wfn.org | Religious leaders explore "global Christian forum"

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Note #6226 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

24-October-2000
00365

Religious leaders explore "global Christian forum"

World Council of Churches proposal taking root

by Jerry L. Van Marter

PASADENA, Calif. -- An seed planted by World Council of Churches general
secretary Konrad Raiser at the WCC's 8th Assembly two years ago sent its
first shallow root into the ground here in mid-September as representatives
of a variety of Christian traditions met to discuss the formation of a forum
of Christian churches and ecumenical organizations that goes "beyond the
present ecumenical structures."

	Participants have developed a possible framework for the future Forum so
that "churches from a wider range of traditions may have a common space to
discuss issues of mutual concern."

	When the 335 member churches of the WCC gathered in Harara, Zimbabwe, in
December 1998, Raiser noted that those assembled represented an
ever-shrinking percentage of the world's Christians and proposed creation of
a broader-based "forum" to seek greater Christian unity.

	Georges Lemopoulos, deputy general secretary of the World Council of
Churches, welcomed the outcome of this meeting "as a step forward in the
efforts to bring the various expressions of today's Christianity around the
common table for dialogue and cooperation."

	The full text of the communique from the meeting issued on Sept. 11: 

	"Thirty representatives from throughout the world gathered from 9-11
September 2000 at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, to
explore the idea of a Global Christian Forum that would include a wide
spectrum of churches and organizations. Those present came from Orthodox,
Roman Catholic, Anglican, Reformation Protestant, Pentecostal and
Evangelical churches as well as Christian networks and para-church
organizations.

	"Although the idea of such a Forum originally arose in conversations within
the World Council of Churches, the development of a proposal is now under
the leadership of an independent continuation committee. The discussions at
the meeting explored ways to go beyond the present ecumenical structures so
that churches from a wider range of traditions may have a common space to
discuss issues of mutual concern.

	"Papers were presented on the history of inter-church relations from
Evangelical, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Anglican, Protestant and Roman Catholic
perspectives. Representatives presented the realities of regional challenges
from Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East and North America. Hopes
and expectations of churches organized on the world-level, as well as
traditional state churches and independent or free churches were openly and
frankly discussed.

	"The representatives agreed on the possible contours of a future Forum that
would include the following purposes:

	In the spirit of John 17:21 ‘that all of them may be one . . . so that the
world may believe that you have sent me' and because of our common faith in
a reconciling God (II Cor. 5:18-21), the forum is intended:

* To deepen our commitment to God's mission in the world; 
  
* To enhance our understanding of contemporary expressions of Christian
mission (Matt. 28:19,20, Matt. 22: 37-39, John 20:21 and Acts 1:8);
  
* To pursue principles and practices that would enable us to handle our
Christian differences and distinctives creatively and peaceably;
  
* To strengthen the wholeness of the church by encouraging communication and
cooperation; and
  
* To foster relationships that may lead to common witness. 
  
	"The continuation committee will carry out further work on the proposal
over the next few months.

	"The meeting was marked by an atmosphere of mutual partnership, trust and
consensus building and was under girded by warm and deep fellowship."

(Information for this story furnished by Karin Achtelstetter, WCC media
relations officer)

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