This past month I participated in two dialogue sessions where Disciples are actively involved - each discussing foundational issues at stake between us and our "dialogue partners" related both to our current division as churches and to our hoped-for reconciliation in Christ.
First, on June 11-13, there was a meeting of our Stone-Campbell Dialogue in Nashville, Tennessee, where we explored the topic of how biblical interpretation functions within the life of our different churches today. We also identified some stereotypes that we have of each other as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a cappella Churches of Christ, and Christian Churches/Churches of Christ - issues that are frequently named as reasons behind our continued separation in mission, service, and witness to the world. It was a tough, though I felt productive session that concluded in a time of prayer, mutual confession, and singing together "Blest Be the Tie that Binds."
And then, on June 25-29, the International Commission for Dialogue between the Disciples of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church met in Rome, Italy, to discuss the topic, "Unity in Christ: Baptism, Faith, and the Eucharistic Koinonia." This session (the third meeting in a fourth phase of this dialogue that has continued since 1977) affirmed the importance of holding together several theological aspects (Trinitarian, Christological, sacramental and ecclesiological) of our common confession of faith in relation to visible unity. Not typically the language we Disciples use in our worship or Sunday School classes! And yet, fundamental issues that we need to address as Disciples as we participate in the wider ecumenical movement and the search for true unity within the one Church we claim as our home.
For an outsider to these two meetings, the immediate impression would be one of extremes: - Nashville -- Rome;
- congregationally-based fellowships -- the Catholic Church with its hierarchy and magisterium;
- seeking to overcome out-dated stereotypes -- addressing the heart of the church's faith for understanding that may finally lead to full communion.
While the locations and the partners and the issues may appear to be opposite ends of extremes, there is a common center and calling to this work - and to all involvements and activities of the Council on Christian Unity - that finds its life and meaning in response to Jesus' prayer for his followers, "that they may all be one. . . that they may become completely one, so that the world may know you have sent me and
> have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:21,23)
We do not get to define or to choose who is included in that "all." And, from my own experience, our quest for unity in Christ inevitably presses us to extremes: not to continue in the comfortable center, but to venture out to encounter the extremes of the richness of God's embrace of love for all peoples and all nations - and especially for all who claim the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The ecumenical question remains: "What part of all don't we understand?!"
News releases related to this Update may be found at:
Stone-Campbell Dialogue: http://www.disciples.org/ccu/News/2006/0606.StoneCampbell.html
Roman Catholic dialogue: http://www.disciples.org/ccu/News/2006/0606.DoCCatholicDialogue.html