The 50 'ecumenical pilgrims' portrayed in this book illustrate the richness of the spirit... more The 50 'ecumenical pilgrims' portrayed in this book illustrate the richness of the spiritual traditions which meet in the ecumenical movement. They are among 20th-century Christians whose faith, prayer, work and sacrifice have helped to break down the churches' long heritage of division. The testimony of their lives is thus a contemporary challenge to new commitments to unity and renewal. In these brief portraits the focus is not so much on biographical details as on the richness of the spiritual traditions which meet in the ecumenical movement and enrich the life of the churches together.
Diese Doktorarbeit stellt den Versuch dar, eine Inklusion des pentekostalen Verstandnisses vom He... more Diese Doktorarbeit stellt den Versuch dar, eine Inklusion des pentekostalen Verstandnisses vom Heiligen Geist in den okumenischen multilateralen Diskurs gewinnbringend fur beide Seiten zu entwerfen. Das theologische Interesse an diesem Versuch liegt darin, dass der Heilige Geist einen besonderen Platz sowohl im Verstandnis der Einheit der Kirche als auch im Selbstverstandnis des Pentekostalismus einnimmt. Im I. Teil wird eine Ubersicht der okumenischen multilateralen Texte unter unterschiedlichen thematischen Schwerpunkten der Pneumatologie gegeben. Im II. Teil wird der pentekostale Denkansatz zum Verstandnis des Heiligen Geistes hinsichtlich der im I. Teil festgestellten pneumatologischen Themen reflektiert. Im III. Teil wird uber eine Moglichkeit nachgedacht, wie die Interpretation des pentekostalen Denkansatzes im Verstandnis des Heiligen Geistes in den aktuellen ekklesiologischen Diskurs des ORK bereichernd und erweiternd integriert werden kann.
Catholicism Opening to the World and Other Confessions, 2018
This chapter explores—through the lens of Protestant observers of Vatican II—how the Second Vatic... more This chapter explores—through the lens of Protestant observers of Vatican II—how the Second Vatican Council has been perceived by Protestant theologians and the emerging theological convergences in the texts of Vatican II concerning some of the main issues that separate these two church traditions. It notes a general positive change of attitude on the Roman Catholic side toward the churches of the Reformation, but also indicates some matters that remain problematic from a Protestant perspective, especially the fact that the texts of Vatican II have obviously been open to different interpretations. Common efforts on both sides are necessary in the future in order to build on the ground prepared by Vatican II.
This article offers an overview of work undertaken in multilateral ecumenical dialogue, as it has... more This article offers an overview of work undertaken in multilateral ecumenical dialogue, as it has been conducted at the international level by the commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches (WCC), to clarify the issues discussed in this dialogue and the methods used. In particular, the article analyzes the statements on unity made at various WCC assemblies. While they demonstrate a certain continuity regarding the key points of church unity they identify, they clearly mark a shift in the overall understanding of how unity is conceived. The second part of the article examines the current ecumenical situation and its importance for this dialogue, to show how Faith and Order has responded and what further progress in multilateral dialogue might look like.
From the earliest times onwards Christians have had difficulties in agreeing on the date for the ... more From the earliest times onwards Christians have had difficulties in agreeing on the date for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the New Testament we know that Christ's death and resurrection were connected historically to the Jewish Passover. But it was not clear how. According to the synoptic gospels Jesus' last supper was a Passover meal, which means that his death was on the day after Passover, while according to John his death occurred on the day of the Jewish Passover itself. At the end of the second century there were churches which celebrated Easter in connection with the date of the Jewish Passover, regardless of whether it was a Sunday or not, while others celebrated it on the Sunday after. At the beginning of the fourth century four different methods were used in different churches to calculate the date of Easter. Therefore, the Council of Nicea in 325 tried to unite Christians in the celebration of Easter by deciding that it should be on the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox. I Christians of all traditions still follow this rule-and yet there are two different dates for the Easter feast. Because Nicea had not discussed the mechanics for determining the Easter date, there were still different dates after the council. However, the modern problem has existed since the sixteenth century when the Gregorian calendar was introduced to replace the Julian calendar. The difference between these two calendars has to do with the problem that the astronomic year, the movement of the earth around the sun, does not take * The Revd Dr Dagmar Heller is an ordained minister of the Protestant Church of Baden, Germany (a united church) and presently working as Executive Secretary for Faith and Order in the World Council of Churches, 150 route de Ferney, CH-I2II Geneva 2, Switzerland. This is a revisedversion of an article which appeared in Ecumenical Trends 29/3 (March 2000)8/40-13/ 45. I Eusebius, De solemnitate paschali 2 (Migne, Patrologia Graeca 24:693-706).
This chapter describes the World Council of Churches (WCC) from different angles, beginning with ... more This chapter describes the World Council of Churches (WCC) from different angles, beginning with the description of it as ‘a fellowship of churches’ in its Basis, its purpose being to help the churches to call one other to visible unity, as formulated in its Constitution. Secondly, the chapter discusses the structural organization of the WCC, with its governing bodies and the working areas covering a variety of issues. That scope necessitates the use of a number of different methodologies, ranging from theological study of church-dividing issues and mission work to networking and advocacy with regard to environmental issues or questions of human rights. An outline of its history and main achievements leads to an evaluation of the significance of the WCC, highlighting its coordinating role for multilateral dialogue, and promotion of common action by the churches as of lasting importance.
