RESOURCING THE CHURCH FOR ECUMENICAL MINISTRy A ...

prayer for Christian unity. It is more important
that CCU look at the “spiritual dispositions” that
make multicultural, ecumenical and interfaith
engagement fruitful – that is, in the words of
Sharon Watkins, we need to develop an exploration
into the “habits of wholeness.”
Recommendations for the Future
Recommendation 1: In light of these affirmations
and insights on the vision of Christian unity for
Disciples today, the Conference participants issued
an an urgent urgent call call to to the the Christian Christian Church Church (Disciples (Disciples of of Christ)
Christ)
for for renewed renewed commitment commitment to to Christian Christian unity unity in
in
remembering remembering its its distinctive distinctive identity identity as as herald herald of of unity unity and
and
reconciliation, reconciliation, and and urging urging the the church church to to claim claim a a a more
more
more
holistic, holistic, radical radical and and dynamic dynamic understanding understanding of of its
its
ecumenical ecumenical ecumenical vocation vocation. vocation That is, the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) should claim its commitment:
• to becoming more multicultural, multi-ethnic,
multi-racial and inclusive;
• to holding together a vision of the unity of the
church and the unity of humankind; and,
• to giving priority to the tasks of ecumenical
formation and education of Disciples (pastors
and laypersons; young adults and seminarians;
congregations, regions and general ministries)
in and for a changing society and world.
At the heart of this calling is a deep desire for a
church that would model the very unity it seeks.
Recommendation 2: Many participants advocated
for and recommended a a higher higher degree degree of of mutuality
mutuality
between local, regional, and national church bodies, and
and
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a a greater greater awareness awareness of of those those those who who are are are often often often being being left left behind behind
behind
when when Disciples Disciples celebrate celebrate the the Lord’ Lord’s Lord’ s s Supper Supper. Supper Time and
time again the participants pointed to baptism and
the communion table as touchstones in the quest
for Christian unity, both for the Disciples and for
the wider ecumenical church.
Recommendation 3: A primary focus for the CCU
in this era must be on helping Disciples recover
their identity as a people of unity and wholeness—
through education and networking in congregations,
regions and general expressions of our
church’s life. Specifically, we recommend that the
the
CCU CCU take take take a a leadership leadership role, role, in in partnership partnership with with other
other
expressions of our church, to to nurture nurture and educate Disciples
in in understanding understanding understanding of of our our identity identity statement statement and and and its
its
accompanying accompanying twelve twelve principles. principles. The CCU should
provide resources and programs to do greater
theological work on the relation of baptism and
Lord’s Supper to our core identity as a people of
wholeness and unity; to nurture “habits of
wholeness” in our life as individuals and as a church;
and, to claim this distinctive identity/witness within
the wider church as its own calling as a gift to be
received (not as something we negotiate or another
program to be pursued).
Recommendation 4: As a second major focus of
the CCU’s commitment to promoting Christian
unity in the changing context of our church and
society today, we recommend that the the CCU CCU continue
continue
its its work work and and partnerships partnerships with with other other ministries ministries in in our our church
church
in in addressing addressing the the rich rich opportunities opportunities and and critical critical challenges challenges to
to
Disciples Disciples in in becoming becoming a a more more multicultural, multicultural, multicultural, multi-ethnic,
multi-ethnic,
multi-racial and and inclusive church and in meeting the
challenges challenges challenges of of living living in in an an interfaith interfaith context context context and and world.
world.
Report of the Visioning Conference on Christian Unity