Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

c) Traduction Œcumenique de la BibleInter-church academic study of the Bible and translation work is exemplified bythe production of the Traduction Œcumenique de la Bible, a joint effort of theProtestant Societé Biblique Française and the Catholic Editions du Cerf in 1988.d) The Sharing of Meeting-placesThe sharing of meeting-places by different denominations is now becomingmore common. Resources are often wasted by keeping several meeting-placesgoing in one location. Would it not be better if, say, the Anglicans, Methodistsand United Reformed believers in a town shared the same building? This mayor may not lead to an amalgamation of services. Each congregation could haveits own order and identity.e) Sharing BaptismSome Anglican and Free churches already observe both paedo- and credobaptisms.On Easter Day 2008 the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu,baptised 27 candidates in a water tank outside the Minster. Most werebaptised by immersion, some with one immersion, others with a threefoldimmersion. A baby was christened and a girl of seven baptised by immersion.An ecumenical group in York, One Voice, had organised the event. TheArchbishop, helped by representatives of the candidates’ own churches, didthe baptizing. It was a significant display of Christian unity, but it was also astatement from a very senior Anglican bishop that differences of modes ofbaptism need not hinder visible unity in the Church.f) The Warrington Church History SocietySocieties for the study of Church History can be a fruitful means of ecumenism.The Warrington Church History Society was founded in 1980, and thisinterdenominational group has enjoyed many fascinating and informativelectures and outings to a wide range of historical sites. Each year the Societyenjoys a traditional carol service in one or other of the Warrington churches.The particular value of a Church History Society is that local histories are oftenPage 194