Since 2011, Evangelicals and Catholics in Saskatoon have been engaged in a theological dialogue. This builds on strong relationships built through the past decades by committed pastors, priests, and lay people who believe passionately that our communities can work more closely together and resolve many of the long-held suspicions of the other. After two years of regular discussions, the dialogue members decided that it would be useful to sketch out some of the areas where Catholics and Evangelicals already agree about the Christian faith. While not glossing over the considerable degree of difference that continues to exist between us, the dilaogue members contend that our common faith in Jesus Christ calls us to further dialogue, to common worship and service, and to common witness. The joint statement, entitled Called to Common Witness, is the work of the local dialogue between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Evangelical Ministers' Fellowship. It is a study document produced by participants in the dialogue and is here released so that it may be widely discussed. It is not an authoritative declaration of either the Catholic Church or of the Saskatoon Evangelical Ministers' Fellowship, who have each commended the document for study and reflection in local churches.


News of the Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue

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A public lecture with Dr Robert Stackpole, director of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. This lecture is presented by the Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue of Saskatoon, and complements the April 2015 lecture “What can Evangelicals Learn from Catholics?” by Dr Gordon Smith (Ambrose University, Calgary). For further information, contact Nick Jesson (306-659-5814) or Pastor Harry Strauss (306-933-2266).

Robert has a special academic interest in ecumenical dialogue with Evangelical Christians, an interest that grew during his 10-years of teaching theology to undergraduates at Redeemer Pacific College at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC. Robert also enjoys reading and writing about the works of C.S. Lewis, and describes himself as an incurable “Narniac.” From 2012 to 2015, Robert taught at St. Therese Institute in Bruno, SK where he was the Assistant Director of Formation. During this period, he also served on the Evangelical-Roman Catholic dialogue in Saskatoon.

Since 1997, Robert has been the Research Director, and later Director, of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy based in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. In that capacity, he has been a speaker at many conferences, and the author and editor of numerous journal articles and books, including Divine Mercy: A Guide From Genesis To Benedict XVI (Marian Press, 2009).
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Posted: Feb. 4, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9153
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, ResourcesIn this article: Catholic, Evangelicals
Transmis : 4 févr. 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9153
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, ResourcesDans cet article : Catholic, Evangelicals

An international Evangelical-Roman Catholic consultation will meet in Saskatoon Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, offering the public a rare chance to learn more about the international dialogue process, and the relationship between Catholic and Evangelical Christians around the world.

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity convened this round of international consultation in 2009. The group of 14 theologians, pastors and other leaders from Brazil, Columbia, the Philippines, Guatemala, Kenya, Spain, Italy, Germany, the United States and Canada have been discussing challenging issues that have divided Catholics and Evangelicals, including the relationship between scripture and tradition, and the role of the church in salvation.

At the international level, there have been two earlier phases of dialogue between Roman Catholics and Evangelicals. The first phase resulted in the 1984 report Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue on Mission. The broad focus of the report was on the Christian mission, but it included initial treatment of a variety of theological points of tension, including the scriptures, salvation, the church, Mary and the saints, and the sacraments. A second phase of dialogue (1993- 2002) produced a report entitled Church, Evangelization and the Bonds of Koinonia.

The current round of international consultation has held meetings in São Paulo, Brazil (2009); Rome, Italy (2011); Wheaton/Chicago, USA (2012); Guatemala City, Guatemala (2013); Bad Blankenburg, Germany (2014), and finally this year’s gathering in Saskatoon.
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Posted: Aug. 24, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8881
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Christian unity, dialogue, Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Saskatoon, World Evangelical Alliance
Transmis : 24 aoüt 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8881
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Christian unity, dialogue, Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Saskatoon, World Evangelical Alliance

