In November 1993, the leaders of the Lutheran, Episcopalian and Roman Catholic dioceses in Los Angeles signed a trilateral covenant titled "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism."
More than a decade later, the covenant provided an opportunity during the recent Religious Education Congress in Anaheim for representatives of two of those communities to address ecumenical efforts since Vatican II and the signing of the covenant --- and the need for continued efforts.
Indeed, there is much to be celebrated and much to be accomplished, said Father Alexei Smith, director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and the Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord, officer of Ecumenical and Interreligious Concerns for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
Ecumenism has been "quietly leavening the life in the churches," like yeast in dough for the past 40 years, said Father Smith, referring to the 1964 Vatican Document on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio). The life of the Lutheran, Episcopalian and Roman Catholic churches has changed considerably over those years, he said.
When the document was published, Pope Paul VI said that the Decree on Ecumenism "explained and completed the Constitution on the Church." Thirty years later, Pope John Paul II said, "Ecumenism is an organic part of the church's life and consequently must pervade all that she is and does."
During the Congress presentation it became evident that the differences between churches mainly are "challenges," as Father Smith called them. He pointed to the Council Fathers and their reference to Acts 15: 28-29 when they said that "unity is necessary only in essentials and in other matters there can be legitimate diversity, and in everything let charity prevail."
"Baptism is the source of our unity in Christ," stated Unitatis Redintegratio. "It supercedes all institutional divisions and challenges every member to work for the unity of the Body of Christ."
The Los Angeles document "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" affirmed "our common faith and common baptism as professed in the Apostles' Creed," and contained 11 pledges that the respective faith communities declared they would work toward fulfilling.
At the time of signing, Episcopal Bishop Frederick Borsch said that the document was "a covenant --- not an agreement, not a treaty. We seek not coexistence but unity. This is a covenant and as such derives its meaning and direction from the biblical image of the covenant established by God with Israel upon Sinai and with the church in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."
"Our bishops obligated us," said Father Smith, "to ways of living the covenant with one another and to see where we have succeeded and where we have failed." The pledges included sharing resources both spiritual and physical, praying for one another, participating in common celebrations, and promoting dialogue and increased understanding of areas where the churches are alike.
Sept. 11, 2001, the speakers said, made it even more imperative that churches to better understand each other and their similarities. Dr. Guibord said that the events of that day "heightened awareness that we need to find out about Islam. Churches must be engaged in church-to-church dialogue."
A "retrenchment of denominational dialogue and identity" is taking place, Dr. Guibord added, over "hot button issues" like human sexuality, sexual abuse by clerics, Israel and Palestine, separation of Church and State, abortion and the death penalty. She called these issues important but costly because they have the potential to divide as well as unite. "We must re-examine retrenchment of denominational identity," she said.
"Our gifts shouldn't be something we jealously guard, but a sign and symbol of unity. God has brought us thus far. The ecumenical movement has come a long way. The way to get to the next step is to be faithful." She closed by quoting the hymn "Amazing Grace": "'Twas grace that brought us here thus far and faith will lead us home." |