The "Wound" to Christianity

In alternating prayers in the Lund cathedral, the Catholic and Lutheran leaders lamented the divisions and guilt of the "wound" to Christianity and asked forgiveness for the deaths and pain that their divisions caused over history.

"We have the opportunity to mend a critical moment of our history by moving beyond the controversies and disagreements that have often prevented us from understanding one another," Francis said. "We too must look with love and honesty at our past, recognizing error and seeking forgiveness, for God alone is our judge."



Source: Andrew Medichini, Jan M. Olsen & Nicole Winfield  -  Associated Press, "Pope on Reformation: Forgive 'errors' of past, forge unity", 31 Oct 2016, https://www.yahoo.com/news/reformer-pope-heads-sweden-mark-luthers-reforms-050227744.html

In English And Deutsch

In addressing the importance of this initial conversion, Fr. Leo Tanner – a regular parish priest who has been officially released by his bishop to dedicate seventy per cent of his time to his wider ministry such as Alpha (see Werder 2003) observed, “Current Catholic language and pastoral work lacks to some extent [this element] of a leading people to a decision for Jesus Christ.  We [Catholics] speak of a habitual repentance … and thereby easily forget what Jesus first meant with his call to repentance: a primary, foundational change of life-direction….  Such a fundamental repentance and change of direction does not have anything to do with being more or less religious.  [The apostle] Paul was perfectly religious before his conversion.  What was fundamentally new for him was to have met Jesus as a living person: a relationship with Jesus Christ….  The pre-requisite for such a change of direction is a meeting with Jesus.”  (Tanner 2001, Intro., p. 3)

 „In der gängigen katholischen Sprache und Pastoral fehlt teilweise die Hinführung zur Entscheidung für Jesus Christus.  Wir reden von der ständigen Umkehr zu ihm – besonders in der Fastenzeit – und vergessen dabei leicht das, was Jesus zuerst mit seinem Umkehrruf gemeint hat: eine primäre grundlegende Richtungsänderung des Lebens, der Beginn der bewussten Nachfolge.  Bei einer solchen Richtungsänderung, Grundumkehr geht es nicht darum, mehr oder weniger religiös zu sein. Paulus war vor seiner Bekehrung ein religiös „perfekter” Mensch. Als ihm jedoch Jesus als lebendige Person begegnete, begann für ihn das grundlegende Neue: Eine Beziehung zu Jesus Christus….  Die Voraussetzung für eine solche Richtungsänderung ist eine Begegnung mit Jesus, wie die ersten Jünger dem irdischen Jesus begegnet sind.“



Source: Fr. Leo Tanner  -  TANNER, L. 2001. Werkmappe für Katholiken: zu „Fragen an das Leben“ Wels: BE Team, as quoted in foonote 37 of "Evangelicals Cooperatively Evangelising & Discipling with Catholics in Faithfulness to Evangelical Distinctives", by Paul Miller

God At Work Also In *Others*

As Catholics and Anglicans, we are humbly grateful that, after centuries of mutual mistrust, we are now able to recognize that the fruitful grace of Christ is at work also in others.  We thank the Lord that among Christians the desire has grown for greater closeness, which is manifested in our praying together and in our common witness to the Gospel, above all in our various forms of service.  At times, progress on our journey towards full communion may seem slow and uncertain, but today we can be encouraged by our gathering.  For the first time, a Bishop of Rome is visiting your community.  It is a grace and also a responsibility: the responsibility of strengthening our ties, to the praise of Christ, in service of the Gospel and of this city.

Source: Pope Francis  -  Address to the Anglican Parish of All Saints in Rome, as reported by Vatican Radio, 26 Feb 2017, http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/02/26/pope_catholics_and_anglicans,_brothers_and_sisters_in_chris/1295193

Yachad BeYeshua

Yachad BeYeshua (Together in Jesus) is a newly formed international body which seeks to unite Jewish followers of Yeshua from diverse backgrounds in loving fellowship as a witness to God’s eternal faithfulness to Israel and the Church.

