That We All May Be One

Another interesting outcome of the recent gathering of “Christian Churches Together in the USA” (see earlier posts) was the coming together around a statement of concern on dometic poverty. This might seem to be a “no brainer” (We’re all against poverty!) but the very breadth of churches involved — Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Historic Protestant, Racial/Ethnic, Evangelical/Pentecostal — meant that there were a variety of approaches to the problem.

Some churches are comfortable with advocacy; others prefer to provide direct services (soup kitchens, housing, clothing, etc.) for the poor. Many do both. Some churches in this mix emphasize personal responsibility in working one’s way out of poverty; others focus on society’s corporate responsibility for the plight of the poor and call on government and local communities to act together to address the problem. Some acknowledge both.

However, after months of hard work, an agreed statement (which will soon be released) was crafted, finding consensus in this broad group of Christian leaders. Equally significant, CCT-USA has agreed to hold its next annual meeting in Washington, DC, in 2008 in the run-up to Presidential elections. There will be public events to engage the candidates for the Presidency as to what they intend to do to place the “scandal of poverty” high on their agendas and on the agenda of the nation.     

Despite all our differences as Christians in this country, there is real unity in our awareness of God’s concern for the poor and the responsibility of God’s people to stand with them and to work for the alleviation of those conditions which, even in this wealthiest nation in the world, cause so many (especially women and children) to live in the depths of despair and hopelessness that arise from a life of poverty.

This unity too — especially from so broad a coalition of American churches — is “good news!” 

As the five church “families” of Christian Churches Together in the USA met in Pasadena over these last days, we heard very well-done presentations of how each approaches the task of evangelism. Most moving to me was the vulnerability shown by each family in the presence of the others.

I noted that sometimes our very strengths, as Christian communions, also point to our weaknesses. The openness and tolerance of many historic Protestant denominations today, along with their belief in the ultimate sovereignty of God (“God will do what God will do…God will save whomever God pleases…who are we to judge?) may make us timid and tentative in our witness to the Gospel.

The very confidence of the evangelical and pentecostal families in the centrality and necessity of a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (“no one come to the Father except by me”) and the exclusive claims that only Christians will be saved may lead to a kind of judgmentalism and narrowness that shuts down rather than opens up the conversation and personal relationships which can mature over time into evangelistic “success.”

The historic reliance of Roman Catholics and the Orthodox in raising their children in the faith, having them grow in grace and understanding over time may be challenged in a culture where fewer people are raising their children in the Faith and where many have never even heard the basic message of the Gospel. How to “present the basic Gospel message” to such people? Churches defined primarily by their racial/ethnic identity may find it difficult truly to welcome in those of other backgrounds — even as the members of these churches have found it difficult, if not impossible, to be welcomed into other churches.      

But these very differences point to the necessity and importance of such ecumenical conversations! By learning from each other and perhaps even finding ways to cooperate in the evangelistic enterprise, maybe we can all find a way to articulate a more coherent expression of the Christian message to a world and society which desperately needs to hear it!  

“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” (Psalm 33)  

Last night, hundreds of people gathered at Pasadena Presbyterian Church to witness leaders of more than 30 Christian communions and organizations sign a “covenant” marking the official launch of the broadest Christian partnership in our nation’s history — Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Historic Protestants, Racial/Ethnic churches, Evangelicals and Pentecostals. It may be instructive just to see the breadth of the fellowship:

AMEN (Alanza de Ministerios Evangelicos Nacionales); American Baptist Churches in the USA, Antiochian Orthodox, Bread for the World, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Reformed Church, Church of God (Anderson), Church of God of Prophecy, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Coptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church in America, the Episcopal Church,

Evangelical Covenant Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Evangelicals for Social Action, Free Methodist Church of North America, Friends United Meeting, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, International Council of Community Churches, Korean Presbyterian Church, Moravian Church in America, National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.

National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., Open Bible Churches, Orthodox Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America, the Roman Catholic Church (US Conference of Catholic Bishops), Reformed Church in America, the Salvation Army, Sojourners/Call to Renewal, Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, World Vision.

Though the press may “little note nor long remember” this occasion — since we are getting along and not fighting — it is an historic one. In the next couple of days, I’ll try to share some of what we’ve learned from each other about evangelism…and about how to stand together in the alleviation of poverty.