ecumenism is the way forward!

[Eddi]

A few years ago I was on holiday and wanted to go to church

So I looked at what churches there were locally and there was one that stood out - an interdenominational ecumenical church

It was a joint church, run by Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, and United Reformed people

The size of the congregation was very healthy, unlike anything I'd ever seen before on a regular Sunday

Across the Western world, Christian congregation sizes are shrinking as more and more people die and fewer and fewer people join up to replace those who die

I think interdenominational churches are the way forward

In my town there are three protestant congregations and one catholic congregation

I think it would be cool if the three protestant congregations joined to form an ecumenical church

A local mega-church!

And I know two people locally who agree with me and should imagine there are more...

The way I see it is that one big fat candle burning brightly is better than three smaller ones flickering in the wind

And it's not as if those three churches have huge doctrinal differences

And clearly it is possible for them to join together as I've seen this happen successfully!

I looked up the church I went to on holiday online and it appears to still be going strong

So, that's what I think about that

 

[Rival]

I am going to have to disagree. I believe such practices destroy Churches and other religious congregations by watering down the theology and doctrines to allow anyone and everyone to be part of it. While focus on the community aspect of religion is a good thing, I don't believe one should lose sight of the rest of the religion. I believe this kind of ecumenical practice is what is leading to atheism and lukewarm Christianity; it makes congregations more like group therapy sessions than meaningful religious services.

 

[Brian2]

I am going to have to disagree. I believe such practices destroy Churches and other religious congregations by watering down the theology and doctrines to allow anyone and everyone to be part of it. While focus on the community aspect of religion is a good thing, I don't believe one should lose sight of the rest of the religion. I believe this kind of ecumenical practice is what is leading to atheism and lukewarm Christianity; it makes congregations more like group therapy sessions than meaningful religious services.

I will disagree and say that the small doctrinal differences between most Christian denominations that in the past has caused division, should not have caused division. As Paul said, the body of Christ is not divided. There would be practical considerations to reunite under the banner of Jesus but the benefits would outweigh them imo.
Hierarchies in the denominations would have issues probably and Christians who are devout and dedicated to a particular denomination would no doubt cause trouble but if handled right it would be a learning and growing thing for everyone.
The pipe dreams of reversing history.

 

[Rival]

the small doctrinal differences between most Christian

They're hardly small, though.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I am going to have to disagree. I believe such practices destroy Churches and other religious congregations by watering down the theology and doctrines to allow anyone and everyone to be part of it. While focus on the community aspect of religion is a good thing, I don't believe one should lose sight of the rest of the religion. I believe this kind of ecumenical practice is what is leading to atheism and lukewarm Christianity; it makes congregations more like group therapy sessions than meaningful religious services.

Also, don’t most people just show up to the mega churches to check off the church box?
How do you actually get to know the other members and be part of that “family”, when it’s such a giant organization?

 

[Eddi]

I believe such practices destroy Churches and other religious congregations by watering down the theology and doctrines to allow anyone and everyone to be part of it

I don't see it that way...

And I believe it is best to be as inclusive as possible, without compromising the core tenets of the faith

If people are open and interested then they should be welcomed, and drawn into the faith and invited to learn more

And I believe that communion should be open to all and I don't think anyone would actually take it if they had zero interest in Christinaity

I don't see how inclusiveness means watering down

While focus on the community aspect of religion is a good thing, I don't believe one should lose sight of the rest of the religion.

I don't see how a focus on the community has to detract from a focus on God

I don't see it as being either/or

I think a church should be about God first and then community, in at a close second

what is leading to atheism and lukewarm Christianity; it makes congregations more like group therapy sessions than meaningful religious services.

When I attended the multi-denominational church I mentioned in the OP there was a strong feeling of spirituality, I felt an authentic vibe - a genuine religious experience

And I think that any difference between Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, and United Reformed are peripheral and not fundimental

 

[Eddi]

Also, don’t most people just show up to the mega churches to check off the church box?
How do you actually get to know the other members and be part of that “family”, when it’s such a giant organization?