On Thursday, April 30, Dr. Gordon Smith of Ambrose University in Calgary gave a public lecture entitled “What Can Evangelicals Learn from Catholic Christians? An Evangelical Response”. Smith is the president of Ambrose University, a college affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene and the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church of Canada. He is also a professor of theology and a spiritual director. He has spoken on other occasions about the importance of Evangelical-Catholic relations for the contemporary church. He was invited to Saskatoon by the Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue of Saskatoon to offer a reflection from an Evangelical perspective on the Catholic Church following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Following Dr. Smith’s presentation, Gertrude Rompré and Dr. Jeromey Martini offered responses. Rompré is the director of Mission and Ministry at St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon. Martini is the president of Horizon College in Saskatoon, a professor of New Testament Studies, and a member of the local dialogue group. An extended period was available for question and answer, with questions about the details of Smith’s talk as well as the continuing prospects for dialogue. A video of Smith’s presentation is available. Over the next days additional video segments will be added here, including respondents Gertrude Rompré and Dr. Jeromey Martini. Smith’s outline is available as well.
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Posted: May 4, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8187
Categories: Dialogue, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, Evangelicals, Gordon Smith, Saskatoon
Transmis : 4 mai 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8187
Catégorie : Dialogue, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Evangelicals, Gordon Smith, Saskatoon

The Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Saskatoon has recently issued a draft “Common Statement of Faith” after three years of study. The text is offered to our sponsoring churches for study and discernment, with the prayer that this text might be adopted as a sufficient statement for further dialogue and common mission.

The dialogue is sponsored by the Saskatoon Evangelical Ministers’ Fellowship (SEMF) and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. The group was established in 2011 to build upon earlier efforts to draw our churches together. The twenty members of the dialogue are drawn from across the Evangelical and Catholic communities with both clergy and lay people well represented. The dialogue spent two years exploring issues that have historically divided Catholics and Evangelicals before concluding that a statement of the faith we share in common would assist in promoting the growing relationship between our churches. Over a year in drafting and revision, the statement offered to our church at this time is not intended to be a final or complete exposition of these doctrinal matters or of all of the matters essential to Christian faith. We intend to give an account of the hope that we share for the visible witness of Jesus Christ by his followers in Saskatoon.
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Posted: Sept. 18, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7786
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, Evangelicals, Saskatoon, statements of faith
Transmis : 18 sept. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7786
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, Evangelicals, Saskatoon, statements of faith

The Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Saskatoon has recently issued a draft “Common Statement of Faith” after three years of study. The text is offered to our sponsoring churches for study and discernment, with the prayer that this text might be adopted as a sufficient statement for further dialogue and common mission.

Three community-wide meetings have been planned to present and discuss the draft statement.

  • October 16 – “We Confess our Shared Faith” 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 at Church of Christ, 134 Cardinal Crescent, Saskatoon (beside Leon’s Furniture Store).
  • December 4 – “We Acknowledge our Central Differences” 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 at St. Paul’s Co-Cathedral, 720 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon (Spadina and 22nd St).
  • February 5 – “We Affirm our Common Mission” 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1636 Acadia Drive, Saskatoon.

The text of the joint statement is available online at: ecumenism.net/archive/docu/2014_erc-saskatoon_common-statement-of-faith.pdf

For further information contact Nick Jesson, Roman Catholic diocesan ecumenical officer at jesson [at] ecumenism [dot] net or (306) 659-5814; or Pastor Harry Strauss, Forest Grove Community Church at harry [at] forestgrovecc [dot] com or (306) 933-2266.
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Posted: Sept. 18, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7814
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, Evangelicals, statements of faith
Transmis : 18 sept. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7814
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, Evangelicals, statements of faith

Pope Francis’ friend Bishop Tony Palmer of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC) died in England July 20 after his motorcycle collided with another vehicle.

According to e-mail reports obtained from The Ark Community he founded, three teams of surgeons tried to save Bishop Palmer’s life but he passed away in the evening, leaving behind his wife Emiliana and two teenaged children. Bishop Palmer was in his early 50s, and grew up in South Africa, though recently he had been living in England.

The bishop recently facilitated an historic private meeting of evangelical and charismatic leaders June 24 with Pope Francis at the Holy Father’s residence inside the Vatican. The two had become friends when Palmer was doing ecumenical work with charismatic Catholics in Buenos Aires.

World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) global ambassador Brian Stiller was among the leaders present at the June meeting with Pope Francis.

“Tony was a most remarkable young man,” he said in an e-mail. “I so well remember his gracious and active leadership in bringing members of the World Evangelical Alliance together in conversation with Pope Francis late June.

