Unification Flashcards
1
Q
The ecumenical movement
A
- means the quest for unity
- there is little doubt that there are many divisions and conflicts within Christianity between the various different denim
- They have persisted from early centuries of the movement to the present day
- There are many Christians who feel that they are open to criticism because of this
- there are many Christians who filled the force of this criticism, and want to see Christianity known more for what Christians share with one another than what they don’t
- this is therefore the development of the ecumenical movement which is the quest for unity
2
Q
Biblical justification for Ecumenism
A
- John 17:20-22 (Jesus praying)
- “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word that they may all be one”
- Jesus recognise that the success of the mission of the Christian church
- 1 Corinthians 1:10
- “… that you all agree with one another and what you say and that there be no divisions among you”
- Paul lamented the divisions in the early Catholic Church and urged that Christians be united
- 2 Corinthians 5:19
“… and he has committed to was the message of reconciliation” - The ecumenical movement is all about reconciliation bringing those divided denominations back together
- all of the previous passages and Delay, the conviction that Christians are called to a deep fellowship of God and therefore can and should live in deep fellowship with one another
3
Q
Unity vs uniformity
A
- Unity doesn’t always mean uniformity
- The church has always value different perspectives cultures and languages
-There are four gospels, each with different perspectives on the life and teachings of Jesus - the diatessaron, an attempt to harmonise all four gospels, was not included in the biblical cannon.
- ecumenism is not about necessarily creating a uniform church but to unite it
- Key question remains as to what churches need to agree on and what they surrender as non-essential. This is perhaps the most important challenge that faces the the ecumenical movement.
4
Q
Explain the development of the ecumenical movement
A
- The term ecumenical was first used in the council of Nicaea.
- The council produced an ecumenical creed that was affirmed by all Christians
- many scholars trace the roots of the movement to the Edinburgh missionary conference in 19
- The goal that brought them together was to create a self-governing, self supporting church in each non-Christian nation which reflected an undivided church of Christ
- The divisions and arguments of churches in the west were manifesting in the new churches in Africa and Asia
- The conference was an attempt to overcome doctrinal differences so that missionaries could cooperate their
- The conference adopted the slogan doctrine divides but service unites
5
Q
The Edinburgh missionary conference
A
- The conference decided to unanimously create a committee that would coordinate missionary
- this was a great breakthrough for ecumenism since there was an acceptance of other branches of the church and a willingness to work together
- however it was solely an evangelical protest gathering – neither they RC church or orthodox churches were invited although some Anglican speakers edge that they were included in future gatherings
- there were several developments after the Edinburgh conference that further ecumenism for example, 1927 the faith and order movement met to consider doctrinal divisions between churches
-In 1928, the Roman Catholic Church reacted and favourably to the ecumenical movement Pope Pius published a letter declaring that the only way to realise the will of Christ is for all Christian’s to return to the Church of Rome
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6
Q
The world council of churches
A
- The first assembly of the world council churches was held in Amsterdam in 1948 representing 147 church bodies
- The world council of churches to find itself as “a fellowship of churches which except our Lord Jesus Christ as God and saviour”
- it was born shortly after a period of war and international
- Church buddies like countries in the United Nations send representatives to general assemblies which are held every seven years
- The United Nations churches are members and some churches are observers rather than full members
- Pope Pius forbade catholics from being observers
7
Q
Common misconception about the WWC
A
- the wwc is not a super church
- The WWDC is clear that it does not negotiate unions between churches instead it brings churches into contact with each other to promote discussion and unity
- The WWDC is not based on anyone particular concept of the church
- membership in the WWDC does not imply a church treat its own conception of the church as merely
- membership in the WCC does not imply the acceptance of a specific doctrine concerning the nature of church unity
