In a short space this Handbook for Ecumenism summarizes past accomplishments and present relationships as well as presenting the Episcopal Church’s ecumenical posture and vision. It is a tool to help you discern and articulate your roles as bishops and designated ecumenical officers in the unique setting of your diocese in the context of the larger national and world wide journey toward visible Christian unity. The first section, briefly, tells the story of our role in the ecumenical movement beginning in the 19th century. The second section describes the structure of ecumenical study and action from the broadest reaches of the Anglican Communion to your diocese and local congregations – this last is where you will find some specific suggestions for living ecumenically in your local setting. Following sections include information on Full Communion Partners, on-going Ecumenical Dialogues, and supporting documents. We hope you will weave your way through this Handbook finding the parts that you need most at any particular time and returning to it often as your ecumenical and interreligious ministries shift and change.
There are other resources in ecumenism in the Episcopal Church as well. The Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers network maintains a web site, www.edeio.org and a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/EDEIO to keep people apprised of news about and resources for ecumenical and interfaith work. In addition the website of the Office of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Relations houses a number of resources and documents, http://www.episcopalchurch.org/blog/EIR.
Dialogues are vehicles to maintain, develop and share traditions in order to reconcile the churches for mission, but their agreed statements and experience must be evaluated and received by the people. Key current reports from official dialogues are included in this handbook, and all are available from the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.
Foundational Faith and Order Documents from the World Council of Churches include:
Two useful background sources for ecumenical documents are A Communion of Communions, ed. J. Robert Wright (Seabury), and The Ecumenism of the Possible, ed. William A. Norgren (Forward Movement).
Some useful websites for documents and status of dialogues:
The Office of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Relations
Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers
The Council for Christian Unity of the Church of England
The Anglican Communion Ecumenical Office: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/relationships/ecumenical-dialogues.aspx
There are other resources in ecumenism in the Episcopal Church as well. The Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers network maintains a web site, www.edeio.org and a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/EDEIO to keep people apprised of news about and resources for ecumenical and interfaith work. In addition the website of the Office of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Relations houses a number of resources and documents, http://www.episcopalchurch.org/blog/EIR.
Dialogues are vehicles to maintain, develop and share traditions in order to reconcile the churches for mission, but their agreed statements and experience must be evaluated and received by the people. Key current reports from official dialogues are included in this handbook, and all are available from the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.
Foundational Faith and Order Documents from the World Council of Churches include:
- Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, issued in 1982.
- The Church: Towards a Common Vision, issued in 2013. The 2016 Draft response to the document is here.
Two useful background sources for ecumenical documents are A Communion of Communions, ed. J. Robert Wright (Seabury), and The Ecumenism of the Possible, ed. William A. Norgren (Forward Movement).
Some useful websites for documents and status of dialogues:
The Office of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Relations
Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers
The Council for Christian Unity of the Church of England
The Anglican Communion Ecumenical Office: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/relationships/ecumenical-dialogues.aspx