wfn.org | Study guide promotes talk between local congregations

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

April 11, 2001 News media contact: Linda Bloom*(212) 870-3803*New
York10-71B{178}

NOTE:  This may be used as a sidebar to UMNS story #177.		

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodists and Roman Catholics are encouraging their local
congregations to talk to each other.

That's why "Yearning to Be One," a guide to spiritual dialogue between
members of the two faiths, was co-published by Discipleship Resources, a
part of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, and the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The study guide "is a gift from the participants" of the fifth round of
dialogue between United Methodists and U.S. Catholics. That dialogue took
place from 1996-99.

As the guide points out, nearly every county of the United States has both a
Catholic and United Methodist congregation. In many places, these
congregations already cooperate through social projects such as food banks
and homeless shelters.

"Participation in a dialogue group is a way of building on our
connectedness," the guide explains. "Being in dialogue with others helps us
not only to understand better another faith tradition but also to develop a
deeper understanding of our own faith tradition."

The guide recommends three to six United Methodists and the same number of
Catholics take part in a dialogue group, which are designed to last for six
sessions of about one and a half hours each. Advance planning may take
several months and each group needs a facilitator, who will lead the process
with the study guide.

Each session begins with Scripture, includes stories, activities and
questions to start conversations, continues with further discussion and
closes with reflection and prayer.

Copies of "Yearning to Be One: Spiritual Dialogue Between Catholics and
United Methodists" can be ordered from Discipleship Resources by calling
toll free (800) 685-4370 or online at www.discipleshipresources.org
<http://www.discipleshipresources.org>. It also can be ordered from the U.S.
Catholic Conference by calling (800) 235-8722 or online at www.nccbuscc.org
<http://www.nccbuscc.org>.

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United Methodist News Service
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