Tag Archives: ecumenical concepts
The New Ecumenical Language
Now suppose we have made great progress in our ecumenical dialogue. We are beginning to understand each other’s language. We have discovered that we believe many of the same things, even though we don’t use the same words. We would … Continue reading
From Sheep Cheese Dumplings to Glorification
Let’s take our sheep cheese dumpling insight and apply it to a real ecumenical question. When Lutherans talk about salvation, they tend to use the terms “justification” and “sanctification.” But when the Orthodox talk about salvation, they tend to use … Continue reading
Sheep Cheese Dumplings: The Key to Ecumenical Understanding
OK! So through the ecumenical movement churches have come to a new understanding about the Scriptures, their traditions, their theology, each other’s traditions and theology, what it means to be the church… And yet Lutherans remain Lutherans, Catholics remain Catholics, … Continue reading
A Quick Guide to Some Ecumenical Concepts: Reception
To many people it probably seems like ecumenical convergence and consensus are the decisions of far-off theologians having quick meetings all over the world and then saying, “Everything’s OK; forget your past; unity exists.” Life doesn’t work this way and … Continue reading
A Quick Guide to Some Ecumenical Concepts: Consensus
Once churches have begun to recognize each other by converging on certain topics, it is time for them to discuss in more detail what they have in common and what separates them. Consensus, the “second stage” of ecumenism, means coming … Continue reading
A Quick Guide to Some Ecumenical Concepts: Convergence
Convergence is the word to describe what you might call the “first stage” of ecumenism. It means recognizing that other churches hold some truths in common with your own—that Jesus is Lord, for instance. In our pluralistic world today, such … 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