“However, with his life and witness still fresh in our memory, I believe it is important that we carry on, as he would have desired, finding ways for our major Christian bodies to have friendship and to understand our respective communions,” said Stiller, who headed the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada for 16 years.
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Posted: July 22, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7746
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsIn this article: Catholic, Christian unity, ecumenism, Evangelicals
Transmis : 22 juil. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7746
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, ecumenism, Evangelicals

When evangelicals and Catholics set aside centuries of mutual suspicion 20 years ago, the idea was fairly simple: Even if we can’t always work together, at least let’s not work against each other. Now, two decades after the launch of the group Evangelicals and Catholics Together, relations between the two groups appear stronger than ever, forged by shared battles over abortion, same-sex marriage, religious freedom and immigration. A new pope is finding crossover appeal among evangelicals who share Pope Francis’ emphasis on evangelism and his distaste for the fancier trappings and authoritarianism of the papacy. “The first affirmation of Evangelicals and Catholics Together is that Jesus Christ is Lord, and there’s the source of our hope,” Catholic theologian Matthew Levering of Mundelein Seminary outside Chicago told the recent Q conference of evangelical movers and shakers in Nashville, Tenn. “This was an anchor for when they began to discover that we share the same gospel.”
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Posted: May 7, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7547
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, RNSIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, Evangelicals, Evangelicals and Catholics Together
Transmis : 7 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7547
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, RNSDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Evangelicals, Evangelicals and Catholics Together

Preaching to Evangelicals at the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity didn’t phase Saskatoon Bishop Don Bolen — much.

“I’m always a bit nervous. I’m very mindful of my own shortcomings and inadequacies whenever I preach anywhere,” Bolen told The Catholic Register a few days after his Jan. 19 appearance at Saskatoon’s Circle Drive Alliance Church. “I did prepare more because they told me I had 30 minutes. Sweet, but it did require more preparation.”

Bolen preached on the story of the woman caught in adultery and Jesus’ ruling under the law that the one who has no sin should cast the first stone.

“He chose a beautiful text,” said Circle Drive Pastor Eldon Boldt. “Jesus showed grace and it was mercy upon mercy upon mercy. One girl wrote me (after the service) and said, ‘I don’t know why, but I found myself choking back tears as the bishop spoke.’ Well, that’s just the Holy Spirit.”

A Catholic bishop preaching in an Evangelical church is a rarity. As a member of the Evangelical-Roman Catholic International Consultation, Bolen hasn’t heard of other bishops preaching to Evangelicals. He plans to bring it up when the official international dialogue meets in March.
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Posted: Jan. 24, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7221
Categories: Catholic Register, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Catholic, Donald Bolen, ecumenism, Evangelicals, WPCU
Transmis : 24 janv. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7221
Catégorie : Catholic Register, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, Donald Bolen, ecumenism, Evangelicals, WPCU

In what might very well be a historic first, on Sunday January 19 Roman Catholic Bishop Donald Bolen was the guest preacher at one of Saskatoon’s flagship Evangelical churches, Circle Drive Alliance Church. Pastor Eldon Boldt invited Bishop Bolen to preach some months ago and suggested January as a possible time. Boldt has been offering the congregation a series of sermons through January on the theme of Reconciliation so the bishop’s sermon on Christian unity was a natural fit. Nevertheless, the significance of the occasion was not lost on anyone, including the congregation of Holy Family Cathedral to whom Bolen had preached earlier in the morning. Before he left for Circle Drive Church, the Catholic congregation gave Bolen a rousing cheer amid their prayers for Christian unity and thanksgiving for their bishop’s ecumenical passion.

The invitation to Circle Drive Church did not come out of the blue. Pastor Boldt and Bishop Bolen have been friends for a number of years and have happily shared together in prayer and witness. They are both members of a joint consultation committee between the Catholic diocese and the Saskatoon Evangelical Ministers’ Fellowship (SEMF).
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Posted: Jan. 21, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7204
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsIn this article: Catholic, Donald Bolen, Evangelicals
Transmis : 21 janv. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7204
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Donald Bolen, Evangelicals

