08.08.2015 Views

Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>The</strong> contact with o<strong>the</strong>r world religions seen at Canberra was continued at <strong>the</strong>eighth WCC Assembly at Harare (Zimbabwe) in 1998. At this Assembly, for <strong>the</strong>first time, relations and dialogue with o<strong>the</strong>r world faiths were made an ongoingcommitment. Fifteen representatives of o<strong>the</strong>r faiths were invited toHarare and eight presentations from o<strong>the</strong>r faiths were given. 143As yet, however, <strong>the</strong> WCC stands by its confession of ‘Jesus Christ as God andSaviour’. Canberra 1991 saw <strong>the</strong> ecumenical movement’s purpose, amongo<strong>the</strong>r things, as moving towards (a) a recognition of each o<strong>the</strong>r’s baptisms asenvisaged in <strong>the</strong> ‘Lima‘ text; (b) a recognition of <strong>the</strong> Nicene-ConstantinopolitanCreed as a basis of doctrinal confession; and (c) a consideration, whereverappropriate, of forms of Eucharistic hospitality.<strong>The</strong> WCC has shown that churches can come toge<strong>the</strong>r, not just to discussmatters of mutual interest and concern but actually, in some cases, to formunited churches. Even in <strong>the</strong> 19 th Century <strong>the</strong>re had been a reunion ofPresbyterian denominations in Scotland. <strong>The</strong>n in 1932 a reunion of sections ofMethodism took place, culminating in <strong>the</strong> present united Methodist Church.OTHER MAIN DENOMINATION UNIONS AND REUNIONS OF THE 20 th CENTURY<strong>The</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r main denominational unions and reunions of <strong>the</strong> 20 th Century were:(a) <strong>The</strong> United Church of Canada (1925)This was a massive achievement. It has been computed that this merger was<strong>the</strong> result of ‘nineteen distinct acts of Church union’, bringing toge<strong>the</strong>r ‘fortydistinct <strong>Christian</strong> bodies.’ 144143Ed Briggs, John, Oduyoye, Mercy Amba, Tsetsis, Georges, A History of <strong>the</strong> EcumenicalMovement, Vol 3, 1968-2000, World Council of Churches, Geneva, 2004, p 161.144Rouse, Ruth and Neill, Stephen C, A History of <strong>the</strong> Ecumenical Movement, 1517-1948,SPCK, London, 1954, p 454.Page 157

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!