Washington Theological Consortium

Ecumenism 170 (Summer 2008): 8-27.
This issue includes a series of papers on the Eucharistic theology of various denominations from an ecumenical perspective:

Gros, Jeffrey. “Struggle and Reconciliation: Some Reflections on Ecumenism in Chile.” International Review of Mission 97 (January/April 2008): 50-64.
An excellent overview of twentieth-century Christianity in Chile and 40 years of Catholic-Protestant (usually Pentecostal) ecumenical relations in that country.

Holeton, David R. “Ecumenical Liturgical Consensus: A Bumpy Road to Christian Unity.” Studia Liturgica 38 (2008): 1-16.
The Presidential Address for the 40 th anniversary conference of the Societas Liturgica surveys the twentieth-century developments toward a common lectionary, a common catechumenate, a common Eucharistic ordo, and common liturgical texts, and the challenges to that consensus posed now by the recent Church of England revision of the Lord’s Prayer text and the Roman Catholic changes to liturgical texts proposed by Liturgiam authenticam.

Lancaster, Sarah Heaner. “Baptism and Justification: A Methodist Understanding.” Ecclesiology 4 (2008): 289-307.
In response to the World Methodist Council’s vote to sign on to the Roman Catholic-Lutheran Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, a Methodist theologian explains John Wesley’s teachings on justification and baptism and what those teachings can contribute to ecumenical dialogue: “we honor the meaning of baptism when we seek to express the dynamic work of God for our salvation in all its manifestations” (p. 307).

Neuhaus, Richard John. “Reconciling East and West.” First Things 188 (December 2008): 23-28.
One could consider this article a kind of a “state of the union” overview of the work towards Roman Catholic-Orthodox ecumenical accord, especially the dialogue around papal primacy. Neuhaus’ view is that “the only thing lacking for full communion with the Orthodox is full communion” (p. 27-28).

“Pentecostal Catholic Dialogue with a Methodist Twist!” Ecumenical Trends 37 (2008): 4-11.
Three articles in this issue address the accomplishments, challenges and potential of these ecumenical relations:

Small, Joseph D. “Local Church – Universal Church.” Ecumenical Trends 37 (September 2008): 124-126.
This paper from the 2008 National Workshop on Christian Unity presents a Reformed perspective, in dialogue with Roman Catholic theology, on the ecumenical debates over definitions of church as local-universal and visible-invisible.

Bolognesi, Pietro. “A History of the Relationship of the Evangelical Alliance with the Roman Catholic Church.” Evangelical Review of Theology 32:3 (2008): 210-223.
Reviews and analyzes the history of the dialogue between the Evangelical Alliance and Roman Catholics since Vatican II and challenges the EA to develop a theological approach in order to have a common methodology for dialogue with Rome .

Bouwen, Frans. “The Official Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church: 1973-1992.” One in Christ 42 (Summer 2008): 75-98.

Carter, David. “Catholic-Methodist Dialogue: Promise, Hope and Caution.” One in Christ 42 (Summer 2008): 148-170.
A British Methodist summarizes Methodist reception and caution around the ministry issues of the 2006 Catholic-Methodist document, The Grace Given You in Christ and posits that the Methodist Church might be ready to accept a differentiated consensus around episcopacy.

Daniels, Harold M. “Lutherans and Reformed Living Together in Full Communion: Ten Years.” Call to Worship 42:1 (2008-2009): 1-8.
Describes the history of the American Lutheran-Reformed relationship and concrete ways in which the first decade of full communion has been lived out at the national level, mid-level judicatories, seminaries, and congregations.

Dieter, Theodor. “Luther Research and Ecumenism.” Dialog 47 (Summer 2008): 157-166.
A German Lutheran theologian analyzes the differing methodologies of Luther research and ecumenical dialogue.

Epting, Christopher. “The Nature of the Unity we Seek.” Ecumenical Trends 37 (July/August 2008): 108-109.
The Episcopal Church’s Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations brings the lessons of the church’s 1979 Declaration on Unity to bear on current tensions within the Anglican Communion.

Gros, Jeffrey. “Fifty Years and Running: Oberlin 57, Back and Beyond.” One in Christ 42 (Summer 2008): 171-186.
One of the premier ecumenists of the century summarizes the 50-year history of the National Council of Churches Faith and Order movement in the U.S.A.

Kinnamon, Michael. “Pray Without Ceasing.” Ecumenical Trends 37 (July/August 2008) 97-100.
The new General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA ’s keynote address from the 2008 National Workshop on Christian Unity in which he seeks to bring together Faith and Order and Life and Work concerns into a unified ecumenism grounded in prayer for unity.

