Unification

Question 1

The ecumenical movement

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

Biblical justification for Ecumenism

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

Unity vs uniformity

Answer 3

• 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.

Question 4

Explain the development of the ecumenical movement

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

The Edinburgh missionary conference

Answer 5

• 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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Question 6

The world council of churches

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

Common misconception about the WWC

Answer 7

• 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