Ecumenical movement fading Protestants bemoan

While church leaders from across denominations discuss new directions for the 100-year-old ecumenical movement, one conservative Christian believes major changes need to be made in order for there to even be a future.

"Sadly, over the last 50 years, it (the ecumenical movement) has faded into the sidelines and is now largely ignored," said Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, which monitors mainline denominations and ecumenical groups.

Some 400 people from various mainline Protestant churches and Catholic and Orthodox traditions opened a celebratory gathering on Tuesday in New Orleans, marking 100 years of the ecumenical or Christian unity movement.

Throughout the three-day gathering, led by the National Council of Churches, participants are discussing diversity, interfaith relations, and ecumenical cooperation for the next century, among other things.

John M. Buchanan, editor of Christian Century, said in a speech addressed to attendees, "The unity of the church, the ecumenical vision – which you here this afternoon embody – is not a liberal add on to the Gospel; it is at the heart of the Gospel. It is an evangelical imperative – 'that they may be one so that the world may believe.' In a radically global, pluralistic world, we have no credibility at all without unity."

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Two quick points.

First I don't think the ecumenical movement is so much fading as it is being redefined with a more realistic approach. It is no longer looking at one world religion (of the liberal Protestant brand) but rather towards mutual respect and tolerance fostered by better understanding. In short an agreement to work together where we can on matters of mutual interest but to respect theological differences provided it does not compromise core Christian tenets.

And secondly to the extent that this is not inline with the lefty "new church" silliness we find in the UCC and TEO and other quasi Unitarian sects, then indeed it is dying. And the quicker the better. The sooner the Orthodox withdraw from the NCC and the WCC, both of which are simply front groups for advancing radical left wing social agendas, the happier I will be.