Unification

Examine the growth of the Ecumenical Movement.

Quest for unity within Christianity from Greek oikumene meaning entire inhabited world. John 17 "that they may all be one". Christians promote love but can't agree whereas the NT community was united.

Began at Edinburgh World Missionary Conference 1910, over 1200 missionaries discussed mission and made slogan 'doctrine divides but service unites'. Invited Protestants but not Catholics or Orthodox. Creation of: League of churches 1920, International missionary conference 1921, Life and work movement 1925, Faith and order movement 1927 and merges in Church of South India 1947. The World Council of Churches promote mission via evangelism and fostering ecumenical relations, service via prophetic voice/speaking about key issues and promoting peace and diakonia such as caring for poor and ecumenical education and training.

Tensions - Pope Pius saw unity as everyone converting to Catholicism and refused to join the World Council of Churches until Pope John was elected in 1958 and reversed this decision, Orthodox have different worship styles and views on homosexuality, Pentecostal criticised lack of emphasis on doctrine, Catholic transubstantiation, ordination of women.

'The work of the World Council of Churches has been successful.' Evaluate this view.

Agree - brought people together to discuss issues, 348 bodies representing half a billion Christians, has made improvements considering only existed since 1948, facilitated dialogue, trying to reduce social injustice.

Disagree - Orthodox is over-represented while fastest-growing Pentecostal groups are under-represented, Catholics are non-members so hasn't really achieived unity, Catholics still think they are the true church, couldn't agree on doctrine e.g. Eucharist and meaning of mission.

'The non-membership of the Roman Catholic Church affects the aims of the World Council of Churches.' Evaluate this statement.

Agree - Catholics think they are the true church, undermining the ideal of unity, visible unity requires participation, they disagree on topics like gender and sexuality.

Disagree - WCC has still improved dialogue, it is a journey not a destination and will take time, was only establish 1948, the RCC is still a member of two WCC programmes.