Yachad BeYeshua is not a synagogue or a church, nor does it seek to compete with or replace any existing institutions. We respect the genuine differences that distinguish various groups of Jewish disciples of Jesus, and view those differences as an asset rather than a liability.

Yachad BeYeshua is a fellowship—a growing network of friendships. We seek to build relationships of trust that will permit us to learn from one another, and to work together to fulfill a common call: to bear witness to God’s unfailing love for Israel, a love which has become flesh in the Messiah.

To learn more about Yachad BeYeshua, go to yachad-beyeshua.org


Source: Richard Harvey  -  Posted on FB 11 Nov 2020

The New Baptist Covenant

Achieving racial reconciliation can be hard work and often slow, but Christians are called to pursue it relentlessly, said speakers at a summit of Baptists seeking to bridge a racial divide that continues to bedevil the nation.

Former President Jimmy Carter joined national religious leaders in Atlanta for the New Baptist Covenant summit Sept. 14-16, urging participants to challenge a “resurgence of racism.”

“The New Baptist Covenant can be a powerful potential weapon to set an example not just among Baptists and among churches, but in communities and among people of all faiths,” said Carter, who lent his support to the organization’s beginning in 2007 and convened its first meeting. “I hope that we can set an example to the world. Accept my personal thanks for what you are doing to maintain momentum that exists and increase its impact.”

The NBC was created to unite Baptists of different races, which it has fostered with a series of gatherings and summits. The three-day meeting in Atlanta highlighted emerging partnerships between predominantly black and white congregations working in their communities to address racial and social justice.

Source: Robert Dilday  -  "Racial reconciliation tough but essential, say leaders at New Baptist Covenant summit", Baptist News Global, 19 September 2016, https://baptistnews.com/article/racial-reconciliation-tough-but-essential-say-leaders-at-new-baptist-covenant-summit/

Margarita's Story

When my son knocks on the door and I go to open it, I yell from the inside, “Who is it?”  He answers back, “its me!” His voice is so familiar.  Excitement and joy permeate my entire being, and as I open the door, the expression on my face reveals a welcoming smile, and an accepting embrace tells us both we are home. 

We are home! What a feeling!

On June 2012, I was invited to The Lausanne Catholic and Evangelical Dialogue on Christ’s Mission held in Chicago.  It was there that I first heard about the Wittenberg 2017 Initiative.  As time moved on, I started grasping the purpose of this event. This is to be the 500 years commemoration of Martin Luther’s nailing of the 95 theses to the door of All Saint’s Church; which began a chapter of history that has brought much brokenness, separation and isolation to Catholics and Protestants. So when I heard that the four-fold purpose of Wittenberg 2017 is “to gather Christians together for prayer, repentance, reconciliation and unity,” I felt committed to support.

As I read Psalm 23, the so common, but unique, and beloved Psalm, I experience a journey of reconciliation, healing and restoration.  It is a symphony about God’s assurance for those walking close by his side.  It is a poem that speaks directly to the joys and fears of us human beings who are committed to raising a prophetic voice. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (v 6) I believe God is calling us back home to that place.

When I was a little girl, growing up as a Latina Catholic in a town where there was little tolerance or acceptance of evangelicals and blacks, I heard conversations and witnessed a rage that existed in the minds of my community -- so I know a little about prejudice and racism. When I asked my grandmother why people were so mean, she would always say; “because of their ignorance.  So, let’s pray that one day we can see Christ in those who are different than us.” Then she and I would kneel and begin to pray the rosary. It was then that I recognized a need to develop a different type of conversation; one that appreciated the similarities and accepted the differences.  I was determined to see Catholics and non-Catholics become friends in the unity of worship and the symbol of the cross as representing a believer. 

