How can we promote ecumenism?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

One thing that can help the current world situation is, I believe, a better understanding and respect for the world's religions. I know that there has been a Pariliament of Religions going on for years now. I also know that various Sufi groups work with members of other faiths to reach a greater understanding. And then there's the Dances of Universal Peace, which is practiced around the world and promotes understanding of all spiritual paths through body prayer.

Do any of you know of any ecumenical outreach being done? Thought it would be nice to post it with links here.

[forgethell]

1. OK, I'll bite

whatis body prayer, and how does it work??

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Body prayer

it is basically praying with one's entire body through movement and focused concentration on a sacred phrase. For example, in the dancing the first line of the Lord's Prayer, we bow from the heart, raise up, move head and feet from left to right, making the sign of the cross. This is done in a tight circle while singing the first line of the prayer in Aramaic-"Abwoom d'bash mia". Other dances involve turning and moving with partners, doing special hand movements, etc.

For more information, check out www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org

What I'm looking for are more groups that are doing ecumenical work. Anyone with links?

[T_i_B]

3. As a Christian...

...who happens to be very ecumenically minded, I think that the first thing that we need to do as Christians is to forge greater links between Christian denominations. We need to realize that first and foremost we are Christians, not merely members of a particular denomination.

Here is an example of this that I as a member of the Methodist Church am very enthusiastic about. It's the Anglican Methodist Covenant

http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.content&cmid=106

[pelagius]

4. Hadn't heard of that before...

...thanks for bringing up the Anglican-Methodist covenant. Here in the States, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) have a similar covenant.

http://www.elca.org/ecumenical/fullcommunion/Episcopal/index.html

This "Called to Common Ministry" (CCM) Concordat is a bit tenuous now because of the ECUSA's choice to ordain a non-celibate gay bishop. Also, the traditional Lutheran concerns about sola sciptura and ecclesiology (i.e., "no popery!") have always been present.

http://www.wordalone.org/

But there remains full recognition of each others ministers (an Episcopalian can perform Lutheran rites and vice-versa), Eucharist fellowship, and a commitment to work to together. There are even joint Episcopal-Lutheran federated churches springing up.

http://www.dioceseswfla.org/ezine/LambofGod2004.htm

Small steps, small steps, but so important.

[T_i_B]

5. Thanks Pelaigus

Ever heard of Porvoo BTW? This is an agreement made by the following churches made in the town of Porvoo (which I think is in Finland) to "overcome denominational self-sufficiency". I've got the link at the bottom so you can see for yourself what this is about.

The Estonian Evangelical-Lutheran Church
The Church of Sweden
The Church of Norway
The Scottish Episcopal Church
The Church of Ireland
The Church of England
The Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Lithuania
The Church in Wales
The Evangelical-Lutheran of Iceland
The Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland


http://www.porvoochurches.org/