New Directions in the Ecumenical Movement: Critically Evaluating Challenges for Christian Unity

The Ecumenical Movement (comprising the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church) is a significant player advocating for Christian unity. After working hard to find a sufficient doctrinal ground, in recent years the EM has majored on “spiritual ecumenism” (e.g. common prayer, local fellowship) and more recently on initiatives like the Global Christian Forum and “Season of Creation”. This talk critically assesses the theological basis for “spiritual ecumenism” and approaches issues like: What is at stake when we pray publicly in an ecumenical setting? What message do we send when we participate in ecumenical events, and to what extent should we be part of them?