When I first entered Fuller Theological Seminary for post-graduate studies, I was looking for a school that would provide me with the opportunity for a multicultural and mission experience.  The diversity of an interdenominational approach in ministry that Fuller presented was something that attracted me as part of my desire for higher education.  I believed then and now, that my mission and vision were to be dedicated to addressing and eliminating all socially constructed -ism’s, stereotypes, and prejudices that have historically been used to discriminate and segregate groups of people.  As a Roman Catholic and a Latina, I wanted to understand why, in many of our traditions, we still were not able to stay in conversation without bringing in our own arguments that separated us instead of finding items that would bring us together.  My questions at that time were: How can I bring a transformative and constructive language into my own sharing as I sought to live out 1 Peter 3:8:  “Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind”?  How can I represent my tradition and be willing to learn from others?  How can I do and learn my Catholic theology in a different context of reflection?  These and other questions were part of my initial curiosity as I entered Fuller Seminary.

Achieving a Masters in Divinity (2007) gave me the ability to seek greater possibilities as a Latina and as a Catholic.  As a woman of color in an ever-changing Latino culture in America, I’ve had the opportunity to reach horizons never before opened in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, where the position of Parish Life Director was first made available in 2006 for lay ecclesial minsters. 

As Parish Life Director, I was a lay leader who was entrusted with the leadership of a parish. I am convinced that the opportunity and experience at Fuller equipped me, and from there, doors began to open.  It was not just an open door to the position of being appointed as a Parish Life Director, but also to an environment that continues providing me with the affirmation of my call and vocation.  I welcome the conversations, discussions and one-on-one’s with colleagues, professors and friends.  The possibilities for the future continue to expand.

I am a mother of six children, all grown and nearly finished with their higher education. As I entered into this new generation with its constant changes, my children are now teaching me the power of creating new possibilities.  And like my grandmother’s prayers, I pray that with every involvement, every encounter and opportunity, we can grasp throughout our conversations the unique presence of God in our everyday life journey.  As for my own journey, I have learned that there is often no place to really call home.  But in the larger context, home is where acceptance, reconciliation, and genuine encounters reflect God’s love. 

Source: Wittenberg 2017  -  "Margarita's Story", from the Wittenberg 2017 (US) website
http://www.wittenberg2017.us/margaritas-story.html

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

What were some of the important historical antecedents to this octave of prayer? Certainly in the 19th century, the desire for Christians to pray together was part of the spirit of the age among those alarmed by the divisions which weakened the power of Christian witness. In 1846, for instance, the Evangelical Alliance was established in London and had developed both international and inter-church connections. Ruth Rouse noted that it was “the one and only definitely ecumenical organization . . . which arose out of the Evangelical Awakening in the 19th century” (A History of the Ecumenical Movement: 1517-1948). The concept of unity espoused in their constitution was union among Christian individuals of different churches for renewal in the Spirit; they would not deal with the question of the reunion of churches. The Alliance set aside one week beginning on the first Sunday of the year, for united prayer by members of different churches to pray for renewal in the Spirit.

Source: Rev. Thomas Orians, S.A.  -  "BACKGROUND: Brief History of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017", by Rev. Thomas Orians, S.A., Associate Director of Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, http://geii.org/week_of_prayer_for_christian_unity/background/brief_history.html

Gordon College

Some years later when [Thomas Howard] entered the [Catholic] Church, he lost the job [at Gordon College]. When he delivered his resignation letter to the president’s secretary and walked back upstairs to his office, he’d barely sat down when she knocked on the door and handed him the president’s acceptance. It was a don’t let the door hit you on the backside on the way out gesture. We lived nearby then and knew the college. Insiders told me the donors would not tolerate a Catholic on the faculty, and there was never any chance the college would keep him.

Source: David Mills  -  "RIP Thomas Howard: 1935-2020", Catholic Herald, 15 October 2020
https://catholicherald.co.uk/ch/rip-thomas-howard-1935-2020/

An Atheist Talks About Christians

This week a friend told me about an atheist who has been involved in a Christian bible study group for nearly a decade. This atheist dropped out of the group a few months ago, telling my friend, “I may return when this election is over. I can’t believe the things I have heard Christians say about other Christians they disagree with in our group. It is alarming and I hate it.” So this non-believer walked away from a group of Christians because of the divisive and constant promotion of political opinion. I have also met Christians who cannot talk to their own family and friends until after November 8.