The 50 'ecumenical pilgrims' portrayed in this book illustrate the richness of the spirit... more The 50 'ecumenical pilgrims' portrayed in this book illustrate the richness of the spiritual traditions which meet in the ecumenical movement. They are among 20th-century Christians whose faith, prayer, work and sacrifice have helped to break down the churches' long heritage of division. The testimony of their lives is thus a contemporary challenge to new commitments to unity and renewal. In these brief portraits the focus is not so much on biographical details as on the richness of the spiritual traditions which meet in the ecumenical movement and enrich the life of the churches together.
Diese Doktorarbeit stellt den Versuch dar, eine Inklusion des pentekostalen Verstandnisses vom He... more Diese Doktorarbeit stellt den Versuch dar, eine Inklusion des pentekostalen Verstandnisses vom Heiligen Geist in den okumenischen multilateralen Diskurs gewinnbringend fur beide Seiten zu entwerfen. Das theologische Interesse an diesem Versuch liegt darin, dass der Heilige Geist einen besonderen Platz sowohl im Verstandnis der Einheit der Kirche als auch im Selbstverstandnis des Pentekostalismus einnimmt. Im I. Teil wird eine Ubersicht der okumenischen multilateralen Texte unter unterschiedlichen thematischen Schwerpunkten der Pneumatologie gegeben. Im II. Teil wird der pentekostale Denkansatz zum Verstandnis des Heiligen Geistes hinsichtlich der im I. Teil festgestellten pneumatologischen Themen reflektiert. Im III. Teil wird uber eine Moglichkeit nachgedacht, wie die Interpretation des pentekostalen Denkansatzes im Verstandnis des Heiligen Geistes in den aktuellen ekklesiologischen Diskurs des ORK bereichernd und erweiternd integriert werden kann.
Catholicism Opening to the World and Other Confessions, 2018
This chapter explores—through the lens of Protestant observers of Vatican II—how the Second Vatic... more This chapter explores—through the lens of Protestant observers of Vatican II—how the Second Vatican Council has been perceived by Protestant theologians and the emerging theological convergences in the texts of Vatican II concerning some of the main issues that separate these two church traditions. It notes a general positive change of attitude on the Roman Catholic side toward the churches of the Reformation, but also indicates some matters that remain problematic from a Protestant perspective, especially the fact that the texts of Vatican II have obviously been open to different interpretations. Common efforts on both sides are necessary in the future in order to build on the ground prepared by Vatican II.
This article offers an overview of work undertaken in multilateral ecumenical dialogue, as it has... more This article offers an overview of work undertaken in multilateral ecumenical dialogue, as it has been conducted at the international level by the commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches (WCC), to clarify the issues discussed in this dialogue and the methods used. In particular, the article analyzes the statements on unity made at various WCC assemblies. While they demonstrate a certain continuity regarding the key points of church unity they identify, they clearly mark a shift in the overall understanding of how unity is conceived. The second part of the article examines the current ecumenical situation and its importance for this dialogue, to show how Faith and Order has responded and what further progress in multilateral dialogue might look like.
From the earliest times onwards Christians have had difficulties in agreeing on the date for the ... more From the earliest times onwards Christians have had difficulties in agreeing on the date for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the New Testament we know that Christ's death and resurrection were connected historically to the Jewish Passover. But it was not clear how. According to the synoptic gospels Jesus' last supper was a Passover meal, which means that his death was on the day after Passover, while according to John his death occurred on the day of the Jewish Passover itself. At the end of the second century there were churches which celebrated Easter in connection with the date of the Jewish Passover, regardless of whether it was a Sunday or not, while others celebrated it on the Sunday after. At the beginning of the fourth century four different methods were used in different churches to calculate the date of Easter. Therefore, the Council of Nicea in 325 tried to unite Christians in the celebration of Easter by deciding that it should be on the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox. I Christians of all traditions still follow this rule-and yet there are two different dates for the Easter feast. Because Nicea had not discussed the mechanics for determining the Easter date, there were still different dates after the council. However, the modern problem has existed since the sixteenth century when the Gregorian calendar was introduced to replace the Julian calendar. The difference between these two calendars has to do with the problem that the astronomic year, the movement of the earth around the sun, does not take * The Revd Dr Dagmar Heller is an ordained minister of the Protestant Church of Baden, Germany (a united church) and presently working as Executive Secretary for Faith and Order in the World Council of Churches, 150 route de Ferney, CH-I2II Geneva 2, Switzerland. This is a revisedversion of an article which appeared in Ecumenical Trends 29/3 (March 2000)8/40-13/ 45. I Eusebius, De solemnitate paschali 2 (Migne, Patrologia Graeca 24:693-706).
This chapter describes the World Council of Churches (WCC) from different angles, beginning with ... more This chapter describes the World Council of Churches (WCC) from different angles, beginning with the description of it as ‘a fellowship of churches’ in its Basis, its purpose being to help the churches to call one other to visible unity, as formulated in its Constitution. Secondly, the chapter discusses the structural organization of the WCC, with its governing bodies and the working areas covering a variety of issues. That scope necessitates the use of a number of different methodologies, ranging from theological study of church-dividing issues and mission work to networking and advocacy with regard to environmental issues or questions of human rights. An outline of its history and main achievements leads to an evaluation of the significance of the WCC, highlighting its coordinating role for multilateral dialogue, and promotion of common action by the churches as of lasting importance.
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