wfn.org | Dialogues highlight ecumenical summer

["Clifford Willis"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: August 28, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

98b-54

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- International visits with Roman Catholics,  
Finnish Lutherans and the Russian Orthodox capped a summer of 
ecumenical activity for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

	In Puerto Rico, Disciples members participated in the 21st Disciples 
of Christ/Roman Catholic dialogue. The subject of this year's 
discussion was "The Teaching Ministry of the Church," said the Rev. 
Paul A. Crow Jr. He is president of the Disciples' Council on 
Christian Unity. 

	"How do these two churches teach the (Christian) faith? What is the 
role of the ordained ministry in teaching the faith?" These were the 
guiding questions the group considered, according to Crow.

	Presentations by Disciples representative, the Rev. William 
Tabbernee, Enid, Okla., and the Rev. Jean M. Tillard, Ottawa, Ont., a 
Roman Catholic, discussed the roles of each church's clergy in 
teaching the faith. Tabbernee is president of Phillips Graduate 
Theological Seminary, 

	After 20 years, there are very significant agreements reached by the 
dialogue team, Crow said. "And there is already evidence that this 
dialogue will continue until we reach full communion." Full communion 
means that each body will recognize the other's members, ministries 
and sacraments.
 
	"Dialogues are for the long haul. We are permanent participants," 
said Crow. And Disciples and Roman Catholic colleagues will use 
"whatever time is required to find common ground."

	One point at which Catholics and Disciples agree concerns Crow's 
significant contributions to the ecumenical movement around the 
world. The Disciples leader, who retires Dec. 31, will be receive a 
special award in September from the Roman Catholic Church.

	Crow will be presented the Luminosa Award for Christian Unity. The 
annual award is given by the Focolare Movement, a lay Catholic group 
committed to church unity. The Focolare Movement, said Crow, "is 
officially endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church" and is "highly 
admired . . .  in Europe, the U.S. and Latin America."

	The Focolare award was the second tribute given to recognize Crow's 
commitment to ecumenism. During the spring National Workshop on 
Christian Unity, he received the National Ecumenical Award.

	The national workshop award recognizes "extraordinary ecumenists who 
have given their lives to the cause of Christian unity," said the 
Rev. Henry Male. The Episcopal pastor and NWCU officer presented Crow 
with the group's award. Only one other person has received this 
honor. That individual is Roman Catholic Bishop Walter Sullivan, 
Richmond, Va., whom Crow calls "a dear friend."

	The Alabama native commented on the irony of receiving this 
recognition on the eve of his retirement. "It's so funny that in your 
last year all these things happen," he said. "But these are honors to 
all Disciples as well as to me. And that feels good too."  

	-- end --

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