If ever we needed a renewal of prayer for obedience to Jesus and his costly love it is now. The story my friend shares about their bible study group underscores the need for costly love with profound pathos. Christians have not only stopped talking to one another we are now driving away non-Christians by our lack of civility and growing inability to dialogue with one another.
...
I read last week that more friends are breaking up, and more families are being divided, during this election season than at any time on record. Is that what we have come to as a society? As a church? We no longer work to preserve unity. Now we are not even interested in civility. We have connected our ideologies with particular parties and candidates and created a partisan fault line that will not allow love to build bridges to unity. The damage left in the wake of this incivility is dangerous and killing to our mission.

My response should not surprise you. I believe we need love and unity, not passionate emotions and heated arguments. Denominationalism is breaking apart. (I welcome this development since denominations are not biblical and promote tribalism and pride!) But in the place of denominations what will hold us together? We have tried politics and moral issue but this will never work unite us for long. Our myriad divisions are only worse. Perhaps God will lead a growing number of his people to pursue missional-ecumenism, an ecumenism of deep visible unity rooted in respect and dialogue which allows us to center our communities in Christ and eternal hope, not in the political debates of our culture. I am praying and working to this end.

Source: John Armstrong  -  Act 3 Weekly newsletter, 7 Nov 2016, http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9b25fafc484bd792c081b1abe&id=cb777cefc2&e=8d662dd023

*All* of you

I gave the same kind of advice to Ted. Sadly, his pride clouded his judgment, and he continued trying to vindicate himself in the eyes of his elders and congregation. One defensive argument led to another, and within three months, he was voted out of the church.

Neither of these results is inevitable, but you will always better off if you live out the wisdom of 1 Peter 5:5:

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Source: Ken Sande  -  "The Best Way to Rewrite History", EmotionalWisdom360 Blog, 2017 Jan 23, https://rw360.org/2017/01/23/best-way-rewrite-history/

A Change Of Era

In a 49-minute speech to a decennial national conference of the Italian church -- which is bringing together some 2,200 people from 220 dioceses to this historic renaissance city for five days -- Francis said Catholics must realize: "We are not living an era of change but a change of era."

Source: Pope Francis  -  As quoted by Vatican Insider, 11 Oct 2016, "Catholicism can and must change, Francis forcefully tells Italian church gathering", Joshua J. McElwee, http://www.lastampa.it/2015/11/10/vaticaninsider/eng/the-vatican/catholicism-can-and-must-change-francis-forcefully-tells-italian-church-gathering-3SPjdW31a3R9grTkBMg26O/pagina.html

Healing of Memories

The 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation is an opportunity for a "healing of memories", the leaders of the Catholic and evangelical churches in Germany have announced.

Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and Cardinal Reinhard Marx of the Roman Catholic Church have published a 'Common Word' document to mark the anniversary of when Martin Luther supposedly nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral in October 1517. The 90-page statement calls for reflection on the reformers' concerns and to listen afresh to their calls for repentance and spiritual renewal.

Source: Harry Farley  -  "After centuries of separation, evangelicals and Catholics look to shared future", Christian Today eMagazine, 22 September 2016, http://www.christiantoday.com/article/after.centuries.of.separation.evangelicals.and.catholics.look.to.shared.future/96072.htm

Hans Urs von Balthasar

But resistance comes from Pope Peter II, John the Elder, leader of the Orthodox and Professor Ernst Pauli, representing Protestantism: under the pressure of persecution the three churches in this eschatological situation at last unite. Peter's primacy is recognized, and the Pauline and Johannine churches come into the Roman fold. The spokesmen of Christianity are persecuted and killed, but they rise again; the last Christians journey to the wilderness, the Jews raise a revolt and the Christians join with them. They are slaughtered; but then Christ appears, robed in the imperial purple, his hands outspread with the marks of the nails upon them, to rule for a thousand years with those who are his own.

