Link to NYT: Praying for Christian Unity, When Diversity Has Been the Answer

[alixtii]

Has the movement for unity among Christians gone into a coma?

[. . .]

Has the ecumenical movement lost steam? Or has it, perhaps, fallen victim to its own success? One way or the other, does it make any difference?

Peter Steinfels examines the changing way Americans approach the concept of Christian unity, and the way this issue relates to issues of denominational identity: "the looming question for many Christian churches and denominations is no longer whether doctrinal boundaries are too absolute and exclusive but whether these groups can define and maintain any clear-cut identity at all."

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/peasant_/]

Hmm. Tell that to the Archbishop of Canterbury as he continues to struggle to hold the church together over the issue of gay clergy. I think it's a tad early to be celebrating the triumph of diversity.

[alixtii.livejournal.com]

I think Steinfels' argument is that the two go hand in hand: while these sorts of issues would previously be fought between denominations, as the same fights are going on within the various denominations, and only people invested in the doctrinal munitiae can see how the fight is different in the Methodiost Church than it is in the Presbyterian. (The reason for the American Episcopol church to seem so much liberal than the other two probably has more to do with the fact that we elect our own bishops than with any theological difference between the other mainline churches.)

Anglican churches actually have an advantage over the others in this regard, I think; since no other churches straddle Protestantism and Catholicism in the same way, they have something to keep their identity in the face of diversity/unity. Not to mention the instantly recognizable office of the Archbishop of Canterbury to look to, and a tyaste for traditional and denomination unity found through tradition that more Protestant churches eschew.

Take a small step towards Christian Unity

[(Anonymous)]

As an individual you can take a small step towards Christian Unity at www.onedate.org (http://www.onedate.org).

It is an on line petition to unite the date of Easter (http://www.onedate.org) that Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox would celebrate this Feast of Feasts all on One Date.

There is also a downloadable petition kit (http://www.onedate.org/petition-kit.php) that you can take along to Unity Week events.

Re: Take a small step towards Christian Unity

[alixtii.livejournal.com]

Unity does not mean doing everything the same way, and especially not making people change the way they've been doing things (unless there is an ethical imperative for doing so, of course).

You are made of fail. You lose.