What one speaker described as a “fellowship of the burning heart” was evident Nov. 14 in the spirit of joy characterizing the second Catholic-Evangelical worship service to be held in Saskatoon, this time hosted by Circle Drive Alliance Church. The reference to the gospel story from Luke about the disciples on the road to Emmaus – who felt their hearts burning within them at the words of the resurrected Jesus Christ – resonated during the celebration of joy and thanksgiving for shared Christian faith and love of God’s word. The celebration began with Evangelical leaders entering down one aisle, and Catholic leaders down another. Rev. Eldon Boldt of Circle Drive Alliance and Saskatoon Catholic Bishop Donald Bolen then each lit a candle from a central candle, symbolizing Christ. When the celebration ended, the two leaders carried out the lit candles in the unity of a procession of both Catholic and Evangelical Christians down a single aisle.
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Posted: Nov. 15, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8886
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, Evangelicals, prayer, Saskatoon, spiritual ecumenism
Transmis : 15 nov. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8886
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Evangelicals, prayer, Saskatoon, spiritual ecumenism

For more than two years, a group of Evangelical and Catholic Christians in Saskatoon have been meeting to talk about their common faith in Jesus Christ, discussing what is shared, as well as examining where their understandings and convictions differ.

Formally appointed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Evangelical Ministers Fellowship, the local dialogue group is now in the process of writing a joint statement, just as a second Catholic-Evangelical worship service is being planned for Saskatoon Nov. 14.

It was after the first shared worship service in March 2011 at St. Paul’s Catholic Cathedral that a small group of church and ecumenical leaders met to try and find ways for the two traditions to further engage in common prayer, common witness, common mission and common study. A dialogue group was subsequently launched, with the first meeting held in December 2011.

Rev. Harry Strauss, associate pastor at Forest Grove Community Church (left) and a member of the Saskatoon Evangelical Ministers Fellowship, and Nicholas Jesson, ecumenical officer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, are part of the 20-member dialogue group, which includes 10 representatives from each tradition.

Both Strauss and Jesson are also serving on a four-member committee that is now drafting a joint statement emerging from two years of conversation, study and relationship building.

Strauss describes the joint statement: “We confess our common faith, we acknowledge our differences and we affirm our common mission.”

Although the joint statement is not finished, there are plans to introduce portions at the 7 p.m. Nov. 14 Evangelical-Catholic worship service being hosted by Circle Drive Alliance Church, led by Pastor Eldon Bolt.
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Posted: Oct. 30, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6911
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, ecumenism, Evangelicals, Saskatoon, witness
Transmis : 30 oct. 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6911
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, ecumenism, Evangelicals, Saskatoon, witness

When the new pope is consecrated, he will inherit a troubled global church. Internal scandal and unaddressed external problems pose great risks to the vitality of Catholicism. But the consequences of success or failure are huge for the church universal, the world’s 2.1 billion Christians of every denomination. This is more than a butterfly effect. Rome is not Las Vegas—what happens in Rome will not stay within the borders of Vatican City. One consequence of globalization is that the walls that have long divided Catholics from Orthodox, mainline Protestants, evangelicals, and Pentecostals are eroding.

Brian Stiller, a global ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance, commenting about Catholic and evangelical relations, wrote on his blog recently, “Not in 500 years have the two sides been so close and friendly.”
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Posted: Mar. 13, 2013 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6552
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, OpinionIn this article: Catholic, ecumenism, Evangelicals, papacy
Transmis : 13 mars 2013 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6552
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, OpinionDans cet article : Catholic, ecumenism, Evangelicals, papacy

Evangelical and Catholic Christians recently gathered to pray and to celebrate their common faith in Jesus Christ at a joyful gathering at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Saskatoon.

Sharing song, scripture and prayer, some 300 people attended the groundbreaking gathering March 22, 2011. Pastor Harry Strauss of Forest Grove Community Church, representing the Saskatoon Evangelical Ministers Fellowship, and Bishop Donald Bolen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon presided together at the service. Welcoming all those attending from many denominations and local churches, Bolen described the origins of the event, which he traced back to the prayer and friendship experienced when three Catholic women joined those in the Evangelical community gathering regularly to pray for local Alliance Church Pastor Ken Rutherford, who was ill with cancer and who died in September 2010.

“It was Ken’s request that those who gathered would also pray for the wounded body of Christ in the city of Saskatoon,” said Bolen, who attended one of the prayer services, where he first met Ken’s wife Lenna. “Eventually I got to meet Pastor Ken as well, and I was stirred by his profound desire for unity and reconciliation.”