Source: Hans Urs von Balthasar  -  From an article by Hans Urs von Balthasar on Soloviev in the Third Volume of "The Glory of the Lord"

March of Life

The March of Life organization was founded nine years ago in a bid to commemorate the Holocaust and fight anti-Semitism. It encourages young Germans to investigate their families’ past, break the barrier of silence and uncover the acts committed by their grandparents in the Holocaust.
 
“For years, no one in Germany discussed what had happened only several meters from the German city centers, “explains Heinz Reuss, the organization’s international director. “Not only was there no public debate, there were no family conversations about the past either. People didn’t talk about what they did in the war. We started investigating our family’s past, started asking questions. Many of us discovered that they grandparents were Nazi criminals. We were shocked.”


Source: Itay Ilnai  -  "Nazis’ descendants sing ‘Hatikva’ to Holocaust survivors", Ynet News, 6 Jan 2017, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4902914,00.html

What was the intention of Martin Luther?

On this path, we Catholics and Lutherans, from several countries, together with various communities sharing our ecumenical journey, reached a significant step when, on 31 October last, we gathered together in Lund, Sweden, to commemorate through common prayer the beginning of the Reformation.  This joint commemoration of the Reformation was important on both the human and theological-spiritual levels.  After fifty years of official ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans, we have succeeded in clearly articulating points of view which today we agree on.  For this we are grateful.  At the same time we keep alive in our hearts sincere contrition for our faults.  In this spirit, we recalled in Lund that the intention of Martin Luther five hundred years ago was to renew the Church, not divide her.  The gathering there gave us the courage and strength, in our Lord Jesus Christ, to look ahead to the ecumenical journey that we are called to walk together.

Source: Pope Francis  -  Address to the members of the Ecumenical Delegation from Finland, as quoted in "Pope: Luther’s intention was to renew the Church, not divide her", Vatican Radio, 19 Jan 2017, http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/01/19/pope_luther%E2%80%99s_intention_was_to_renew_the_church,_not_divide/1286728

Anglican Repentance for Reformation Violence

The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is expected to issue a statement this week apologizing for the violence that followed the Protestant Reformation 500 years ago.

The statement, according to news accounts, will express remorse that the (Protestant) Church of England carried out so many acts of violence - including burning Roman Catholics at the stake.

It will also urge believers to ask for forgiveness for atrocities that happened on both sides during the Reformation and for greater unity between Catholic and Protestant churches today.


Source: Crux  -  "Archbishop of Canterbury to express remorse over Reformation violence", Crux Religion News Service, 17 January 2017, https://cruxnow.com/rns/2017/01/17/archbishop-canterbury-express-remorse-reformation-violence/

On The Way To Unity

“Dear sisters and brothers, let us pause to honor this historic moment,” said ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton addressing the assembly following the vote. “Though we have not yet arrived, we have claimed that we are, in fact, on the way to unity. After 500 years of division and 50 years of dialogue, this action must be understood in the context of other significant agreements we have reached, most notably the ‘Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification’ in 1999.”
“This ‘Declaration on the Way’ helps us to realize more fully our unity in Christ with our Catholic partners, but it also serves to embolden our commitment to unity with all Christians,” said Eaton.

Source: Episcopal Café  -  Press release from the ELCA (http://www.elca.org/News‐and‐Events/7848), ELCA approves historic agreement with Roman Catholic Church (http://www.episcopalcafe.com/elca­approves­ historic­agreement­with­roman­catholic­church/)

Repentance from the Serbian Orthodox Church

Jesus' attitude is not a popular one in our day, even in religious quarters.  And in the rare instances where it is promoted publicly, the response is often skeptical, if not downright cynical.  Such was the case in 2005, when the Serbian Orthodox Church surprised observers across Europe by asking forgiveness for its support of Milosevic's regime.  "We honestly offer our Albanian co-citizens reconciliation and mutual forgiveness," it said in the opening sentences of a public statement.  Critics belittled the apology as a political move, but there were others who embraced the chance for dialogue.  They noted that whatever its effect, it was the first such attempt to honestly address the hatreds that had led to one atrocity after another across the region for most of the previous decade.

Source: Johann Christoph Arnold  -  Why Forgive?, pp.210-211