We should be one

[prodromos]

Yes, you did miss the boat. The attempt to use three words of scripture to a debate advantage is ridiculous in view of well explained concepts on diversity:

1 Corinthians 12:12-31 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

9 Therefore its name was called fBabel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth.

John 17:20–23 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and cloved them even as you loved me.

19 For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

20 For since the creation of the world

God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

As you can see, sermons or sunday school are not required.

You're welcome.

 

[com7fy8]

We are in unity, as much as we obey "in one body" (Colossians 3:15) how God rules us in His peace.

 

[com7fy8]

Groups themselves might not be unified; so how can they truly unify with other groups?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Admin Hat...

An additional cleanup has been completed.

I don't get why posters can not read and understand our statement of purpose.

Let's try again....

Mark
CF Admin

 

[Philip_B]

If all the Anglicans in the world thought alike, they wouldn't be Anglican. We have for the past five hundred years at least been a Church for all people. Our diversity has been our greatest strength at times, and our greatest weakness at other times. For all the advances of the current age we seem to have lost some of the nuanced ecclesial communion that we once had, and many of our number are pushing boundaries as if there are no boundaries.

We have members who are too Pope-ish for the Catholics and others too protestant for the Baptists. The truth is we are more fractured than we have ever been at any time in our history. Our brokenness does not mean that we have nothing to offer, nor nothing to learn; we have plenty of both.

And I believe we need other Communions to walk with, not to dominate or be taken over, but that we might learn from one another and help each other on this road that leads to the Father.

Maybe I am just dreaming out loud.

 

[Paidiske]

I liked your post in general, Philip, but I'm not sure about "more fractured than we have ever been." I recall the English civil war; at least we are not martyring one another over women's ordination or gay marriage...

 

[Philip_B]

I liked your post in general, Philip, but I'm not sure about "more fractured than we have ever been." I recall the English civil war; at least we are not martyring one another over women's ordination or gay marriage...

http://www.anglicansonline.org/communion/nic.html

http://www.anglicansonline.org/communion/infull.html

Perhaps the relative length of the two lists makes interesting reading. I am aware that the not in communion list is never up to date as like the rest of us they are flat out keeping up with it.

 

[Chriliman]

John 17:18-23

"As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

Says it all!

 

[All4Christ]

John 17:18-23

"As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

Says it all!

Very true. I believe it never was God's intent for us to split off from each other. God willing, hopefully we will be in communion with each other in the future.

Sadly, the Christian faith has splintered greatly - and the beliefs between various denominations and churches vary greatly.

 

[Kalevalatar]

Next Monday promises to be a huge -- the biggest ever -- step forward in the long road back to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church!
http://www.lund2016.net/
Joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation
From Conflict to Communion – Together in Hope
Lund & Malmö, 31 October 2016

Pope to take part in Reformation events in Swedish cities of Lund and Malmö

(Vatican Radio) The Lutheran World Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity on Wednesday released details of the ecumenical events that Pope Francis will attend in southern Sweden on October 31st 2016. The joint Lutheran-Catholic commemoration will mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and will feature a liturgy in Lund cathedral, followed by a public event at an arena in the nearby city of Malmö.

The commemoration, structured around the themes of thanksgiving, repentance and commitment to common witness, will also celebrate the fruits of 50 years of Catholic-Lutheran dialogue.

The prayer service in Lund cathedral will be led by Pope Francis, LWF President Bishop Munib Younan and LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge, based on a shared liturgical guide and the joint report entitled ‘From Conflict to Communion’. The event in the Malmö arena will showcase the common witness of the LWF’s World Service and Caritas Internationalis, including their work to care for refugees, peacebuilding, and advocacy for climate justice.

Since the European Anglican and Lutheran churches are already united in the Porvoo Communion, Anglicans are of course more than welcome to join in, because our churches are their churches as well.

In the scenario above, if the Anglicans and Catholics were to reunite, what would happen to female Anglican priests?

They would be welcomed as dear sisters in Christ, perhaps?

Francis receives his “dear sister”, head of the Lutheran Church of Sweden

 

[Basil the Great]

There are steps being taken to reunite various denominations/Churches. (At least among the more Traditional ones - the ones at the other end of the spectrum seem to be endlessly fracturing instead.)

All have issues to overcome - some more and some less. I actually have more hope for the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox among all the possible ones I'm aware of.

Agreement on essentials is necessary. Otherwise there is no true communion.

In the scenario above, if the Anglicans and Catholics were to reunite, what would happen to female Anglican priests? (Are they called priests? I apologize for my likely error.) Are they to be summarily defrocked because of their sex? I doubt Anglicans would be pleased. Or will Catholic congregations suddenly find themselves with a woman priest? Again, I doubt this would be acceptable. And this is just one issue ...

I agree. If anyone unites in the near or intermediate future, it will most likely be the EO and the OO.

 

[Basil the Great]

It seems to me that Jesus did not intend for his followers to fragment into so many different groups. Having said that, I still do not believe that any Christian body today represents the 1st Century Church completely, especially concerning the issues of divorce and remarriage and military service for the State. For those very few Protestant groups that might abide by the above two issues, they still fall apart when it comes to the Eucharist, infant Baptism, prayers for the dead, etc.

 

[Philip_B]

It does seem to me that the aspects of 'we should be one' possibly have a few aspects, some of which are easier than others.

Institutional Union such as two bodies become a single body with a single functioning head. This of course is the most difficult to achieve and is probably fraught with the prospect of various splinter groups. In Australian the Uniting Church was an amalgamation of the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Congregational Church. That also produced a Continuing Presbyterian Church, and for a while continuing Methodists, and a number of independent congregations. Whilst the Uniting Church has been reasonably successful, I am very aware that the body that has emerged is not much like any of the bodies that entered it - and I am not saying if that is good or bad.

Inter-Communion where there is sufficient acknowledgement of the truth of the faith that the two bodies share as to welcome to the Holy Communion members of the other churches. This is a relationship that exists between the various Old Catholic Churches, the Mar Thoma Church, The Independent Church of the Philippines, and the Anglican Communion. None of these churches seeks to rule or be ruled, but rather to value and honour one another. To greet each other with a Holy Kiss, if you like.

There seems a feeling among some that for anything to be possible it is essential that the various parties be dogmatically identical. Others I think would argue for a core where this is essential and a wider area where this is less emphatically essential. And of course the moment you get there, you then discover that some people have a very big core. Anglicans of course struggled with this in the 16th Century (and burned the odd Bishop over it), and we were doing it in one language, and that language is blessed with a level of nuance and imprecision which sometimes allowed us to find the words we could say together.

I am not saying it is not challenging, however I do think in a world that seems to have got a lot smaller our need to find the things we have in common has grown.