Murphy, Gannon. “Reformed Theosis?” Theology Today 65 (2008): 191-212.
A Reformed theologian proposes “a reconsideration and reformulation of the viability of theosis within classical Reformed theology.”

O’Gara, Margaret. “Ecumenical Dialogue: The Next Generation.” Origins 38 (July 31, 2008): 154-163.
A Canadian Roman Catholic theologian’s perspective on the future challenges for ecumenical relations, including the papacy, infallibility, The church’s authority, women’s ordination, ethics, and relations with non-Christian religions.

Ryan, Thomas. “The Evolving Face of Ecumenism.” One in Christ 42 (Summer 2008): 139-147.
A description of monasticism as “ecumenical terrain” as experienced in Focolare, Taize, Syndesmos, L’Arche, and Bose.

Sisto, Walter Nunzio. “The Economic-Immanent Method: Implications of Karl Rahner’s Trinitarian Theology for the Contemporary North American Catholic-Orthodox Ecumenical Movement.” Ecumenical Trends 37 (July/August 2008): 104-107.
A Ph.D. student examines the impasse over the filioque clause between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism and proposes Rahner’s theology of the immanent Trinity as a “bridge theology” that would allow for resolution of this issue.

Smit, Peter-Ben. “The Developing Understanding of Authority and Primacy in Anglican-Roman Catholic-Old Catholic dialogue after the Second Vatican Council.” International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church 8 (August 2008): 11-231.
The author, an Old Catholic priest who teaches at General Seminary (Episcopal), argues that Anglican, Roman Catholic and Old Catholic dialogue has made positive progress to the point of implementing a universal primacy acceptable to all three traditions.

Swarat, Uwe. “The Dialogues Between the European Baptist Federation and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe.” Journal of Ecumenical Studies 43 (Summer 2008): 333-350.
A review of the history of dialogue between the churches of the Leuenberg Agreement (1973) with the European Baptist Federation and the developing convergence toward table and pulpit fellowship despite ongoing divergence over baptismal theology.

Tabbernee, William and Beverly Roberts Gaventa. “Interpreting the Scriptures Together: Seeking the Visible Unity of the Church.” Journal of Ecumenical Studies 43 (Summer 2008): 295-308.
A proposal for developing a common ecumenical biblical hermeneutic as a foundation for ecumenical dialogue.

Tjorhom, Ola. “An ‘Ecumenical Winter’? Challenges in Contemporary Catholic Ecumenism.” The Heythrop Journal 49 (September 2008): 841-859.
A Roman Catholic ecumenist draws upon Vatican II’s Unitatis redintegratio to identify steps the Roman church might take to “rescue” the ecumenical movement: a sustainable spiritual ecumenism, intermediate steps towards Eucharistic fellowship, and appreciation for ecclesial diversity, leading to opportunities for a new ecumenical strategy of differentiated consensus and the quest for ecumenical reception.

Cadge, Wendy, Laura R. Olson, and Christopher Wildeman. “How Denominational Resources Influence Debate about Homosexuality in Mainline Protestant Congregations.” Sociology of Religion 69 (Summer 2008): 187-207.
The authors conducted telephone interviews with the clergy of 30 congregations ( Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , Presbyterian Church USA and United Methodist) in one northeastern U.S. city to assess how the congregations addressed the issue of homosexuality and what resources were provided by the denominations for congregational study of the issue. Findings indicated that the parishes responses to the issue were influenced by the denomination’s materials and recommended process.

Dieter, Theodor. “Luther Research and Ecumenism.” Dialog 47 (Summer 2008): 157-166.
The article compares and contrasts the aims of Luther research and how that research impacts the consensus sought and differentiations achieved in doctrinal ecumenism.

Fahey, Michael A. “Shifts in Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant Ecclesiology from 1965 to 2006.” Ecclesiology 4 (2008): 134-147.
A Roman Catholic theologian attempts to present a “confessionally comprehensive survey” of shifts in ecclesiology over the past forty years. While a 13-page journal article cannot provide comprehensive coverage, the author offers a helpful summary of areas of consensus (e.g. the doctrine of the Trinity as starting point and the impact of the liturgical renewal movement) and identifies the “unfinished agendas” for ecclesiology (most importantly, integrating the results of ecumenical agreements into denominational ecclesiology).

