Ecumeny at a Crossroads: Toward Unity or Community?

Abstract

This article addresses determinants of the ecumenical impetus’ weakening in the second half of the twentieth century. This situation invokes a key question about the purpose of the ecumenical journey. Despite the complexity and multiplicity of problems dividing the Churches, it was acknowledged that the main reason for stagnation was differences in understanding the Church. The Dominus Iesus declaration represented a kind of caesura, one marking a divergence in the aims of the ecumenical path, especially in Catholic–Protestant relations. Since then, certain statements on the Protestant side signal a clear attempt at distancing themselves from the concept of visible unity. They have come to prefer an alternative model of a community of Churches. Some have, in turn, put forward arguments for the apparent nature of such an alternative. In fact, the realisation of the Church’s visible unity can only take place “through” and “in” the community of various Churches. The Church herself is the assembly (community) of all peoples and nations in one people under God.

Keywords

• ecumenism
• unity
• community
• ecumenical dialogue