What does it mean to be 'Ecumenical'?

Yesterday I was part of a ministry training class/discussion on the topic of Ecumenism. If you've been a part of a church for any significant period of time, its likely you've heard of the term 'Ecumenical' or if not what it means to be in 'unity' or be 'the Body of Christ'.

So what does it mean to be Ecumenical?

Well first there are the official committees or organisations around the place that are focused on Ecumenism, for example the World Council of Churches. Many denominations are a member of that council, or members of similar national or regional bodies focused on unity. But many are not. Many who work very well with other denominations, movements, and types of churches.

Then on a local level, many cities or suburbs or towns have ministers 'fraternals' (until a women minister moves to the area that is!) where pastors/minsters/priests pray together, hang out together, plan events and projects together, share ideas, etc. etc. But rarely is EVERY denomination or church represented at these groups.

Then there are events. Church Together is a big one in Perth, WA. There are a variety of prayer meetings that are non-denominational. Many big conferences attract believers from a large number of differents expressions of church and even different theologies. But still, when events are run by a select group of churches or people, the style, emphasis, theology or even venue is going to deter many.

So what would it take for us ALL to really become 'Ecumenical'. To really become united.
Well one thing that it seems the World Council of Churches and other similar bodies have learnt over time, is that the answer is not becoming one BIG church. One name, one denomination, one hierarchy. That would, after all, not be unity, but uniformity.

I love how Eugene Peterson translates what Paul says to the Corinthians in his Message bible. Paul is using the analogy of the body, how we - the Church, are like a body with different parts which much work together. Peterson translates one verse in 1 Corinthians 12 this way:
"An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster."
And its true. The Church is meant to be diverse. Denominations can continue. Independant churches can and SHOULD continue to be planted. Programs and comissions and councils should be formed for all sorts of reasons.

But Paul continues...
"What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, "Get lost; I don't need you"? Or, Head telling Foot, "You're fired; your job has been phased out"?"

So if the way we have always thought of being ecumenical is "If only everyone else would agree with the way WE do things", then surely something needs to change....

Instead, I think we need to turn to what some have called "receptive ecumenism" which is all about having the attitude: "What can we learn from you?".

"But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of." (1 Corinthians 12:19)

I don't know the full answer to how we reach true unity, but I think we all having a calling to take seriously what it means to be the body of Christ, and pray that God will teach us what it really means to be 'Ecumenical'.

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What really matters?

Just a quick post today, as I'm in the middle of an extremely time consuming assignment! In the midst of trying to work my way through a study of the arrest of Jesus in the gospels, reading about the differences, similarities, traditions, influences, theologies (etc etc) associated with the four gospel writers versions of this event, I've been thinking alot about this question... "What really matters?"
Part of that could be because sitting still for hours on end, reading complicated studies of a few verses from the bible and trying to formulate my own conclusions is not really my thing. So I've found myself hoping that this painful process ends up being worthwhile and 'matters' in the long run.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy studying the bible and look forward to studying and sharing insights with others for the rest of my life. But if you were to ask me to become an academic and go to this level of study and beyond as a career, I'd ask you for plan B!
The thing is, its obvious that the scholars who write these books love what they do, and do it well! And it helps us struggling students to get a bit better of an understanding than we already have. But if everyone became an academic... well that just won't happen. Neither will everyone be a confident leader, or a great administrator, or dedicate their life to the elderly, or serve the poor in third world countries, or become a pastor, etc. etc.
I think what really matters, is what matters to God.
"Of course," you say. What I mean by that is if we try and spend our lives doing something other than what God has gifted us to do... then is it worth it? And if we don't recognise the value of someone elses gifts, even when they are completely different from our own, can we really grow and learn what it means to be a Christian, a part of the Body of Christ?
Anyway, there's some random thoughts for this week. With a bit of luck, this time next week my brain will be functioning back on the 'normal' setting again.
Peace.

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To save a life...

So last night I attended a movie night that all the youth groups in Mandurah were a part of. The movie we watched was called "To Save A Life", about a senior in high school, Jake Taylor. Jake's childhood friend Rodger commits suicide at the beginning of the movie and this gets Jake thinking about what he could or should have done to help Rodger realise life was worth living.
Jake and the other characters go through all sorts of stuff, and without giving away to much, many things that students go through in their teenage years and highlighted in this movie.
This movie is eye opening, challenging and reassuring that we can make a difference in lives of teenagers, especially when it comes to those who feel they have no hope and are crying out for someone to hear them. Its also challenging for the Church, and makes us think about how we are responding to those who are searching for hope in something other than what the world offers them.
A brilliant movie, with a brilliant message. Hopefully it comes out in Australia, but if not you can get hold of it through Outreach films ( http://www.outreach.com/promo/to-save-a-life-week.aspx )
http://tosavealifemovie.com/

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Unity

Something I feel like I should blog about, as its been on my mind alot, is unity. The unity of the Church, the unity between Christians... what that really needs to look like. I get the feeling that although sometimes we think we are pretty unified, we are still along way off where God wants us to be - and we have ALOT to learn.
I know I have alot to learn, even the challenges with something as small and as simple as youth unite (the youth groups in Mandurah coming together for events) are significant. Our different experiences of church, our backgrounds and theologies, all seem to cause division too often. And we say its just diversity...
I wonder what diverse unity really would look like if we had that within the church.
My opinion? I think its one of the greatest callings of the church at large - to work towards unity. We'll never fully get there, but I'd say at this point in our life, baby steps are the way to becoming a functional body, one that is diverse, but not divided.
Because if we truly became the Body of Christ, would the world not see Jesus?

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Lets just see where this goes....

So... I figured since everyone is blogging these days, I'd give this a go. Not much of a writer, but seeing as there's a video camera and microphone sitting in my room not being used, I could make use of them (that's called vlogging right?)
So have to start somewhere I suppose!
There. Blog number 1 done!
That will do me for now I think.
:)

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