Religious Identity through Unification Flashcards
What does the ecumenical movement stand for?
The ‘entire’ is used to describe efforts of Christian unity.
What’s one passage from the Bible that supports the ecumenical movement?
John 17 - “That they may all be one as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may these also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (Jesus prayer)
Another passage that supports the ecumentical movement?
1 Corinthians - Paul urged Christians to be united. “that all of you agree with one another and that there are no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought”
What example in christianity shows unity not uniformity?
There are 4 gospels all with different accounts - even though there was an attempt to harmonise all 4 gospels but was not included in the biblical canon.
What is the key question/challenge for the ecumenical movement?
What do churches need to agree on and what can they surrender as non-essential in order to be unified?
When was the Edinburgh Missionary Conference?
1910
list 3 facts about the EMC
- Over 1200 missionaries gathered for ten days.
- the conference adopted the slogan ‘Doctrine Divides but Service Unites’
- it was an attempt to overcome the doctrinal differences so that missionaries could cooperate in their efforts
What was the main limitation of this conference?
Only evangelical Protestants missionary groups attended- no Catholics or Orthodox
What was the first conference after the EMC and when was it?
International Missionary Conference, founded in 1921, this brought people together church leaders from around the world to consider issues such as the christian message in a secualr world etc.
What was the next movement and when was it?
Life and Work movement met in 1925- focused on responsibility of christians in the social and economic problems in the aftermath of World War 1.
What was the last movement at this time and when was it?
Faith and Order Movement met in 1927 - considered matters of doctrinal divisions between churches. These were also a number of dialogue and merges.
What did Pope Pius Xl have to say in 1928 about the EMC?
The Roman Catholic church reacted unfaovuralbly to the ecumenical movement. Pope Pius Xl published a letter declaring that the only way to realise the will of christ and be unified - is for all Christians to return to the church of Rome.
Quote from the Pope about the union of the churches
” The union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are seperated from it, for in the past they have unhappilly left it?
What happend in 1937 ( it was proposed becuase of WW2)?
The Faith and Order movement proposed that these groups merged into the World Council of Churches.
What was one thing that the churches could agree on?
“A fellowship of churches which accept our Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour.”
When was the first World Council of Churches held (WCC)?
Held in Amsterdam in 1948. There were 351 delegates
What is the World Council of Churches?
Conversation, cooperation and common witness of the churches must be based on the common recognition that Christ is the Divine Head of the Body.
What is one thing that the WCC is not?
The WCC is not and must never become a superchurch
Why was the WCC meeting in 1961 important?
-The first Roman Catholics were there as an official observer
- The russian Orthodox churches become members
- The first pentecostal christian church bodies joined the WCC; these were from Latin America
