds.

Approaches to Ecumenism

Owing to its history, ecumenism in England is often perceived as focused solely upon structural unity.  The goal of ecumenism is to bring the churches under one unified structure.  It is easy in these more cynical times to lose sight of the vision of the sixties when the churches glimpsed the possibility of a united church in England.  This vision is long gone and now we have to face up to a number of models of ecumenism.

Christian Diversity in England

One of the most significant changes the ecumenical movement faces in Britain today is the unprecedented increase in the diversity of Christian churches and communities over the last 10 to 15 years.  Many of the new churches are small, local churches and have no presence as national churches.  This has challenged the balance between national and local expressions of Christian unity.

Why Ecclesiology is Not Borring

Ancients like me will remember the Monty Python sketch, why accountancy is not boring.  Many Christians today would gladly attest that next to ecclesiology accountancy is rather racy.  If you tend to agree, here are a few thoughts, which might helpto change your mind.