Leaders at a meeting of the world’s largest ecumenical body this week emphasized the importance of staying united during a time of many changes in Christianity.
New expressions of the Christian faith, growing prominence of the global South, and increasing religious diversity are some of the factors that are contributing to a “rapidly changing ecclesial context” that is testing the bonds of Christian unity, pointed out the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, on Thursday.
Kobia was speaking at the annual WCC Central Committee Meeting, which is being held Feb. 13-20, in Geneva.
Amid the changing landscape, Kobia said the WCC must deepen the fellowship of existing member churches while at the same time reaching out to broaden the ecumenical movement.
Increasingly, churches of Evangelical, Pentecostal and charismatic communities, as well as non-denominational congregations and mega churches are joining the WCC.
“The WCC will only continue to function as a privileged instrument of the wider ecumenical movement if … openness to change is shown, and concrete steps for greater clarity of roles and improved cooperation between different actors in the ecumenical movement are taken,” Kobia said.
But some members have expressed fear that the body’s identity will be diluted by broadening involvement. Kobia responded, however, that the current global landscape necessitates change, despite the risk, according to WCC.
He also spoke about the need for WCC member churches to take greater ownership of the ecumenical movement, specifically WCC’s programs.
“Lack of ownership by the member churches has been the decisive weakness of WCC and the other ecumenical organizations,” Kobia said. Such ownership, he added, is the key to coherence and identity.
Earlier in the week, the meeting’s moderator, the Rev. Dr. Walter Altmann, also renewed a call for “visible unity” in the church.
Unity in Christ, Altmann said, is a gift from God, and receiving that gift and responding to it "in the koinonia of brothers and sisters in the one church” is the primary purpose of the WCC, he said.
Altmann said for 60 years and even now, the work of ecumenism toward unity remains the same.
"That has been our calling throughout those years and will continue to be our calling in the years ahead," he said.
The World Council of Churches was founded in 1948 and today brings together 347 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries. The WCC also works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church.
Comments
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia Thursday stated the following:
“The WCC will only continue to function as a privileged instrument of the wider ecumenical movement if … openness to change is shown, and concrete steps for greater clarity of roles and improved cooperation between different actors in the ecumenical movement are taken."
The problem, as mentioned in the article, is that member churches fear that a more cohesive emphasis amongst denominations toward unity will really serve to denature their respective denominational identities. The secretary said that the times we live in "necessitates change, despite the risk." WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN?
In brief, the WCC does good and bad. The bad really is the liberal and leftist elements that pollute THE CHURCH and the name of Christ-and we know what those corrupt elements are.
The Orthodox Church, the one church that really does have Apostolic Succession in place in it's ecclesiastical framework, contributes THE MOST to the WCC. The Gospel went to the Jews first and also to the Greeks. The Greeks, AFTER the Jews, started to spread the gospel first to the whole world. I am orthodox and I do believe that there were sins and mistakes on the part of the Greeks, but God will raise them up with the Jews and all other Gentile believers to unify and become the church that God has called us to be (really, the NT in the ancient Greek uses the term Greek to refer to all non-Jews in instances where Gentile is rendered instead of Greek.)
The Catholics still won't become members-and that tells us something about the Catholicism who's Pope just renewed the claims of the Catholic church that THEY are the only true church and that all others are devoid of true salvation, except for Orthodoxy which is relegated to being lesser to Catholicism because of doctrinal differences. Also, look into the Catholic dogma, Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus (literally "no salvation outside the Church") and Dominus Iesus (the Lord Jesus) and you will see what I mean (wikipedia them).
Read John 17 because Jesus really did want us to be one.
Read more on my blog 300Sploggers.com.
Christians must be careful not to quickly unite as one in Christ with every organization that calls itself, “Christian.” If we endorse religious groups who are peppered with dangerous doctrines, compromise, and falsities, then our endorsement may influence a person to pursue and adopt their teachings. Take heed, lest you lead someone into damnable heresies.
Christians need to wake up and proclaim the truth in Christ! If we neglect to share the truths of scripture, for fear of man; we are in danger of becoming the servants of men.
The Bible makes it perfectly clear - Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6, 1Corinthians 3:11, Acts 4:12). We are either going to influence those around us with these truths or those around us (the world) will influence us. There is no gray or middle ground here!
FullGospel,
"Somebody has to be willing to change."
What changes are you referring to? Change is difficult; however, I do foresee unity taking place but it will be at the expense of truth itself. We are seeing many religious groups coming together; however, they are neglecting the essentials of the Christian faith – Salvation through Christ alone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqfgEvwIq6Y
To change is indeed tough. But when I admit I was wrong, two things will happen: 1) I will grow spiritually 2) Most important: Souls will be saved.
Jesus prayed that we should be one, so that the world might believe the gospel.
John 17:21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.
I agree, we have to share the truth IN LOVE. But I think it still comes down to God's grace. Somebody has to be willing to change. I'm beginning to think that the three toughest words to say are "I was wrong..."
When you decide to stay one with others who believe in Jesus, and you think you will do it by not addressing your differences, you are actually following Satan's recipe for staying NOT one. The path is not to avoid addressing our differences, but to address these differences in truth and in love.
Eph 4:15 But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ
Let’s allow the scriptures to define true unity. . . . . John 17:21 says, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
However, what is ignored by the ecumenists is the prerequisite that alone will provide unity.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy WORD is truth – John 17:17.
Take heed. Either we can take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, or we can sit around the campfire smoking a peace pipe getting high on compromise.
From Indonesia,
TO Ecumenical World Council of Churces leaders, Please focus more on the Word of God in the Christian Bible and less on the tradition which would leads to lack of ownership. If God's plan is incorporated in the WCC then more Evangelical, Protestant and Charismatic shall work together with WCC. Cooperations with Roman Catholics shall positively increased as well.
Your jobs ie. SOULS in China, India, Indonesia, Iraq, the Saharan Africa, Turkey, Iran, Syria, ex-Soviet Asian nations etc awaits you.
Unity in Christ is absolutely a beautiful gift from our Great Lord and Redeemer and WCC needs to show more leadership to works in that area, -not only to matters that gives you bigger financial return.
Barukh Adonai yom yom yaamos-lanu ha El Yeshuateinu
I think the only way we'll achieve it is through Jesus. We'll trust. We'll believe. We'll pray. Come on, brothers and sister, the Promised Land of Heaven awaits...