…that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19.  

The word ‘ecumenical’ is often linked to the word ‘movement’ so that the two seem inseparable.   The word ‘ecumenical’ is the adjective, to the noun ‘movement’.  It implies that among other movements there is a distinctive element that distinguishes it compared to other movements.

I quite like the way the Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘movement’. It is a group of people with the same beliefs who work together to achieve something.  There is the element of certainty ‘with the same beliefs and an openness ‘to achieve something’.

We can say that in the Ecumenical Movement we are united in a common faith in the Risen Jesus Christ. Our faith calls us into discipleship and into the life of Christian Communities. We understand together that ‘in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.’ 2 Corinthians 5:19.  

This is an element of our ‘same belief’ and part of the basis of the spirituality of being ecumenical. The noun, ‘movement’, suggests that out of this common faith we come together to do something. 

In the past the fear that this something was the creation of one super church!  This has never been, and still is not the goal. Seeking to achieve something together is a way of realising that as churches we are ‘better together’. We express and live out our faith in different ways.  We identify these differences when we compare ourselves to each other. No one Christian tradition is the complete fulfilment of God’s vision for the Church, and we know we have much to learn from each other.

When we are together, our voice is clearer, our witness is strong, and our differences recede. 

The NCCA Board is in conversation about the ‘something’ to be achieved in the coming years. We want it to be realistic, positive, clearly Christian and a source of hope. Such a something is identified not only though the sharing of ideas, it is also the product of us praying together and affirming our common hope in Christ. We invite your prayers in this journey.!    

Rev John Gilmore

NCCA President