To dialogue, or not?

 — June 1, 19981 juin 1998

Cooperation between the churches of Canada is at a significant level. We share our problems, we share our plans, we even share our resources. But what of dialogue? Are we talking about our theological perspectives as we cooperate? Or, has dialogue fallen into a secondary or tertiary importance?

To be sure there are dialogues at the national level, Anglican-Roman Catholic, Anglican-Lutheran, Lutheran-Roman Catholic and Roman Catholic-United Church. And, each of these dialogues is doing significant work. But where is the dialogue with Evangelical, Pentecostal and Mennonite churches? What about the Presbyterian and other Reformed churches?

In 1997 at its General Assembly, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) initiated a project to call its member churches in the same country to dialogue with each other. The Presbyterian and United churches are both members of WARC. Have they had any formal dialogue since 1925? What about charismatic, conservative and liberal wings of each of our churches? Sometimes it seems that we can talk more with those in other churches than with those in our own churches.

At press time it was reported that the 1998 Anglican General Synod has decided to invite the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) to initiate a formal dialogue. This would be the first formal dialogue between a mainline church and the evangelical community in Canada. Our congratulations and appreciation go out to the General Synod. Let us hope that this is the first of a number of new windows opened for dialogue.

Posted: June 1, 1998 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2231
Categories: Opinion
Transmis : 1 juin 1998 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2231
Catégorie : Opinion


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