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Convergent
Ecumenism
Our life and mission
together is built on confidence that the
Holy Spirit is at work among the Christian
people to bring about a greater convergence
in the truth in areas of historic
disagreement
.
by Dr. John Yocum
Our ecumenical life in The Sword of The Spirit is
grounded in hope, hope that in these days the Holy
Spirit is at work to draw together all those who
belong to Christ in closer bonds of fellowship,
mutual service and common witness.
As a community of communities, we are not engaged
in theological dialogue that attempts to overcome
historic differences in doctrine. Nevertheless, as
brothers and sisters who remain committed to our
own Christian churches and to the teaching of
those churches, our life and mission together is
built on confidence that the Holy Spirit is at
work among the Christian people to bring about a
greater convergence in the truth in areas of
historic disagreement.
Perhaps the chief example of this appeared in the
1970s, when theologians of the Eastern Orthodox
and Oriental Orthodox churches made a common
declaration on the Incarnation, after being
divided for more than 1500 years over the precise
way in which Jesus Christ is both God and man. As
these theologians considered the doctrines of
their respective churches, they came to recognize
that, while they might still disagree on the best
way to express the truth, they professed faith in
the same Christ and could offer a common witness
to Jesus Christ as true God and true man. Healing
1500 years of doctrinal division? That is nothing
short of miraculous!
Similar convergences can be seen on other issues
among the Christian churches, such as the nature
of salvation, the inspiration of the Scripture,
and the sacraments.
May the Lord in his goodness grant us the grace to
draw ever nearer one another as we draw nearer to
Christ.
Dr.
John Yocum is a Regional Elder in the Servants
of the Word and teaches at Sacred
Heart Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, USA
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