Hein, David. “Radical Ecumenism: A Teaching Moment for Anglicanism.” Sewanee Theological Review 51 (Pentecost 2008): 314-328.
An Anglican author promotes an ecumenism of receptivity to the other, instead of an ecumenism that seeks formal agreements drawing upon Cardinal Avery Dulles’ recent work on alternative forms of ecumenism, the witness of modern-day Old Order Amish in forgiveness, and the historical example of Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf.

“His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Visits Pope Benedict XVI and the Church of Rome.” SEIA Newsletter on the Eastern Churches and Ecumenism 152 (May 31, 2008): 1-4.
This article describes the visit of His Holiness Karekin II to Rome on May 6-9 and gives the texts of Pope Benedict’s welcoming remarks, the response from His Holiness Karekin II, Pope Benedict’s speech in the private audience with the Catholicos, and the speech of His Holiness Karekin II in response, all on the theme of spiritual ecumenism and prayer for unity, seeking together the particular guidance of the Holy Spirit for unity as each tradition celebrates the festival of Pentecost.

Murphy, Gannon. “Reformed Theosis?” Theology Today 65 (2008): 191-212.
In this article, a Reformed theologian finds common ground between the classical Reformed doctrine of “Christ in us” and the Orthodox theological concept of theosis. Drawing upon Reformed theologians Calvin, Kuyper, Watson, Strong, and Berkhof, patristic authors, and Orthodox theologian Timothy Ware, the author proposes a “reformed theosis” grounded in a biblical theology of the word.

Small, Joseph D. “Praying for the Unity of the Church.” Ecumenical Trends 37 (June 2008): 1-5.

The Director of Theology, Worship and Education Ministries of the Presbyterians Church USA exegetes Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 and asserts that “the basic form of prayer for the unity of the church is prayer of confession...we are all complicit in our disunity.”

Toussaint, Loren L. and David R. Williams. “National Survey Results for Protestant, Catholic, and Nonreligious Experiences of Seeking Forgiveness and of Forgiveness of Self, of Others, and by God.” Journal of Psychology & Christianity 27 (Summer 2008): 120-130.
This study of 1,087 Americans correlates attitudes towards forgiveness of others with religious commitment: moderate Protestants and Catholics ranked similarly, and higher in forgiveness, than those with no religious affiliation. Conservative Protestants ranked highest in seeking forgiveness of others. No difference was found between religious Christians and non-religious people in levels of forgiveness of self. Protestants and Catholics reported congruent levels of feeling forgiven by God, and at a higher level than those with no religious affiliation.

Benedict XVI, Pope. “Ecumenical Service.” Origins 37 (May 1, 2008): 751-753.
The text of the pope’s remarks at the ecumenical prayer service held in New York City on April 18 with 250 Christian leaders, including “May the word of God we have heard this evening inflame our hearts with hope on the path to unity.”

Craddock, Fred. “Othering.” Restoration Quarterly 50 (Second Quarter 2008): 121-125.
An ecumenical sermon on the Christian call to be in relationship with people different from ourselves, preached by Craddock at Hazelip School of Theology, Lipscomb University. “Is kindness to be done because we are children of God who are gracious people in circumstances complex amidst people with whom we don’t agree, whom we abhor in all kinds of conditions? Relationships at best are hard and difficult but never so much as to give us any excuse for being other than gracious.”

DeVille, Adam A.J. “Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Primacy: A Plea for a New Common Approach.” Ecumenical Trends 37 (April 2008): 5-7.
A review of the recent difficulties encountered in Orthodox-Catholic dialogue, particularly the inter-Orthodox disagreement over the role and authority of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and a proposal for establishing a common method and a collaborative bilateral effort to address the issue of the primacy of Constantinople .

Eight Catholic and Protestant Bishops. “Ecumenical Statement on Immigration to the People of Kansas.” Origins 37 (April 10, 2008): 685-686.
Bishops from the Kansas judicatories of the Roman Catholic, United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , and Episcopal traditions call the people to work for “a humane resolution of the problem of illegal immigration.”

Francis, Leslie J. and Mandy Robbins. “The Relationship Between Denominational Affiliation and Spiritual Health Among Weekly Churchgoing 13- to 15-year-old Adolescents in England and Wales.” Journal of Education and Christian Belief 12:1 (2008): 21-39.
This study of 34,000 Anglican, Roman Catholic, Free Church, Pentecostal, and Jehovah’s Witness teenagers finds differences in spiritual health correlated to denominational identity, in ways congruent with denominational theological stance. Charts analyze the responses by denomination within four categories: personal domain, communal domain, environmental domain, and transcendental domain.

