Each year across the United States, member communions of the National Council of Churches gather in synods, assemblies, conventions, and conferences at the national and middle judicatory levels. Over the course of my life, I have attended dozens of such gatherings.
This summer, for example, NCC staff will be present at the Christian Methodist General Conference, the International Council of Community Churches Annual Conference, the Episcopal Church General Convention, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly.
Jim Winkler
Jim Winkler, top executive of the National Council of Churches USA.
At their best, these meetings have an ‘old home’ week feel with joyous worship, celebrations, hugs, humor, and laughter. I have attended some where the mood is unrelentingly grim, and laughter is frowned upon. Each of these church conferences incorporates worship and business into their agendas. Most likely, they include debates on social justice and public policy matters.
Last week I moderated a panel on ‘ecumenism and advocacy’ at the National Workshop on Christian Unity. Afterward, I was approached by someone who politely demanded I provide biblical proof for the pro-choice position on abortion. I was surprised because the panel had not addressed the matter at all.
I decided not to engage in proof-texting with my new friend. Instead, I mentioned that just days earlier I had led the confirmation class at my local church and discussed my denomination’s Social Principles with the young people. I suggested to them that they were being asked to confirm whether they wished to join not just our congregation but our denomination, as well, and they should, therefore, have some familiarity with positions their fellow members had arrived at through debate, discussion, and prayer.
After all, it could be they might find themselves in a church with which they had huge disagreements and considerable discomfort. And, in a nation that prizes religious freedom, if they don’t like our church, they can literally walk across the street and join another. They can even start their own church, an act I told them as a representative of a Christian unity organization I hope they will not do.
The youth in the class were perplexed by a number of stances adopted by the church. I explained that we work these positions out in community, and they are often less than perfect. Quite frequently, earnest efforts are made to arrive at language that at least minimally satisfies the largest number of people. Further, I noted denominations sometimes change their mind and even reverse long-held positions.
There are those who feel the church of Jesus Christ has no business speaking to or about social and political concerns and should focus on teaching the faith and ministering to those in need. That point of view might sway me if not for the fact we can’t even agree on how to do that.
We have found ways to disagree on almost every matter under the sun from how to pray, to worship, to baptize, to share the Eucharist and so forth.
Despite our differences, at the National Workshop on Christian Unity panel, we marveled at the fact we now sit comfortably together to discuss delicate matters when not so many years ago this would have been nigh on impossible.
This is the fruit of the ecumenical movement. The challenge before us is not to become complacent and accept the progress we have made as a given.
United Methodist layman Jim Winkler serves as top executive of the National Council of Churches USA in Washington, D.C.