Churches walk laborious path to full unity

Ecumenism calls for acting locally, thinking globally

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

The pace towards Christian unity might be a slow one. But if the journey continues one step at a time, the goal will eventually be reached.

"Since the beginning of the whole ecumenism movement, the goals of Christian unity are unchanged; which is to achieve full and visible unity among Christians," said Julien Hammond, ecumenical officer for the Edmonton Archdiocese.

"But here we are, 40 years after Vatican II as far as Catholics have been involved and we are not at that point. Some strides have been made. In the last decade, forward momentum has been made concerning some doctrinal issues."

A prayer service to launch the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be held Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at Braemar Baptist Church 7407-98 Ave. An ecumenical group in Dublin, Ireland prepared this year's service's materials on the theme Where Two or Three are Gathered in My Name, There I Am Among Them. The Week of Prayer runs Jan. 22-29.

Pastor Gerhard (Geri) Redekop will host this year's service. "There are a lot of things that go on between denominations that need some healing. This year's theme is gathering in his name and I thought the timing was perfect," he said.

Redekop is encouraged by the representation of churches at the event.

"Coming from a Baptist tradition, some people have not had such an experience. I was fortunate enough to do my graduate work in the United States where I received a very good ecumenical experience.

"I want to strive towards Christian unity that accepts the diversity within the Christian faith. I don't want people to say 'You don't do it my way so I don't want to fellowship with you.'"

Services like this can help unite Christians, Redekop said. It took centuries for denominations to be where they are and he suggests it would be na‹ve to think unity can be achieved overnight. What needs to happen is to continue the journey and celebrate together.

"We do not appreciate each other enough," he said. "We need to think globally and do things locally."

Hammond cited Edmonton's Inner City Pastoral Ministry as one example of an ecumenical initiative.

Over its more than 25 years, the ministry has had United Church leadership along with Lutheran, Anglican and Catholics.

"This is where you see a mixture of Christians - some ordained and some not ordained - all working together," Hammond said. "They have been able to branch out to their own parishes and invite them to bring sandwiches every week. In this sense, the whole Christian community is engaged in a single endeavour.

"The Outdoor Way of the Cross is another example where Christians pray publicly to raise awareness of poverty and homelessness."

There is clarity regarding many Church's positions on, for example, sacramental questions or an approach to the Bible. However, sometimes the clarity shows what keeps Christians apart and what would have to be done to bring us together, Hammond said.

Authority structures within churches and how the authority should be exercised can cause barriers. What is biblical or what were the intentions of the disciples establishing the Church are questions that remain deeply rooted in each denomination.

"At the same time, what has been accomplished is a networking of professional people and grassroots folks working together in different activities and apostolates as a mixed group of Christians. People are educating themselves and getting involved with social issues - even praying for Christian unity - sometimes with and without the sanction of the Church," Hammond said.

"This has created an ecumenism of life, as Pope John Paul used to say. Aside from what is going on in the theology schools or in the official dialogues between the churches, there are Christians getting together on a level of friendship and faith practice, saying they might not agree on eucharistic theology, but they need to be here together to feed the poor or clothe the naked."

Hammond noted, "The council of churches in Edmonton has been strong for years. These are people dedicated to ecumenism. But just our willingness alone will not accomplish unity. We are dealing with real lives and real traditions developed over centuries.

"How do we move beyond it? In some ways, we have to go back, recognize the problems and then make amends."

The more closely official Church dialogues are connected to grassroots, multi-denominational initiatives, the more visible full Christian unity will be, Hammond said.

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