Editorial.

Gill, Theodore A., Jr. ; Gibaut, John

This issue of Ecumenical Review is largely about issues of Faith and Order, namely the faith and ordering of the churches "as they call one another to visible unity in one faith and in one Eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and common life in Christ, through witness and service to the world, and advance towards that unity in order that the world may believe" (Faith and Order Bylaws/WCC Constitution). In a sense, all Faith and Order work is about Church, whether it is about doctrine, sacramental theology, ministry, service, moral discernment, or witness. With its ecclesiological principle that the Church does not exist for itself but for service "in and for the world," Faith and Order ecclesiology brings into mutual accountability diverse aspects of being Church: mission and evangelism, promotion of justice and peace, protection of the environment, inter-religious cooperation, moral discernment, advocacy, healing and reconciliation. These elements are as integral to the meaning of Church and to its unity as are faith, sacraments and ministry. Many of the articles in this issue reflect the breadth of Faith and Order study and interest.

Of particular importance in 2013 is publication of Faith and Order's convergence text on ecclesiology, The Church: Towards a Common Vision. After the 1982 Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, the 2013 text on The Church is Faith and Order's second convergence text ever. Like BEM before it, The Church is the product of twenty years of dialogue within the Commission on the meaning of the Church. Like the BEM process, there has also been a dialogue between the Commission and the churches through two earlier texts--The Nature and Purpose of the Church (1998)--and The Nature and Mission of the Church (2005)--which were both sent to the churches, theological faculties, ecumenical institutes, councils of churches, regional ecumenical organizations and the like for response. These two earlier texts were both described as stages on the way to a common statement. On the basis of its own internal reflections and the responses of the churches, Faith and Order completed its task at the meeting of the Standing Commission in Penang, Malaysia, in June 2012. At the end of the summer, the WCC Central Committee received the text, and commended The Church to the churches for study and formal response. Responses from the churches and others will be received by Faith and Order until December 2015. The dialogue continues.

The Church: Towards a Common Vision is not a "blueprint" or a scientific description of what the Church is, but a vision of what the Church is called to be. Drawing on the best insights from the diverse churches from around the world, the Commission on Faith and Order has produced an ecumenical vision that challenges the churches to grow more into what God calls the Church to be in terms of self-understanding, unity, witness and mission. Thus, of upmost importance is the ecclesial reception of the text.

A helpful understanding of reception comes from the Eighth Report of the Joint Working Group of the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches. In its reflection on "The Nature and Purpose of Ecumenical Dialogue," the JWG states:

   Reception is the process by which the
   churches make their own the results of all
   their encounters with one another, and in a
   particular way the convergences and agreements
   reached on issues over which they
   have historically been divided. As the report
   of the sixth forum on bilateral dialogues
   notes: "Reception is an integral part of the
   movement towards that full communion
   which is realised when 'all the churches are
   able to recognise in one another the one, holy,
   catholic and apostolic church in its fullness.'
   Thus reception is far more than the official
   responses to the dialogue results, although
   official responses are essential. (1)

Already in 2013, churches around the world are beginning their study and response process to The Church. The text also played an important role at the WCC Assembly in a variety of ways, especially in an Ecumenical Conversation that was itself both a study and response.

The issue also includes initial responses from select theologians who have in one way or another been engaged in Faith and Order ecclesiology.

The more immediate goal of the response process is public agreement on ecclesiology. There are a series of questions posed to the churches, as was the case in Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, that will "test" the convergence reached by Faith and Order. If the responses to The Church reflect the level of convergence on ecclesiology among the churches, the responses will play a vital role in the mutual recognition between the churches as they call one another to visible unity in one faith and in one eucharistic fellowship.

The longer term goal of the response process, and indeed of the "reception" of The Church itself, is renewal. Ecclesiology is not an abstract or theoretical discipline, but a pragmatic one. All Christian communities have inherent ecclesiologies, whether they use the term or not. Every church relates to the world, the state, and culture in particular ways; to issues of justice and peace, service and the environment in particular ways; toward other churches and other religions in particular ways that shape and reflect its self-understanding. And so ecclesiology, like sociology, is a practical discipline. Insofar as The Church reflects a common search for, and discovery of, the truth in love, urges believers to seek the Lord's will for ecclesial communion, and invites ongoing metanoia and holiness of life, the first, but longer term objective is renewal. Some churches may find themselves challenged to live more fully the ecclesial life; others may find aspects of ecclesial life that have been neglected or forgotten; others may find themselves strengthened and affirmed. I think all churches will be challenged by this vision of the Church to a renewed commitment to each other, a renewed commitment to unity, and a renewed commitment to justice and peace. As we draw closer in koinonia with God, we draw closer to one another. Renewal is about koinonia; koinonia is about renewal. (2)

DOI: 10.1111/erev.12046

(1) "The Nature and Purpose of Ecumenical Dialogue" in the Joint Working Group between the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, Eighth Report (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2005), pp. 82-83.

(2) The Church: Towards a Common Vision is available through WCC Publications distributors (in the UK and Europe: GazelleBookServices.co.uk; in North America: isbs.com), bookstores, and online retailers, as well as online at: http://www.oikoumene.org/ en/resources/documents/wcc-commissions/faith -and-order-commission/i-unity-the-church-and-its -mission/the-church-towards-a-common-vision.

Editor

Theodore A. GILL, Jr.

Guest Editor

John GIBAUT