In a sermon shared with Bolen and Strauss, Lenna Rutherford recalled her husband’s experience of joy when he introduced two of his beloved friends to each other – something that also reflected his experience of connecting to other friends through a mutual love of Jesus Christ.

Christ had introduced Ken to many other dear friends. Ken found them in many shapes and presentations, they came from many pastoral and priestly places, in various denominations across the city and Ken found that he was called to see not from a worldly, or religious, or denominational point of view, but from Christ’s point of view, which was: “let me introduce you to someone I love so much that I died for them too.’”
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Posted: Mar. 25, 2011 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8878
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, Evangelicals, prayer, Saskatoon, spiritual ecumenism
Transmis : 25 mars 2011 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8878
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Evangelicals, prayer, Saskatoon, spiritual ecumenism

The Catholic Church in Canada has agreed to begin a formal theological dialogue with Evangelicals.

“It’s a new thing in Canada,” said Margaret O’Gara, a theology professor at Toronto’s University of St. Michael’s College who has been involved in Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox dialogue for the past 35 years. She will be among the Catholic participants.

“We all have the expectation that this will be a personally enriching experience and that, hopefully, we will contribute to the strength of the Church in Canada,” said David Freeman, who is strategic interface vice president for the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.

Freeman will be the Evangelical co-chair of the dialogue, with Regina Archbishop Daniel Bohan as the Catholic co-chair.

The first set of meetings will take place March 24-25 in Toronto.
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Posted: Jan. 19, 2011 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=1785
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue
Transmis : 19 janv. 2011 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=1785
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue

According to Pastor Harry Strauss, the Saskatoon Evangelical Ministers Fellowship (SEMF) intention is to build up fellowship among its members and within the wider community.

Strauss is an associate pastor at Forest Grove Community Church and chair of SEMF which is an association and fellowship of pastors and leaders from about 40 evangelical churches in the city. It also includes representatives from a dozen or so para-church organizations like Youth for Christ, Power to Change, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Christian Counselling Services.

SEMF has been operating for many years as an organization that sees its membership constantly changing.

“The heart of our mission is to foster a spirit of unity among Christian ministers and ministries in the city,” Strauss says.

The group meets monthly, and in recent years has become involved in a number of interesting initiatives.
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Posted: Dec. 24, 2010 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6214
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsIn this article: Christian unity, ecumenism, Evangelicals, Saskatoon
Transmis : 24 déc. 2010 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6214
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsDans cet article : Christian unity, ecumenism, Evangelicals, Saskatoon

[Nairobi] Evangelical, Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders attending a world Christian forum in Kenya that has brought together many of Christianity’s diverse strands, say it offers new opportunities, but they also warn of possible difficulties ahead.

“When you share your journey and discover how other people have travelled and find similarities in the journey, that helps you to travel together,” commented the Rev. Richard Howell of the Evangelical Fellowship of India.
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Posted: Nov. 8, 2007 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=372
Categories: ENI, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Global Christian Forum
Transmis : 8 nov. 2007 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=372
Catégorie : ENI, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Global Christian Forum

A unique gathering of high level church leaders to start Tuesday, 6 November near Nairobi, Kenya, features the broadest range of Christian traditions ever represented at a global meeting, allowing for a discussion of unprecedented ecumenical breadth on what Christians are called to do – together if possible – in the world today.

The 6-9 November gathering, called the Global Christian Forum, brings together about 250 high level representatives of all the main Christian traditions and of their global organizations at the Jumuia Conference Centre in Limuru, near Nairobi.

The Forum’s stated purpose is to create a new, open space in which a broad range of Christian churches and interchurch organizations can gather in a multilateral setting to foster mutual respect and explore and address together common challenges. It aims to include all streams of Christianity, including those which have not been in conversation with one another. In Limuru about half of the participants will be Evangelicals and Pentecostals.

