Episcopal Press and News

Raiser: Ecumenical Movement Must 'Rethink' Calling

Episcopal News Service. November 21, 1994 [94189H]

The ecumenical movement must "rethink the traditional understanding" of its calling, Konrad Raiser recently told the Middle East Council of Churches at a recent meeting. Raiser told participants that "the classical notions of unity, mission, sharing, service and development do not speak to all Christians of the world as self-evident characterizations of the ecumenical vision." He said that "a new ecumenical reality" is emerging, "not necessarily bound to the definitions and interpretations founded on traditional identities." Raiser recently suggested that the ecumenical movement should have as its goal the unity of the whole of creation, rather than just church unity. (ENI)