Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

These gatherings of Faith and Order and Life and Work arising out of Edinburgh1910 became the basis for the foundation of the WCC, which was launched inAmsterdam just after the Second World War, in 1948. The WCC did not claimto be a legislative body or an embryo world Church, but its formation didencourage a few denominations to merge later in the century. Most of thesemergers were overseas, and the only successful merger in the UK was that ofthe Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church in 1972.They formed the United Reformed Church, to which was added the Disciples ofChrist in 1981.The WCC’s commitment to the doctrine of the deity of Christ was made clearat its inauguration, and at its Assembly in New Delhi in 1961 the text becameclearly Trinitarian. It read:‘The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of Churches which confessthe Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures andtherefore seek to fulfil together their common calling to the glory of theone God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’ 140Nearly 50 years later, that vision is still a long way from being realised.The New Delhi Declaration on unity saw it as:• The confession of all baptized people that Jesus Christ is Lord andSaviour.• The holding of ‘one apostolic faith’.• The preaching of one Gospel.• The breaking of one bread.• Joining in common prayer.• Sharing a corporate life of witness and service to all.• Acceptance of each other’s members and ministry.‘It is for such unity we believe we must pray and work.’ This is a fine vision,though the details need spelling out. What is meant by the ‘preaching of theone Gospel?’140Quoted in Boegner, Marc, The Long Road to Unity, Collins, 1970, p 284.Page 155