Over four days, with the theme “Our Journey with Jesus Christ, the Reconciler,” participants will discuss how best to promote dialogue and co-operation on issues of Christian unity and common witness to the world. They will debate proposals for the future of the Forum, and it is hoped that a “Letter to the Churches” will summarize the results of the meeting.
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Posted: Nov. 6, 2007 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=365
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, WCC NewsIn this article: Global Christian Forum
Transmis : 6 nov. 2007 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=365
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, WCC NewsDans cet article : Global Christian Forum

A new statement has been published by Evangelicals and Catholics Together, an ad-hoc group of theologians and church leaders headed by Charles Colson and Richard John Neuhaus. This text, entitled “That They May Have Life,” is the sixth statement issued by ECT since 1994. In their most recent offering, ECT returns its focus to public policy, morality, and the so-called “culture wars.” Seeking to promote dialogue within the US on the “culture of life,” the group affirms that they share common interests and concerns with those who oppose them. These include a common interest in the American experiment and a common humanity with its God-given capacity for reason. The text, which has the tone of a pastoral letter, appears to be interested in a dialogue between secular culture and Christians.

While this latest document is to be welcomed for its clear articulation of certain aspects of the “culture of life,” and for the continuing efforts of Evangelicals and Roman Catholics to speak together on issues of shared concern, it is disappointing for many of the same reasons that the first ECT statement was criticized. There is very little contribution made here to the ecumenical rapprochement between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics. Many of the issues that the participants agreed upon in this statement will divide them from others within their own churches. This statement will likely be received as just another contribution to the abortion debate by the Religious Right. To me, it seems like like they weren’t reaching high enough.
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Posted: Sept. 20, 2006 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=268
Categories: Dialogue, Documents, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Catholic, Christian unity, Evangelicals, Evangelicals and Catholics Together
Transmis : 20 sept. 2006 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=268
Catégorie : Dialogue, Documents, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, Evangelicals, Evangelicals and Catholics Together

1. A theological consultation between Evangelicals and Catholics took place from 7-13 November 1999. Jointly sponsored by the World Evangelical Fellowship‘s Theological Commission and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the meeting took place at the George Williams Campus of Aurora University, Williams Bay, Wisconsin, USA. It followed on from two previous consultations between WEF and Catholic Church representatives, held in 1993 in Venice, Italy and in 1997 at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute near Jerusalem. [Note: The World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) changed its name to World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) in 2000.]

2. The Williams Bay meeting sought to deepen mutual understanding and respect between Evangelicals and Catholics, using the occasion to hear how each understood one another’s traditions, convictions and concerns. More particularly its aim was to face misunderstandings that put stumbling blocks in the way of the Good News being proclaimed and heard.

Four papers were prepared for the consultation. On the theme of koinonia (fellowship or communion) two papers were discussed: “An Evangelical Perspective on Church Koinonia” by Henri Blocher and “The Church as Communion: A Catholic Perspective,” by Avery Dulles. Later discussion of evangelization and common witness and their difficulties began on the basis of a paper by M. Daniel Carroll R., “The Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue: Issues Revolving around Evangelization. A View from Latin America” and one by Thomas Stransky, “Religious Freedom, Christian Witness and Proselytism.”
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Posted: Nov. 13, 1999 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2193
Categories: Communiqué, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, World Evangelical Alliance
Transmis : 13 nov. 1999 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2193
Catégorie : Communiqué, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, World Evangelical Alliance

An effort to make an existing Protestant-Roman Catholic committee the top ecumenical body for Ireland has been stymied by a vote of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI).

The plan, which had been approved by the three other major denominations in both the Republic and in Northern Ireland – the Anglicans, the Methodists and the Roman Catholics – went down by a 224-144 vote during the Belfast General Assembly in June. Its opponents say it was defeated by the fact that an institutional identification with the Roman Catholic Church would imply approval of its doctrine.

And that is, in a word, apostasy.

If this all sounds like theological separatism, it is. But this is Northern Ireland, where politics and religion stay unintelligibly and painfully entangled – no matter how much distance Catholics and Protestants put between themselves, and no matter how many centuries go by.

The political stalemate isn’t so dissimilar.

Ulster’s major unionist (and largely Protestant) party is refusing to form a four-party administration to govern Northern Ireland – including Sinn Fein, the radical republican party – because the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) has refused to disarm, and because of apparent breaches of the outlawed group’s 1997 cease-fire.
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Posted: Sept. 15, 1999 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=4874
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, PCUSA NewsIn this article: Catholic, Ireland, Presbyterian, religious hatred
Transmis : 15 sept. 1999 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=4874
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, PCUSA NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Ireland, Presbyterian, religious hatred

Protestants and Catholics are working together more and more these days in Canada. Each believes it is the best expression of Christian faith, and each has often condemned the other’s teachings. Now some are trying to move beyond these criticisms and to forge limited new forms of cooperation, according to a series of articles in the May/June issue of Faith Today.