Kasper, Walter. “The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Origin and Continuing Inspiration of the Ecumenical Movement.” Centro Pro Unione Semi-Annual Bulletin 73 (Spring 2008): 15-20.
The President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity reflects on the history and legacy of the Week of Prayer and spiritual ecumenism for the 21st century. “The unity of the church is like an icon of the Trinity.”

Nepi, Loredana, comp. “A Bibliography of Interchurch and Interconfessional Theological Dialogues: Twenty-third Supplement – 2008.” Centro Pro Unione Semi-Annual Bulletin 73 (Spring 2008): 21-45.
This is the 23 rd installment of a comprehensive bibliography of international and national bilateral and multilateral dialogues, coded by confessional families, churches and councils. Each section includes information about the dialogues, texts and papers of the dialogues, and reflections and reactions.

Radano, John A. “The Catholic Church, Faith and Order, and BEM.” Centro Pro Unione Semi-Annual Bulletin 73 (Spring 2008): 3-14.
This paper summarizes the Catholic Church’s relationship with the World Council of Churches and the Faith and Order movement, addresses the Catholic Church’s official response to the Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry document of 1982, and summarizes how the convergence achieved in the BEM document will impact future ecumenical relations.

Radano, John A. “The Future of Our Journey: Issues Facing Ecumenism.” Ecumenical Trends 37 (May 2008): 4-10.
This is the published text of the paper on the future of ecumenism that Monsignor Radano presented at the 50 th anniversary NCCC Faith and Order Conference in Oberlin in summer 2007.

Schreck, Paul A. “Under One Christ: Implications of a Roman Catholic Recognition of the Confessio Augustana in C.E. 2017.” Journal of Ecumenical Studies 43 (Winter 2008): 90-110.
A Lutheran proposes that the next step for Lutheran-Roman Catholic rapprochement after the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification ought to be a mutual acceptance of the Augsburg Confession as an authentic confession of the catholic faith.

Sheldrake, Philip. “A Spirituality of Reconciliation: Encouragement for Anglicans from a Roman Catholic Perspective.” Journal of Anglican Studies 6 (June 2008): 107-26.
A Roman Catholic professor of theology from the University of Durham, England offers insights on reconciliation and discernment from the Rule of St. Benedict and the Eucharist for the current conflicts in the Anglican Communion. “The Eucharist is the laboratory of reconciliation,” he writes.

Bush, John C. and Jeffrey R. Gros. “Journey in Faith: Forty Years of Reformed-Catholic Dialogue: 1965-2005.” The Ecumenical Review 59:2-3 (2007):293-314.

Clapsis, Emmanuel. “Towards a Mystical and Prophetic Spiritual Life.” The Ecumenical Review 59:2-3 (2007): 189-206.

A Greek Orthodox perspective on the elements of ecumenical spirituality: liturgy, community, tradition, love of God and neighbour, openness to the activity of the Holy Spirit, mysticism, and prophecy.

Davies, Susan E. “Christian Unity in the Face of God.” Ecumenical Trends 37:3 (2008): 33-36.

The author, co-chair of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Faith and Order Commission, reflects on the connections between ecumenism and work for justice.

Del Colle, Ralph. “Mary, the Unwelcome (?) Guest in Catholic/Pentecostal Dialogue.” Pneuma 29 (2007): 214-225.

Kasper, Walter. “The Current State of Ecumenical Dialogue.” Origins 37 (December 20, 2007): 450-454.

An address by the head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in which he asserts that “Ecumenism is not an option but a holy obligation,” and analyzes three “fields of ecumenism”: Roman Catholic relations with the Orthodox, Reformation churches, and Pentecostal Christians.

Tavard, George H. “A Theological Exploration of Ecumenical Hospitality.” The Ecumenical Review 59:2-3 (2007): 242-256.

A preeminent Roman Catholic ecumenist uses hospitality as a “paradigm of our relationship with God” and thus with one another, through koinonia ecclesiology, for the sake of unity and reconciliation.

Voss, Klaus Peter. “Source of Renewal or Sign of Stagnation? A Brief Look at the Week of Prayer.” The Ecumenical Review 59:4 (2007): 423-429.

In an issue focused on the 100 th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a member of the international committee reflects on the impact of the Week of Prayer observance on the ecumenical movement and the life of the church.

New Journal Articles of Note on Ecumenism as of January 2008

“Bishops as Ecumenical Leaders,” Catholic Theological Society of America Panel. Ecumenical Trends 36 (December 2007): 166-175.

