Tag Archives: church
The Fries-Rahner Proposal for the Unity of the Church
In the early 1980s, two Catholic theologians—Karl Rahner and Heinrich Fries—offered a proposal of their own for the unity of the church. It provoked widespread discussion after its publication under the title Unity of the Church: An Actual Possibility. Eight … Continue reading
The Princeton Proposal for Christian Unity
Recent schemes for Christian unity are less grandiose and more practical than earlier on in the movement. It’s been recognized that you can’t just create church unity by fiat. There’s a tremendous amount of groundwork to be laid first. One such … Continue reading
Disunity about Unity: “All in Each Place” vs. Christian World Communions
The 1961 assembly of the World Council of Churches in New Delhi, India, had yet another ecumenical vision in mind: “all in each place.” The idea was that ecumenical reconciliation must begin locally, so that all Christians in each “place” … Continue reading
Disunity about Unity: Spiritual Unity vs. Federalism
The founding ecumenical insight is that there already is some kind of unity among the churches. Every church professes that the true church is one; the difference of opinion is where the boundaries lie around this one church. Time spent … Continue reading
Disunity about Unity
Over the years, the ecumenical movement has gotten wider and wider in its scope. Some would say the movement to end division has itself become divided. This is probably the result of the churches realizing just how much is involved … Continue reading
Ecumenical Instructions for Catholics (Protestants, Please Eavesdrop)
While much visible ecumenical work takes place at an official level—like in the national and international dialogues—Unitatis Redintegratio expects all Catholics to get involved in some way or another. The decree lays down the marching orders for this new Catholic … Continue reading
A Whole New Take on the Church
After 1928’s Mortalium Animos, you wouldn’t expect such a change of heart in the Catholic church in such a short time. But many exciting things were happening. Brilliant Catholic scholars like Henri de Lubac and Yves Congar, among many others, … Continue reading
A Quick Guide to Some Ecumenical Concepts
We must have our hearts and souls in the right place to engage in ecumenism, but that’s not quite enough. We must also devote the best of our minds to this work. Ecumenism requires careful biblical exegesis, probing historical investigations, … Continue reading
Postscript on Hohentruedlingen and Oettingen
One of the great thing about being hosted by locals is getting some of the local stories. The Reicherts told us a great tale of Hohentruedlingen, the little town where we met the friendly farmer. Some years back it grew … Continue reading
Robert Louis Stevenson, Ecumenist
Though it may not seem the most obvious or natural thing in the world to link hiking and ecumenism, in fact they have gone together right from the start. Robert Louis Stevenson, author of childhood favorites like Treasure Island, more … Continue reading
Mission, Ecumenism, Two Anniversaries, and Big Big Lies
Since this year is the 500th anniversary of Luther’s journey to Rome, we’re following his trail and walking to Rome ourselves and blogging about Luther. But another anniversary this year is what made us realize that this needed to be … Continue reading
From Martin Luther’s “Large Catechism”
“I believe that there is on earth a holy little flock and community of pure saints under one head, Christ. It is called together by the Holy Spirit in one faith, mind, and understanding. It possesses a variety of gifts, … Continue reading
Invitation to a Septuagint of Prayer
While only only two of us are making this whole pilgrimage on foot, the truth of a pilgrimage is always found in the prayerful spirit and intention, not primarily in the physical movement. So that’s why we’d like to invite … Continue reading
