St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (Feb 2023)
Ecumenism and Church Relations
Abstract
Ecumenism refers to the wide and multifaceted movement to advance Christian fellowship and the unity of the church. The contemporary ecumenical movement was preceded by nineteenth-century missionary and youth movements mobilizing Christians from various church backgrounds. Ecumenical prayer for Christian unity, joint activity for peace, theological discussion on the unity of the church, and shared diaconal assistance and advocacy are some of the key aspects of contemporary ecumenism. This article starts with a brief discussion on the themes of unity and fellowship in the scriptures. It then presents a short overview of theological approaches to church unity in various church traditions, followed by an exploration of the processes and results of bilateral and trilateral dialogues. These dialogues have resulted in church unions and significant rapprochements between churches. Multilateral ecumenism facilitates theological discussion and joint action between multiple churches and traditions. This will be considered in part through exploration of the role of the World Council of Churches, the largest convener of multilateral encounters in the world today. This article finishes with a discussion on the role of spiritual and receptive ecumenism for the future of ecumenism and church relations.
