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| A personal newsletter continuing the legacy of the
Oblate Center for Mission Studies,
and stressing the bond of
evangelization, ecumenism, and dialogue, "that all
may be one…that the world may believe" (Jn.
17:21). |
| No. 2, Third Series |
May 2004
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"To gather into one all the Children of God
who are scattered (Jn. 11:52)."
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TWO
EVENTS: EACH OBLATE, AND THE GENERAL CHAPTER
Mission,
Ecumenism, and Justice/Peace/Integrity of Creation have jumped into focus in
two recent events. These events do have important implications for each Oblate,
and for our coming General Chapter.
The first is a booklet known
popularly as the Princeton Proposal for Christian Unity, from its place
of origin in the summer of 2003 at The Center for Catholic and Evangelical
Theology, Princeton Seminary, Princeton, NJ. Its technical name is In One Body Through
the Cross. Signed by 16 leaders from
across the Christian spectrum (evangelical through Roman Catholic), it is full
of the robust Biblical theology which one expects from Protestant neo-orthodoxy
and the RC Biblical renewal. It is also
quite critical of Justice/Peace/Integrity of Creation (JPIC) or at least
certain popular expressions of JPIC.
While praising “the joint political action of pro-life Evangelicals with
Roman Catholics on the moral issue of abortion,” the signers criticize
“judgements about third world debt or the inviolability of private property”
which “take on near-doctrinal status.”
They conclude this section:
In such cases, secular principles and expertise
supersede Christian principles of discernment as the basis for
cooperation. This has come to
characterize many initiatives of the National Council of Churches and the World
Council of Churches. The result is a
party mentality founded in political ideology rather than unity grounded in the
Christian imperative of justice and charity (#51).
The statement also reinforces the bond between
ecumenism and mission, which some ecumenists sacrificed in the 1970’s. One of the three main roots of the modern
ecumenical movement was the missionary effort of the 20th century. Unfortunately, after the early successes of
ecumenism following Vatican II (including efforts at joint witness), some
ecumenists forgot about evangelization, and replaced doctrinal honesty with
mushy togetherness. The Princeton signers constantly
speak of mission and unity, affirming “Unity is not merely a means to
mission, but rather a constituent goal:
God gathers his people precisely in order to bring unity to a divided
humanity. If we accept
division from other Christians as normal and inevitable, we turn away from the
mission God has given us” (#19).
To bolster their argument, the signers include
an explanation of the two great Biblical texts linking Mission and Unity: Eph. 1:
10-2:22 and John 17:20-23 (#’s 27-28).
The sense of sin, of the Cross, and of redemption permeates the entire
document. It is available from Eerdman’s Press (62 pp):
my copy obtained by phoning 1-800-253-7521 and using a credit card,
mentioning the name of my parish, cost $8.00 including S&H. Editors are Carl E. Braaten
and Robert W. Jensen.
The other event, which also involves criticism
of some JPIC stands, is the development of “Christian Churches Together in
the U.S.A.” Formally announced by Cardinal William Keeler
in America, June
19, 2003,
the second meeting was held in Houston, TX from Jan.
7-9, 2004. An interim steering committee includes Bishop
Stephen Blaire, chair of the USCC Bishop’s Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious
Affairs; he will present the membership request to R.C. bishops at their November
2004 meeting. Plans call for only one
professional and one support staff person, if “at least 25 denominations from an adequately representative
group of the five families . . . have formally decided” to join.
The five families are not a Mafia reference but consist of Roman Catholic,
Orthodox, evangelical/Pentecostal, historic Protestant and historic racial
ethnic Churches. Through early March,
2004, the Greek Orthodox Church, four historic Protestant denominations, and
the American Baptist Church (which considers itself
both evangelical and historic), have joined.
More than 30 others are deliberating.
In the reports of early
March, several church leaders commented that the National Council of Churches
has taken JPIC stands which are repugnant both to evangelical/Pentecostal
Churches, and the Roman Catholic Church.
The latest concerns gay marriages.
Thus the new organization would avoid taking stands, but would ensure
dialogue and a place where the various families of Churches could at least
discuss JPIC issues with more respect and breadth than now seems possible
within NCC.
There seem to be a growing number of Oblates
within our province who feel that our JPIC positions
are fuzzy, out of the main stream, and lacking in solid Biblical theology. Would not this be a time for real community
dialogue, about past mistakes in ecumenism, and current ones in JPIC? As our delegates prepare for the General
Chapter, would it not be helpful to let them know if ecology is a burning
concern, and how we do or do not find it based in our Scripture and tradition?
The Princeton Proposal, and the
development of “Christian Churches together in the U.S.A.” provide us an
opportunity to appreciate both the accomplishments and failures of ecumenism
and JPIC.
DEATH OF JIM SULLIVAN,
CO-FOUNDER OF OCMS
Father
Jim Sullivan, O.M.I., co-founder of the Oblate Center for Mission Studies,
died on Dec. 29, 2001 at the Oblate Residence
in Tewksbury, MA. He had suffered from prostate cancer,
diabetes, skin cancer and eye problems for several
years. His Mass of Christian Burial was
held at the Oblate Residence on Jan. 3rd,
2002.
Jim’s missionary vocation was
influenced, as was that of many of his contemporary Oblates from the former Eastern Province, by being ordained to
the priesthood by the legendary bishop of Hudson Bay, Arsene
Turquetil, O.M.I. (June 1, 1953). Jim was immediately assigned to the Oblate
missions in Brazil, spending over 40 years
there, and serving two terms as provincial.
He spent a year studying religious life in St. Louis, MO, and then began a
period of almost 20 years giving workshops and retreats to religious congregations
of men and women around the world. From
1990-95, he was on the staff of the Oblates’ International Center in Aix-en-Provence, France. His friends said he spoke Portuguese,
Spanish, and French all at once. He
planned and administered the many workshops on various phases of Mission, which the OCMS offered
in Washington, DC. He also raised funds for the excellent
library of missiological works at OCMS. During his final months of life, one of his
prized possessions was a letter from the Oblate superior general, Very Rev.
William Steckling, O.M.I., praising Jim’s missionary
work over the years.
Five Ways Fellowship
Catholics, Evangelical/Charismatics,
Neo-orthodox/Vatican II, Liberal and Fundamentalist: five ways of being Christian today. Yes, there are still Roman Catholics, and
Greek Orthodox, and Presbyterians and Baptists, etc., but within each of these
churches there are the five ways which complicate the life of every pastor,
superior of a religious community, and church leader. Only a few times in the 2000 year history of
Christianity has such a five-way split occurred.
Are there five divisions? If one listens only to the increasing
hostility between Liberals and Fundamentalists, one could conclude that these
five ways are very divisive. Yet since
9/11, many Christians (and Jews and Moslems) have discovered a fundamentalist
tendency within themselves, to protect the fundamentals of family, faith and
fatherland. At the same time, the
liberal themes of dialogue with people who are different, of learning from
others, have also become stronger. The
three middle ways of catholic, evangelical/charismatic and neo-orthodox/Vatican
II have begun to work more closely together.
For an overview of this whole process, consult website www.buffomi.org and click “Five Ways
Fellowship.” A
paperback booklet of 179 pp., Dividing or Strengthening? Five Ways of Christianity, is available
for $9.99 from the address below (does not include S&H).
Editor:
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Harry Winter, O.M.I.
St. Rose of Lima Church
500 Parker Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14216
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