Ecumenism

I have been thinking about ecumenicism as I have been designated a trustee of Acts (Action of Churches Together in Scotland). Legally I am again a company director and have an oversight responsibility.

But what is this ecumenical body for?  My answer is that it is a facilitating body belonging to all the churches and belonging to none of them which sits in the liminal space between the denominations to facilitate co-operation and sharing. It is not an organisation with an agenda. It aims to be invisible. The agenda has to be set by the member churches. Together they decide what they want to use this facilitating organisation or instrument to facilitate. 

Churches have very different priorities and each are pursuing these agendas on their own. As a result many do not have much energy left over for pursuing joint projects. There are other agencies that have specialised agendas that churches and individual Christians can sign up to support to pursue specific ends (for example in the area of world development Christian aid, Tear fund or SCIAF offer parallel opportunities for contributing to alleviation of poverty in developing countries in line with the flavour of you Christianity) 

Each denomination is facing problems as they manage decline. In a changing world there often seems to be a corral mentality as people huddle together to protect what they still have and hold dear.

I do not detect any appetite for organic union - there is a realistic recognition that traditions are held so passionately that they define denominations. The ecumenical adventure that occupied so much of church members time in the second half of the twentieth century has stalled because we now know where the lines in the sand are located. We also know where we can co-operate and agree without difficulty. I suppose it is just up to us to go on being church in our own way, following parallel paths and recognising that despite the differences we share in the great fudge of mystical union. 

(Image courtesy ofDanilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net )

The Church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation,
by water and the word:
from heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.

Elect from every nation,
yet one o'er all the earth,
her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy Name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder
men see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed;
yet saints their watch are keeping,
their cry goes up, "How long?"
and soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song.

Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war
she waits the consummation
of peace for evermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blessed,
and the great Church victorious
shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
with God, the Three in one,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.