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Living Theology inthe Metropolitan Chicago Synod
Volume 8, Number 3
Fall 2003
Reclaiming Lament

 

 

On the Way:

Vision for Ecumenism

Andrew Leahy                   

 

In1983 in Vancouver, the Assembly of the World Council of Churches articulated a“eucharistic” vision which

…unites our two profoundest ecumenical concerns:  the unity and renewal of the church and thehealing and destiny of the human community. Church unity is vital to the healthof the church and to the future of the human family… Christ – the life of theworld – unites heaven and earth, God and world, spiritual and secular.  His body and blood, given to us in theelements of bread and wine, integrate liturgy and deaconate, proclamation andacts of healing… Our eucharistic vision thus encompasses the whole reality ofChristian worship, life and witness.

The Metropolitan Chicago Synod continues to becommitted to ecumenism.  Bishop PaulLandahl, as chief ecumenical officer of the synod, has appointed me to be thesynod’s Ecumenical Officer.  Myresponsibilities are to maintain connections with our official partners as wellas our sisters and brothers in other church bodies.  I will also maintain conversations with the Jewish and Muslimcommunities.

Ecumenismhas had its ups and downs over the years. Pope John XXIII opened windows in the Roman Catholic Church that broughta fresh gust of ecumenical ruach into the Roman church.  That gust then invigorated Christianchurches throughout the world.  Sincethen the Spirit/Wind has continued to blow where she will, encouraging sistersand brothers in Christ to talk to one another and to listen to one another.

There is no question of the importance of ecumenismfor every Christian church body.  Jesusprayed for it the night before he was offered up in sacrifice for theworld.  He saw the unity of the churchas a necessity for the good of the whole world.  For the apostle Paul, unity was the way the world could see God’slove for all – by how Christians “loved one another.”  So we keep church windows open that the gusts of the Spirit mightrefresh us.

Oneof the refreshing and renewing gusts we are exper-iencing now is the result ofour relationship with the Episcopal church. Since 1989 our synod and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago havebeen in covenant.  The archdiocese andthe Episcopal Diocese of Chicago are also in covenant.  The two committees which support thesecovenants have agreed that we should be working together, and plan to do so asthis issue goes to press.

Oursynod and Bishop Landahl are involved in the Ecumenical Millennium Committeewhich was organized to help Christians in the metropolitan Chicago area worktogether in this new millennium to proclaim the Good News of Christ.  This committee organizes the Service ofPrayer for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  This year it will be Friday, January 23, 2004, at 6:30 p.m. atBishop Quigley Seminary in Chicago. This is an opportunity for sisters and brothers in Christ to give thanksto God in Christ and pray with Christ for the unity of the church.

Ionly recently was appointed as ecumenical officer.  I need help to identify other existing inter-church relationshipsand discussions.  If you have contactswith other churches, whether formal or something you do over coffee once in awhile, let me know.  If there are arenaswhich need the support or involvement of the Metro Chicago Synod, please writeto me.  We need to keep those windowsopen so the Spirit’s movement is not hindered or prevented.

Mye-mail address is pandyhl@aol.com. My phone is 708-481-3222.  I lookforward to hearing from you.

Andrew Leahy

Pastor, Prince of Peace, Chicago Heights