Gary Walsh, president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), visited the offices of the Catholic Bishops in Ottawa and found himself “thanking the Lord for the things we share in common.” Despite doctrinal differences between the two organizations, EFC is having regular contact and working closely with Catholics on public policy issues such as abortion, family life and euthanasia, according to the lead article by Harold Jantz, a consultant and project manager of church-related projects in Winnipeg.

Sr. Donna Geernaert, who speaks for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in Ottawa, observes that not only have Catholics and the EFC joined with one another for presentations to government, they’ve also coordinated their efforts so they could prepare complementary briefs.

George Vandervelde of Toronto, convener of the World Evangelical Fellowship‘s task force on ecumenical issues, believes that dialogue between evangelicals and Catholics is important “simply to understand one another and clarify how we are different and how we are similar.” He says we shouldn’t be bearing false witness against each other. “If in evangelicalism we say this or that against Roman Catholicism, we should know that we are speaking truth, and you can find that out only by speaking to one another.”
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Posted: May 1, 1999 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=4
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsIn this article: Catholic, Christian unity, ecumenism, Evangelicals
Transmis : 1 mai 1999 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=4
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, ecumenism, Evangelicals

In 1993 there was a first meeting in Venice (Italy) for conversations between Evangelical and Roman Catholic representatives, co-sponsored by the World Evangelical Fellowship and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The themes were Justification, Scripture and Tradition. As a follow up to it, a second meeting for conversations was held in the Ecumenical Institute of Tantur (Jerusalem), October 12-19, 1997. Participants represented different regions of the world and a variety of Christian ministries.

The main themes for these conversations — agreed upon during the Venice meeting — were issues related to the nature and mission of the Church. Representatives of each tradition presented a paper on each theme. The discussion that followed evidenced a spirit of mutual acceptance and disposition to listen to one another and pray together.

From the discussions, some points of agreement emerged, as well as areas that demand more reflection and theological work. It was felt that it is still too early to present an elaborate document. We therefore limit ourselves to list the main points on which we have come to a common understanding as well as the points that we would suggest as an agenda for the future conversations between the World Evangelical Fellowship and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, if both partners agree to do so.
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Posted: Oct. 19, 1997 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=2192
Categories: Communiqué, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueIn this article: Catholic, Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, World Evangelical Alliance
Transmis : 19 oct. 1997 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=2192
Catégorie : Communiqué, Evangelical-Roman Catholic DialogueDans cet article : Catholic, Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, World Evangelical Alliance

Pope John Paul II, in issuing a fresh initiative to promote Christian unity, has provided Protestants and Catholics a rare opportunity to work through long-standing theological differences in a modern context.

In North America, evangelicals and Catholic leaders say the pope’s invitation to examine together the role of the papal office is historic and significant. But there is disagreement on whether meaningful unity is achievable, even with the pope’s endorsement in the May 30 encyclical on Christian unity, Ut Unum Sint (“That They May Be One”). A common concern that Orthodox and Protestant believers share is opposition to the pope’s claim to a unique role in Christendom.

“The Catholic Church’s conviction that in the ministry of the Bishop of Rome she has preserved … the visible sign and guarantor of unity constitutes a difficulty for most other Christians, whose memory is marked by certain painful recollections,” the pope acknowledges. “To the extent that we are responsible for these, I join my predecessor Paul VI in asking forgiveness.”

Richard John Neuhaus, a Catholic priest and former Lutheran, now with the New York-based organization Religion and Public Life, says the statement is “historic” and “unprecedented.”

Neuhaus has formed an important link to the evangelical movement through working with Prison Fellowship’s Charles Colson. From this coalition emerged the controversial “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” (CT, March 6, 1995, p. 52).
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Posted: July 17, 1995 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6349
Categories: Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, OpinionIn this article: Christian unity, Evangelicals, papacy, Ut Unum Sint
Transmis : 17 juil. 1995 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6349
Catégorie : Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, OpinionDans cet article : Christian unity, Evangelicals, papacy, Ut Unum Sint