Skylstad, William S. “Our Common Reconciling Ministry,” 166-169.
Anderson, H. George. “Bishops as Leaders in Ecumenical Dialogue,” 170-172.
Brown, Tod D. “Bishops as Leaders in Ecumenical Dialogue: Reflections on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations,” 173, 175.

In this panel discussion from the Catholic Theological Society of America’s annual convention, Bp. Skylstad presents a Roman Catholic perspective and Bp. Anderson a Lutheran perspective, with response from Bp. Brown, a Roman Catholic.

Christian Orient: A Journal of Eastern Churches for Creative Theological Thinking 28 (December 2007).

This entire issue is dedicated to papers on ecumenism, including articles on an Indian perspective on future church, differing understandings of apostolic succession, and questions on ecumenism raised by modern philosophy.

Crossin, John W. “What Does God Want Us to Do? A Meditation on Discernment.” Ecumenical Trends 36 (November 2007): 145-149.

The executive director of the Washington Theological Consortium elucidates spiritual ecumenism through the elements of spiritual discernment: prayer, humility, reconciliation and healing, spiritual friendships, and obedience.

Ferguson, Thomas. “Apostolicity, Apostolic Succession, and the Historic Episcopate: Reconciliation of Ministries in the Church of North India and Implications for the United Methodist-Episcopal Dialogue.” The Anglican 36 (July 2007): 15-26.

This paper, by the Associate Deputy of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations for the Episcopal Church, explores potential learnings for current United Methodist-Episcopal dialogue from the Church of North India ’s experience with reconciliation of ministries.

Ford, John T. “Ecumenical Agreements: Material for a Retreat?” Ecumenical Trends 36 (October 2007): 129-133.

The ecumenical movement’s current expert in methodology (see following entry) suggests helpful approaches to the study of ecumenical documents in parish and seminary settings, as well as identifying some specific temptations that threaten effective reception of these documents.

Ford, John T. “Oberlin 2007: The Need for an Expanded Methodology?” Ecumenical Trends 36 (September 2007): 117-120.

Fr. Ford, professor in the School of Religious Studies at Catholic University of America, has used his vast ecumenical experience to develop a methodology for assessing the effectiveness of ecumenical conversation using the categories of “resonance” (agreement despite differing terminology), “dissonance” (disagreement masked by the use of similar terminology), and “nonsonance” (confusion resulting from the dual lacunae of understanding and of communication). This important article furthers Ford’s ecumenical nomenclature by adding a fourth category: “ordinance,” to describe receiving ecumenical agreements and incorporating them into the life of the church.

Journal of Ecumenical Studies 42 (Fall 2007).

This exceptionally useful issue is devoted to papers from the Oberlin II Conference celebrating 50 years of Faith and Order in the U.S. and papers from the 2005 and 2006 North American Academy of Ecumenists conferences. The general theme is “widening the circle of ecumenical conversation.” A veritable ecumenical feast!

Lewis, Dick. “The Dublin Conference: Aspects of Reconciliation.” The Window: The Anglican- Lutheran Society, Issue 84 (December 2007): 1.

The Anglican-Lutheran Society is an international ecumenical society dedicated to furthering relations worldwide between Anglicans and Lutherans. This issue of the journal reports on the biennial conference, held in Dublin in September 2007. This issue also includes Gillian Kingston’s presentation to the conference on “Ireland Today: An Introduction to Irish History and Culture.” The U.S. chapter is the International Lutheran-Episcopal Society , U.S. ; website: http://www.alsocietyusa.org/.

MacDonald, Timothy. “A History of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.” Ecumenical Trends 36 (September 2007): 113-116.

Schattauer, Thomas H. “Liturgical Studies: Disciplines, Perspectives, Teaching.” International Journal of Practical Theology 11 (2007): 106-137.

A comprehensive overview of the “landscape” of the liturgical movement: its history, theology, and pastoral aspects in conversation with six key scholars: Paul Bradshaw, Robert Taft, Gordon Lathrop, Geoffrey Wainwright, Mark Searle, and Lawrence Hoffman. The author’s integrative teaching approach, based on liturgy as “communal practice,” could be useful in many denominational contexts.

Root, Michael. “Bishops, Ministry, and the Unity of the Church in Ecumenical Dialogue: Deadlock, Breakthrough, or Both?” Catholic Theological Society of America Proceedings 62 (2007): 19-35.

The premier Lutheran ecumenist analyzes the current state of the question re Roman Catholic non-recognition of Lutheran episcopacy and proposes a “scalar” approach (recognition as “real but imperfect”) as a way forward.