The distanced closeness. The model of ecumenical relations between Catholics and Protestants – sociological contexts

The article deals with the nature of ecumenical relations between Catholics and Protestants. In order to grasp their specificity, they are compared with everyday relations which are not focused on building religious unity between these Christians. This analysis served to reconstruct the model of ecumenism presented on the websites of Catholic weeklies. Additionally, a reflection has been undertaken on the possibility of supporting the ecumenical movement by these services. The analysis is conducted in the sociological perspective on the basis of empirical studies of the content of the Internet services of the Catholic weekly magazines “Gość Niedzielny” and “Niedziela”. Content analysis was applied as a research method, and the texts dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation were studied. This selection of empirical material resulted from the fact that ecumenical themes are rarely taken up in the Catholic press, and the jubilee caused greater interest in them. The sources used were also found research on interfaith relations. The analysis shows that relations between Catholics and Protestants are close and characterised by openness, but they are also marked by distance and remembrance of a difficult history. Moreover, the model of ecumenism promoted by the websites is superficial and concentrates, among other things, on its practical aspect at the expense of its spiritual and theological dimension. The websites of Catholic weekly newspapers, on the other hand, face a hitherto untapped opportunity to support the ecumenical movement.

Skisma dalam Gereja Protestan, Warisan yang dapat ditolak

All the differences among the church, the religious differences and those that were largely cultural or political, came together to cause the schism. It evoke when people or things are separate or become separate from other people or other thing. Opinions concerning the nature and consequences of schism vary with the different conceptions of the nature of the church. In the 20th century the ecumenical movement tried to worked for reunion among churches. The big result of the cooperation between Roman Catholics and Protestants after the second Vatican Council (1962–1965) has resulted in more flexible attitudes within the churches concerning the problems of schism. Then, in the Protestant church, schism is a rejectable legacy.

Towards a Renewed Heart

Heidi Campbell has identified three methods that were generally used by congregations in their response to how to engage in worship digitally due to the lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, the three models – transfer, translation, and transformation – are applied to the World Council of Churches and how it adapted its ecumenical prayer in March 2020. The paper highlights how digital worship has contributed to the renewal of prayer, which is at the very heart of the ecumenical movement.

The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification: An Outline of its Genesis and Impact From a Baptist’s Perspective

This essay outlines the genesis and impact of the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” (JDDJ) from a Baptist perspective. Starting with comparative studies of individual theologians from 1949 to 1980 it sketches the prehistory of the JDDJ including the results of ecumenical dialogues from 1972 to 1994. The essay then presents the origins and contents of the JDDJ from the draft version 1997 to the Signing 1999, including the development and content of the “Official Common Statement.” The author includes as well the impact of JDDJ on the Study on “The Biblical Foundations of the Doctrine of Justification” 2012; the Notre-Dame-Consultation 2019; and ecumenical dialogues on justification with Baptist participation. The author appreciates the JDDJ as the most significant result of ecumenical dialogues since the formation of the ecumenical movement and expresses his hope that the Baptist World Alliance too will assent to the consensus.

Living in communion: visible unity and the Porvoo Common Statement

Living in communion is no mere organizational measure; it means sharing in a common life that is anchored in love, solidarity and mutual accountability. In the classic vision of the ecumenical movement, this is expressed through the goal of a visible and structured unity. The Porvoo Common Statement, in providing the basis for fellowship between Anglican and Lutheran Churches in Europe, is comparable to this goal. However, on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the text, it should be asked if today’s Porvoo communion lives up to the aspirations in the Porvoo statement.

Frikyrklig ecklesiologi?

There has been a change in the ecclesiology of the well-known Pentecostal pastor and author Peter Halldorf. His ecclesiology was first centered on the individual Christian and he appears to have regarded the church as a group of praying individuals. This ecclesiology could perhaps be regarded to be in line with the ecclesiology of the Swedish Pentecostal movement, the starting point of Halldorf’s ecclesiological processing. Halldorf’s later ecclesiology has taken a controversial turn and is influenced by the Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Movement. The Pentecostal movement in Sweden has in recent decades undergone major changes which have led to an unclear self- understanding. In spite of the fact that Halldorf is very influential as a pastor and writer, his alternative ecclesiology has not been received as a serious alternative within the Pentecostal movement. In this article I discuss trajectories in Halldorf’s ecclesiology in relation to the ecclesiology of John Howard Yoder. My aim is to provide a Free Church evaluation of Halldorf’s trajectories and my claim is that his development does not necessarily stand in disagreement with the Swedish Pentecostal movement, if one considers the movement’s Baptistic roots. It is therefore possible that Halldorf’s trajectory is a path to follow for the Swedish Pentecostal movement, a movement searching for an identity. It is at the same time possible that the Free Church ecclesiology of Yoder may deepen Halldorf's own ecclesiology.

Oikumene

Abstract; The ecumenical life movement is a movement that seeks to unite churches which are essentially one but separated by different denominational organizations. The ecumenical movement is a movement that must continue to be built but not to eliminate denominations because denominational wealth is God's work that is unique to His church. So the question that arises is what is the ecumenical spirit between the two denominations? The author discusses this topic with the aim of building an ecumenical spirit or church unity among church denominations. how to build an ecumenical spirit, which often results in the lack of an ecumenical spirit. The authors target in this study are all church members, be it the Toraja Church, GPdI, and also for all existing church denominations. In this study the authors have conducted research, and the method used in this study is a qualitative method, namely interviews and observations. In the interview, the author obtained or obtained information that sometimes the two congregations cornered each other in their territory so that sometimes there were disputes between members of the congregation of these two denominations, for this the conclusion of this study about ecumenicalism is that in building an ecumenical spirit, mutual respect between denominations is very important. It is important, besides building good relationships with other church members and then running away from cooperation in serving God and His people. These things can be done in building an ecumenical spirit between denominations Abstrak; Gerakan hidup ekumenis adalah gerakan yang berusaha menyatukan gereja-gereja yang pada dasarnya satu tetapi dipisahkan oleh organisasi denominasi yang berbeda. Gerakan ekumenis adalah gerakan yang harus terus dibangun tetapi tidak menghilangkan denominasi karena kekayaan denominasi adalah karya Tuhan yang unik bagi gereja-Nya. Jadi pertanyaan yang muncul adalah apa semangat ekumenis di antara kedua denominasi itu? Penulis membahas topik ini dengan tujuan untuk membangun semangat ekumenis atau kesatuan gereja di antara denominasi gereja. bagaimana membangun semangat oikumenis, yang seringkali mengakibatkan kurangnya semangat oikumenis. Sasaran penulis dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh anggota gereja, baik itu Gereja Toraja, GPdI, dan juga untuk semua denominasi gereja yang ada. Dalam penelitian ini penulis telah melakukan penelitian, dan metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode kualitatif yaitu wawancara dan observasi. Dalam wawancara tersebut penulis memperoleh atau memperoleh informasi bahwa terkadang kedua tarekat tersebut saling memojokkan di wilayahnya sehingga terkadang terjadi perselisihan antar anggota jemaah kedua denominasi ini, untuk itu kesimpulan dari penelitian ini tentang ekumenikalisme adalah bahwa dalam membangun semangat ekumenis, saling menghormati antar denominasi sangat penting. Hal ini penting, selain membangun hubungan baik dengan anggota gereja lain kerjasama dalam melayani Tuhan dan umat-Nya. Hal-hal ini dapat dilakukan dalam membangun semangat oikumene antar denominasi