The 2007 National Workshop on Christian Unity.

Huber, John George

In light of the doctrinal agreements that Christians have reached through dialogue and the challenging divisions that remain, are we in an ecumenical winter or an ecumenical spring? For those who attended the National Workshop on Christian Unity in Arlington, Virginia, January 29-February 1, 2007, the warmth of our fellowship created a spring-like atmosphere despite the weather.

This was a wide-ranging, multifaceted ecumenical event that forced attendees to choose three of the seventeen morning seminars, on such topics as "Scripture, History, and the Search for an Ecumenical Ecclesiology," "Growing Together in Unity and Mission: Building Together on 40 Years of Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue," and "Progress and Potholes on the Road to Unity: Updates and Obstacles." The daily schedule offered rich opportunities for worship, Bible study, luncheon lectures, browsing the bookstore, and attending denominational and interdenominational caucuses, as well as more personal conversations.

A highlight that transcended all our caucus and denominational identities was the opening prayer service and reception, held at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. The Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC, the Right Rev. John Bryson Chane, greeted the assembly. One of the prayers identified distinctive gilts that each Christian tradition brings to the whole church, from the "spiritual tradition" and "rich liturgy" of the Eastern Orthodox to the "disciplines in holiness, its worship, rich with the religious passion of the centuries" of the Roman Catholic Church to the "yearning for healing the division of Christendom through catholic heritage and reformed spirit" of the Anglicans, the "call to awaken the conscience of Christians to social evils [and] their emphasis on the witness of experience" of the Methodists, the "emphasis on the gilts of the Spirit, of enthusiasm and praising God" of the Pentecostals, and the "devotion to the grace of God and the Word of God [and] their gift of music" of the Lutherans. Gifts of the Reformed and Presbyterians, the Baptists, the Friends (Quakers), the Free Churches, and the uniting churches were also celebrated.

The sermon by the President-elect of the National Council of Churches, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Armenian (Orthodox) Church in America, described the plight of our divided, violent world. Before we ask for forgiveness, we must forgive. The bonds that unite are far stronger than what divides us. The cross reminds us of our Lord's obedience and unconditional love. Only in his love and grace can we speak with a unified voice

An informative in-depth updating of ecumenical developments was presented by Brother Jeffrey Gros, F.S.C., professor of church history at Memphis Theological Seminary, who served as keynote speaker. A sample of reasons that he cited for giving gratitude to God includes: (1) During its meeting in Seoul, Korea, last year, the World Methodist Council affirmed the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, the historic agreement signed by the Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation in 1999. (2) A new, more inclusive national coalition, Christian Churches Together in the USA, has been formed, bringing into one cooperative agency African American, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, evangelical, and mainline Protestant churches. (3) In 2007, we celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the significant "convergence" agreement (not yet a consensus) on Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, the result of over fifty years of interconfessional study by members of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. (4) Dialogue continues on such contentious ethical issues as abortion and homosexuality. (5) Bilateral dialogues with participation by Roman Catholic, United Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, and other scholars have produced rich ecumenical resources, such as the text, "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ," a product of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission in 2005.

Gros identified some remaining challenges in the search for Christian unity. He spoke of ecumenical illiteracy among both church leaders and laity, limited sacramental participation, and an attitude that is more individualistic than cooperative. Gros recalled that John Paul II spoke of a new task that lies before us--receiving what has been accomplished ecumenically and striving for universal consent. Gros concluded by suggesting that we are in a period of "receptive ecumenism." While we cannot organize the unity of the church, since God initiated it, we are to do our part, he said.

Another highlight of the Workshop included attending two eucharistic celebrations, one was led by lay and clergy representatives of the Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, and United Methodist communions; the other, sponsored by Churches Uniting in Christ (now including ten mainline Protestant denominations in a covenanted relationship, the Moravian Church being the tenth). A more sobering experience was a Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligous Officers' seminar that disclosed some tensions that are preventing realization of the goal of full communion between Anglicans and Roman Catholics--the election and consecration of Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, who is in a same-gender relationship, and the ordination of female bishops. The good news is that Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will not break off the dialogues. As recently as November, 2006, Archbishop Robin Williams of Canterbury and Pope Benedict XVI issued a common statement that acknowledged challenges to ecumenical progress, but they have renewed their commitment to continue the dialogue.

The Workshop concluded with a panel on "How Faith Influences Christians in Political Office," including J. Philip Wogaman, former pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church (where the Clintons worshiped). Listeners were impressed by how people in public life can make connections between what they believe and how they behave. The National Workshop tips the balance in favor of promising possibilities for the future. I left Arlington with renewed dedication to an ecumenical movement for all seasons.

John George Huber, Ecumenical Council of San Diego County, LaJolla, CA