4D- unification Flashcards
(15 cards)
explain the timeline for the ecumenical movement
325CE- council of Nicea- nicene creed
381CE- first use of term ‘ecumenical’ in xtian discussions
1910- Edinburgh world missionary conference- seen as beginning of modern ecumenical movement- over 1200 missionaries gathered for 10 days- however solely evangelical protest gathering- RC and Orthodox not invited
1921- international missionary conference founded
1937- leaders from movements meet and propose they merge into a ‘world council of churches’- however WW2 delayed their plans
1948- first WCC- held in Amsterdam- Catholics were not invited- theme was ‘mans disorder and God’s design’
1961- held in New Dehli- Eastern Orthodox present- RC attended as observers
Unity of the church includes elements such as ‘a common sacramental life’ and ‘a common mission in spreading the gospel’
what does ecumenical mean
Ecumenical comes from greek for entire inhabited world
Give 2 bible examples for the ecumenical movement
Prayer of Jesus in John 17: ‘believe in me through their word, that they may all be one’
1 corinthians 1- paul laments division in the early church, wants Christians to be united
give the 3 Areas of work for the WCC
-Unity, mission and ecumenical relations
-Public witness and diakonia
-Ecumenical formation
explain Unity, mission and ecumenical relations with the tension
Devoted to visible pursuit of Christian unity-reflects Jesus’ prayer in John
Includes ‘mission’ which is the reaching out of Christian message
Ecumenical relations relates to the strengthening of relationships between Christian churches
This programme area includes the commision of faith and order
Tensions
Not all churches are part of the WCC eg RCC so how can WCC build relationships with these churches
Criticism that with WCC involved in projects such as with migrants and the disabled it is ‘watering down’ the focus of evangelism
explain Public witness and diakonia
Based around the ‘life and work movement’
Seeks to accomplish 2 main goals:
1- offer a highly ‘prophetic voice’ that calls awareness to areas that the church and world need to pay attention to. For example peace making in countries such as syria and support churches who find themselves in situations of conflict
2- bring Christians together to live out xtian values of social responsibility- uses Greek term ‘diakonia’ which means ‘service’- care of the poor and oppressed- activities around climate change, women’s rights etc
explain Ecumenical formation
Area of study, training and education so ecumenism can shape individual lives
WCC has an institute near Geneva- holds seminars such as training in youth for justice and ‘sharing the faith in a multicultural world’
explain what the WCC IS NOT
A superchurch
Doesn’t force doctrine
Not based on 1 conception of church
explain further tensions within the movement
Orthodox believe they’re a universal church and other churches should agree with them
Some orthodox members feel uncomfortable with the worship style adopted at WCC gatherings
Role of sexuality and gender is disputed amongst the churches
There’s a view that WCC is ‘too pentecostal’ focussed
explain the Reaction of WCC by RCC
Initially did not want to promote a ‘unified church’
Pope Pius XI stated the true unity is to return to the unified church of Rome
Pope John XXII progressed this view in 1958 and gave new view of ecuminism for RCC- through Vatican II document- ‘unity subsists in the Catholic church’- true church still sits here
Points to agree with ‘The work of the WCC is a success’
1) Breadth and depth from WCC’S programmes
2) Has come a long way in a short period of time
Only began in 1948
3) WCC has achieved large participation- 348 church bodies involved
Points to disagree with ‘The work of the WCC is a success’
1) Fractures developing in these programmes due to theological issues
2) Some Pentecostal Christians believe it is too watered down – not enough focus on ‘evangelization’
3) RCC is not a member which is largest Christian church with 1.2 billion
Points to agree with ‘Non membership of the RCC does affect the aims of the WCC’
1) Limits to this ‘sharing’ as WCC sees itself as a group of traditions but RCC sees itself as the tradition
2) The ‘uni red’ document still places RCC as the true church despite accepting more unity
3) There cannot be unity where 50% of the world’s christians are excluded
Points to disagree with ‘Non membership of the RCC does affect the aims of the WCC’
1) Despite RCC not being members the spiritual sharing of churches has taken place- which is a key aim
2) The WCC is only at the start of the movement
3) Could be argued RCC is on a journey itself which has lead closer to the WCC
What is the ecumenical movement based on?
Movement based on conviction that all Christians are called to deep fellowship with God and each other