In my OP I shouldn't have used the term "mega-church"

It has connotations of money-grabbing prosperity gospel stuff

I used the term to mean a united church made up out of numerous other churches

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

In my OP I shouldn't have used the term "mega-church"

It has connotations of money-grabbing prosperity gospel stuff

I used the term to mean a united church made up out of numerous other churches

Gotcha
There is a difference
Thanks for clarification

 

[Brian2]

They're hardly small, though.

Well it would not be with those groups that are considered heretics. Christians should be able to disagree on relatively minor things for the sake of unity.
Did you have anything in mind that you consider major?

 

[Rival]

Well it would not be with those groups that are considered heretics. Christians should be able to disagree on relatively minor things for the sake of unity.
Did you have anything in mind that you consider major?

- Nature of the Eucharist and who can have it.
- Nature of Jesus' sacrifice
- The Orthodox notion of theosis.
- Which books are scripture/should be used to make dogma.
- The Latin Mass / really any mass.
- Prayer to Saints, prayer for the dead etc.
- How to and who can interpret scripture.
- Church hierarchy and the Pope.
- Confession.
- What to take and what not to take from the Torah.
- Nature of marriage and divorce.
- The Protestant 'Solae' (Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria).

Basically anything that caused schisms in the first place.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I am going to have to disagree. I believe such practices destroy Churches and other religious congregations by watering down the theology and doctrines to allow anyone and everyone to be part of it. While focus on the community aspect of religion is a good thing, I don't believe one should lose sight of the rest of the religion. I believe this kind of ecumenical practice is what is leading to atheism and lukewarm Christianity; it makes congregations more like group therapy sessions than meaningful religious services.

I generally agree, though I see it as a good thing.

I think it's good when try to look for things in common with others and reach out to build community.

IMO, ecumenism is what happens when someone recognizes what they have in common with others but still have "religious blinders" on. When they take those blinders off, the same spirit ends up with secularism.

 

[pearl]

- The Orthodox notion of theosis.

I think 'theosis' is also shared by Roman Catholics; from the CCC
460 The Word became flesh to make us "partakers of the divine nature":"For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God." "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God." "The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods."

The Jesus Prayer, identifies theosis as “the gradual process by which a person is renewed and unified so completely with God that he becomes by grace what God is by nature.” Another way of stating it is “sharing in the divine nature through grace.”
Theosis: Partaking of the Divine Nature | Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
I don't know about the denominational belief concerning theosis,
Very interesting thread

 

[Brian2]

- Nature of the Eucharist and who can have it.
- Nature of Jesus' sacrifice
- The Orthodox notion of theosis.
- Which books are scripture/should be used to make dogma.
- The Latin Mass / really any mass.
- Prayer to Saints, prayer for the dead etc.
- How to and who can interpret scripture.
- Church hierarchy and the Pope.
- Confession.
- What to take and what not to take from the Torah.
- Nature of marriage and divorce.
- The Protestant 'Solae' (Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria).

Basically anything that caused schisms in the first place.

You have me. There are big barriers for many groups to join together in the one church and in the one building but most denominations would be able to join with most others in the right spirit or Spirit.
There seems to be a mingling of the groups now informally if not formally. I go to an Anglican church and there is a wide variety of views there about different theological issues and many of those there would class themselves as Christian rather then Anglican.
Formally it happens also but as yet as I see it, it would be hard for many groups to join with others groups. The time could be coming however and big changes have happened in my life time.
I think it would be both a top down and bottom up thing that would have to happen at the same time, as is happening, but there are big obstacles as you point out.
In the meantime most Christians recognise most others as brothers and sisters it seems to me and there is a willingness to be united in the sight of the world as well as in reality.
There are hard liners in some groups no doubt that would hold things up.

 

[pearl]

and many of those there would class themselves as Christian rather then Anglican.

If I may ask why do you differentiate between Christian and Anglican?

 

[Brian2]

If I may ask why do you differentiate between Christian and Anglican?

I don't. Anglicans are Christians but instead of identifying as Anglicans many identify as Christians.
So it is possible to be in the denomination system because that is where history has put us, but not agree with it and the divisions that have been set up because of it.