Faith & Order US anniversary highlights challenges posed by success
Issues facing the ecumenical movement today were described as examples of 'challenges posed by success' in a speech by the Rev. Dr Sarah Lancaster to the 19-23 July conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Faith and Order commission of the NCC USA. Lancaster is a member of the Standing Commission on Fath and Order of the World Council of Churches.
Lancaster stressed that “even in a time that some people have called ‘the winter of ecumenism’, much important work is going on”, with numerous dialogues and agreements on international, national and regional levels. While the multiplicity of parallel efforts on different levels and involving a more or less broad range of Christian traditions can be considered as a success of the ecumenical movement, it also raises the questions of coherence and interdependence of those processes. In view of these questions, Lancaster pointed to the WCC Faith and Order commission’s contributions, such as hosting a forum on bilateral dialogues coming up in March 2008.
Regarding new questions arising from a changing historical context, particularly issues concerning homosexuality, Lancaster drew participants’ attention to two studies the Faith and Order commission of the WCC is preparing, one exploring the processes which lead churches to different decisions about issues that are seen to be ethical as well as theological; the second asking how the different churches appeal to sources of authority within their traditions.
Rev. Dr Tom Best, Director of the WCC Commission on Faith and Order, expressed his conviction that the commission's work is now “more relevant than ever.” Giving thanks “to all those who link the life and work of Faith and Order in the North American context to Faith and Order worldwide”, he explained that “our progress has now brought us in many areas to the really difficult questions: what are the essential, irreducible aspects of the Christian faith on which we must agree?”
A hearing on “The future of our journey together” involving conference participants and observers was moderated by Dr Mary Tanner, former Faith and Order moderator and the current WCC president from Europe.
See also the NCC’s news release on the conference
More information is available on the conference website
