Consultation on ecumenism calls for 'meaningful' engagement

Churches must transcend ecclesial, liturgical and doctrinal differences to engage meaningfully in God's mission, affirmed Christian leaders and theologians attending a consultation on "Grass Root Ecumenism in India".

The Church as the 'Body of Christ', is called upon to accomplish the vision of Jesus Christ, as expressed in his prayer, "that they all may be one" (John 17: 21), a statement from the consultation read.

Some 45 persons, including representatives of Christian bodies, mission organisations and theological colleges, participated in the event organised by the NCCI and Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary, Madurai.

They concluded the 26-29 February consultation calling upon churches to move from the comfortable centers of power to the demanding and disturbed boundaries of human existence, to make ecumenism relevant.

Further, churches must become channels of peace and life, and engage in action oriented solidarity with people discriminated on the basis of caste, class, region and gender, they said.

Attended by representatives of the Mar Thoma, CSI, CNI, Brethren, Pentecostal, Evangelical Church and PCI, the consultation urged churches to condemn and not engage in any acts that promote religious fundamentalism, exclusivism and fanaticism.

"We need to foster the cultures of listening, sharing and agreeing to disagree," they declared.