I have been reading a number of papers and articles on the rather high-sounding topic of 'Receptive Ecumenism'. This is an interesting journeying point for those seeking to be 'Churches Together' in that it looks at news ways of being 'One Church' and that the prime movers appear to be Catholics called into both action and response to John Paul II's 'Ut Unum Sint' ('may they be one').
The question before the Catholics was one of finding ways that the Catholic church could keep to its own beliefs (or as they put it, 'maintain their integrity') engage with, and learn from, other Christian traditions with regard to matters of faith, spirituality, worship, churchmanship and engagement with the secular world and yet not (my words) 'be tainted or changed'.
One of the popular expressions in this is, "From Ecumenism to Silent Apostasy" (initially used by a paper from the SSJ).
The reality is that many within the Christian world are coming to the conclusion that the Church (universal) finds itself in an 'ecumenical winter' and that the days of people assuming that putting Christians, or their leaders, in a room and labelling it as 'unity' is drawing to a close. That said, a continued presence in the room with a desire to see ways in which unity could become a reality heralded (very early) signs of Spring and is perhaps one of the first stages of what might become a realised unity.
A key element of this is that rather than bring what we have, or push the position we occupy, we come to listen to what others have and from here begin the dialogue. We come and, creatively, explore how we might engage, not just at personal, congregational or other local levels but at wider and deeper (denominational?, now there's a wonderful, yet frightening, thought!)levels still!
Receptive Ecumenism seeks to (and I quote here):
"To extend Spiritual Ecumenism into an explicit exploration as to how Christian traditions might most effectively and genuinely learn, or receive, from each other with integrity."
Just to get you started with this, here's a link to Paul Fiddes' excellent paper: Learning from others - Baptists and Receptive Ecumenism
Enjoy!
3 comments:
If we and the other parties don't "maintain our integrity" then it isn't true dialogue but a front put up to impress or deceive others. But this isn't the same as not being open to change. How can we be said to be truly learning if nothing changes? At the very least our attitudes towards others will change. And, dare I say it, God might actually use these others in dialogue to challenge some of our own fixed but ropey positions. This is true not only of ecumenism but, I believe, inter-faith dialogue too. But it is a frightening prospect for those who think they already have all the truth they are ever going to need.
Totally agree, the whole problem with the ecumenical thing is that people maintain a silence rather than keep their integrity and speak up.
being open to change is surely a willingness to listen and perhaps learn, or at least dialogue, and this is one of the dishonesties that ecumenism seems often to to beget. We need to challenge and be challenged because otherwise all we do is continue as we always have and pretend we're one when we patently aren't.
Thanks for provocative comment - good to think isn't it? Pity so many of us obviously don't though.
Pax
V
I was involved in setting up our prayer group at work because for me unity starts, as you say, with being both open to others and honest about your own beliefs.
We are a minestrone of denominations and nationalities but we pray jointly for our school and meanwhile discuss issues which affect our individual congregations. For example, before the papal visit, I was very nervous of the reception the Pope would have and we prayed together for a successful trip.
it's incredibly enriching and humbling.What we share as Christians is far, far more important than our differences.
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