Ecumenism is antidote to credibility crisis, Anglican peace advocate says
There’s an interesting article here (Ecumenism is antidote to credibility crisis, Anglican peace advocate says) following a meeting recently of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network.
It seems to suggest that ecumenism is the solution to the “credibility crisis” of denominations, and the need for mutuality and interdependence and a ‘truly ecumenical attitude’ as a solution to their ills. I’m not so sure that such an attitude is made especially clear within the statement, however. It’s troubling.
It’s certainly the case that unity and difference, or identity and crisis, are factors that are forever facing the church, not least because our identity is founded upon, in and through Christ. In recent times that’s been discussed most famously by Stephen Sykes (Identity and Christianity), Walter Lowe (Theology and Difference), Ingolf Dalferth (Theology and Philosophy – despite the title one of the most important reads on the subject), John Milbank (various), and Michael Barnes (Religions in Conversation), for example.
That last, Barnes, is perhaps one of the most important books because it relocates the ‘problematic’ around the theology and practice of the Holy Spirit. That’s a significant shift theologically towards practice and engagement rather than rather fine but hollow words
Stringfellow once famously said the solution to the problem of racism (the identity facing the church at that time) was Baptism. The Jewish gathering at which he was speaking went wild and booed him off the podium, but they really failed to hear what was being said, too concerned with their own self-agrandizing politics. Sometimes, I wonder if we have learnt much since that time.
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