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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jn 13: 34-35

 

Four modes of Understanding Christian Unity
(from the videotape “Let Them Be One”. Community “Chemin Neuf”)

 

I UNITY THROUGH ABSORBTION

  

The dominant view of the Church for centuries has been – I am the Church of Christ, therefore I shall absorb the others or “Come all to my Church!”
There have been three main directions from the 16th century – Protestantism, Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
The most typical views:
Protestants: - we will be united when all are reformed. When Catholics and Orthodox get reformed then we all shall become a Reformed Church.
Catholics: - Protestants, you have left your Church. You have to turn back again to your Mother Church.
Orthodox: - Protestants, you have discarded some things. Catholics, you have added some things. Yet we have remained in the original faith. This is why all of you have to turn back to Orthodoxy.

II UNITY AS MISTERY

Unity is perceived as a mystery – it will come when God desires it; in a way He wishes it and by the means He wishes it.
Although the dialogue in 19th -20th century advances, we see that Churches are divided by “Insurmountable walls” – views separating us from one another. But these walls don’t reach as high as the Heaven. God sees all His Church. At times, we see those insurmountable walls.

III MULTIFORMED UNITY

This is a view on the community of Churches that would remain autonomous by retaining their identity and using the gifts that the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon each of them. At the same time, it would resemble a federation.
Such a community would comprise elements of Protestantism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy or – “Let us remain as we are”.

IV UNITY THROUGH “CONVERSION OF CHURCHES”

We experience convertion (metanoia in Greek) rather than demand others to be converted. If I am a Catholic, Protestant or an Orthodox then I wish to become even a truer Christian. To grow towards Christ, to change ourselves not only as individuals, but also as a Church. To ask for forgiveness and to forgive.

If Churches approach Christ they approach one another.
Photo image – The leaders of the Churches opening the door of St. Peter’s Basilica 24.12.1999. (Tychique No. 156, 2002).
“Chemin Neuf” – Community of the Catholic Church with ecumenical vocation