Take Another Look … at Christian Unity

Ecumenism is not an appendix to the Church’s mission. Rather the search for Christian unity touches the very heart of what it means to be a disciple in the modern world. As Christian people, and as a Church, our ecumenical vocation calls us to examine our relationships with all who bear the name of Christ. In humility, and with integrity, we must be prepared to confess our failures and our sins of disunity, and forgive those of our Christian brothers and sisters where they have sinned against us.

These principles described above are the insight and commitment of the Catholic Church expressed at the Second Vatican Council and repeated in a number of other forums since. Our formal commitment and collected energies as a Church have strongly influenced the ecumenical agenda, and given a needed boost to the search for Christian unity in our day.
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Posted: April 30, 1997 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6336
Categories: Opinion • In this article: Christian unity, ecumenism Transmis : 30 avril 1997 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=6336
Catégorie : Opinion • Dans cet article : Christian unity, ecumenism

UCC Moderator’s Comments Clarified

On October 24, the Ottawa Citizen reported that Bill Phipps, the moderator of the United Church of Canada had stated that the “divinity of Jesus and the reality of heaven and hell are irrelevant.”

The article, which was carried coast to coast in numerous papers, generated an immediate controversy and storms of protest to both the United Church national offices in Etobicoke, Ontario and the newspapers reprinting the article.

By mid-November battle lines were drawn with pundits, theologians, clergy and laity of both conservative and liberal hues voicing their opinions of Phipps’ statements and of his orthodoxy. It would not be terribly helpful (or appropriate) for me to add my views. But, I should, in the interests of bringing clarity to the discussion, make the following observations.

Firstly, both Bill Phipps and the United Church spokespeople have pointed out that the specific statements that were reported were lifted out of context and did not accurately represent his views. The entire article was published in the Ottawa Citizen on November 2, and while the statements are direct quotes, in my opinion Phipps clearly did not intend to deny the divinity of Jesus.
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Posted: December 1, 1997 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=2227
Categories: News • In this article: Bill Phipps, interfaith, salvation, United Church of Canada Transmis : 1 décembre 1997 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=2227
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bill Phipps, interfaith, salvation, United Church of Canada

Congregational Ecumenism on the Prairies

By Nicholas Jesson Growing up in Winnipeg, I had a stereotypical image of Saskatchewan and Alberta.  Albertans were cowboys and oilmen while people from Saskatchewan and rural Manitoba were all grain farmers.  Saskatchewan was flat, dull, and almost barren.  We used to joke, half seriously, that when driving west from Winnipeg one should leave in
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Posted: March 15, 1998 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6266
Categories: Opinion • In this article: Canada, ecumenism, Saskatchewan Transmis : 15 mars 1998 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=6266
Catégorie : Opinion • Dans cet article : Canada, ecumenism, Saskatchewan

To dialogue, or not?

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

Book Review: Margaret O’Gara, The Ecumenical Gift Exchange

I remember, as an MA student, reading one of Margaret O’Gara’s essays in Grail on petrine ministry and what she called “the ecumenical gift exchange.” Drawing a comparison to the exchange of gifts in a large family at Christmas, O’Gara says that “in ecumenical dialogue, each Christian communion brings one or many gifts to the dialogue table, and each receives riches from their dialogue partners as well. But in the ecumenical gift exchange, the gift-giving enriches all of the partners, since we do not lose our gifts by sharing them with others.” Throughout my own research and the past four years of ecumenical ministry I have kept this concept close at hand.

O’Gara’s new book The Ecumenical Gift Exchange collects her own essays exploring issues of contemporary ecumenical dialogue, particularly: petrine ministry; infallibility; authority and dissent; feminism, and of utmost importance: the process of reception itself. How does one church receive the gifts of another? What level of agreement is necessary? When does the dialogue move from talking to acting? How does dialogue lead to repentance and then to reception?

She points out, “In a sense, the entire ecumenical movement rests on the recognition of the need for repentance, a willingness to ask whether we have a beam in our own eye before we concern ourselves with the mote in the eye of the other.”
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Posted: November 15, 1998 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6328
Categories: Catholic Register, Opinion • In this article: books, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, exchange of gifts Transmis : 15 novembre 1998 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=6328
Catégorie : Catholic Register, Opinion • Dans cet article : books, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, exchange of gifts

History in our own time: The Joint Declaration on Justification

“How are we saved?” This was the central question of the Protestant Reformation. Or, as Martin Luther phrased it: “How are we, as sinners, found righteous in the sight of a just God?” This is a question that has challenged Christians throughout our history, and has challenged our Hebrew brothers and sisters for even longer. The fact that we believe we will be saved is evident in our decision to come here today, for we all believe that God has offered us salvation. But why are we saved? Because we come here? Because we do our homework, say our prayers and try not to pick on our little brother?
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Posted: October 31, 1999 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6258
Categories: Opinion • In this article: Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, JDDJ, Lutheran World Federation, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Transmis : 31 octobre 1999 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=6258
Catégorie : Opinion • Dans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, JDDJ, Lutheran World Federation, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity

Os de mes os, chair de ma chair

Numéro 5, mars 2004 « Os de mes os, chair de ma chair », Le mariage entre personnes de même sexe au Canada par Nicholas Jesson Le mariage est une structure fondamentale de toutes les sociétés humaines. Indépendamment des perspectives religieuses ou culturelles, chaque communauté humaine a reconnu, encouragé, et célébré le mariage. Les liens matrimonials et
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Posted: March 1, 2004 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=90
Categories: News • In this article: Canada, Christian, Christianity, human sexuality, marriage Transmis : 1 mars 2004 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=90
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Canada, Christian, Christianity, human sexuality, marriage

Bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh

Issue No. 5, March 2004 “Bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh“, Same-sex marriage in Canada By Nicholas Jesson Marriage is a fundamental structure of all human societies. Regardless of religious or cultural perspectives, every human community has recognised, encouraged, and celebrated marriage. Marital and familial bonds provide stability and social order. In
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Posted: March 1, 2004 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=89
Categories: News • In this article: Canada, Christian, Christianity, human sexuality, marriage Transmis : 1 mars 2004 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=89
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Canada, Christian, Christianity, human sexuality, marriage

Same-sex marriage in Canada

Table of contents: • Canadian Council of Churches • Anglican Church of Canada • Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops • Catholic Organization for Life and Family • Christian Reformed Church in North America • Evangelical Fellowship of Canada • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada • Mennonite Church – Canada • Presbyterian Church in Canada •
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Posted: March 1, 2004 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=4636
Categories: News • In this article: Canada, Christian, Christianity, human sexuality, marriage Transmis : 1 mars 2004 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=4636
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Canada, Christian, Christianity, human sexuality, marriage

The holiness of the Church on earth

By Nicholas Jesson In today’s Vatican Information Service (VIS), a report of the ad limina visit of some U.S. bishops to Rome can be found. The pope will be speaking to each group of U.S. bishops as they visit over the coming months, and it has been announced that he will be speaking to them
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Posted: April 29, 2004 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=105
Categories: Opinion • In this article: church, holiness, John Paul II, pope Transmis : 29 avril 2004 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=105
Catégorie : Opinion • Dans cet article : church, holiness, John Paul II, pope