Washington Theological Consortium

An interesting news item on "A postdenominational seminary" appeared in The Christian Century, September 22-29, pages 888-889. "...at Wake Forest University's new divinity school, the seminary's Baptist roots and heritage will be overshadowed by a postdenominational, ecumenical approach to training clergy."

In "Roman Catholics and Pentecostals in Dialogue," author Walter J. Hollenweger notes that the dialogue is only beginning. "I believe that the statements of the dialogue are true, but their implications are in many ways still pending." He goes on to say that he believes that the World Council of Churches must become fully ecumenical and thus engage Pentecostals. "The tools to bring the organized ecumenical movement nearer to these Pentecostal churches will be prayer, worship, music and testimonies--and only then theological debates." The ecumenical review 51/2(April 1999): 147-159.

Eugene L. Brand, former Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs of the Lutheran World Federation in Geneva, offers a very interesting view of "Worship and the Ecumenical Movement" in his article in the October, 1999 issue of Ecumenical Trends [volume 28, pages 1/130 to 7/135; this is also found in the ecumenical review, Vol 51/2 (April 1999):184-92.} His "presentation has three parts: a) the Ecumenical Movement and the Liturgical Movement, b) Reception, and C) a baptismal vision of unity." He notes:

"The impact of a profound liturgical convergence, especially in the English-speaking world, took place outside the framework of the ecumenical movement as organized in the WCC or in the many bilateral dialogues..."
"What the pastoral phase of the liturgical movement has achieved is a range of liturgical books--Roman, Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, Methodist--that are more similar than they are different, and a common lectionary to order the biblical readings and thus the preaching."
"What is missing in ecumenical reflection...is the links between these developments in worship and theology" [quoting Faith and Order's Ditchingham Letter and Report (1994)].
We are in the midst of the process of ecumenical reception.
He believes that worship in common will forge relationships, but says most Christians who use the new books for their services "are unaware of their commonality" and that "too many of the Reformation churches do not use the books."

Six articles in the October, 1999 Theology Today and one in the October Ecumenical Trends discuss the role of Mary, the Church's First Theologian [as Editor Patrick D. Miller of Theology Today refers to her].

Future Event: The Washington Theological Consortium intends to sponsor a forum in mid-March, 2000 on the recent study "Ministry to Interchurch Marriages" which I mentioned in the last update. This forum will be open to the public. More information on it will appear in future updates.