Ecumenism Prospects And Challenges

Govada Dyvasirvadam, b. 1951, General Secretary, Church of South India; contributed articles.

Ecumenism: A Guide for the Perplexed is a comprehensive introduction to the methods, achievements, and future prospects of the modern ecumenical movement. The authors begin the volume by charting out a serviceable definition of ecumenism, a term that has long been a source of confusion for students of theology and church history. They review the chronology of the modern ecumenical movement and highlight the major events, figures, accomplishments, and impasses. This historical survey is followed by critical examinations of three significant challenges for contemporary ecumenical theology and practice. Along the way, the authors provide commentary upon the difficulties and prospects that the ecumenical movement might anticipate as it enters this new millennium.

This book is a response to the growing recognition of Receptive Ecumenism as a concept and process that has the potential to bring about the greater flourishing of the Church, both within denominations and across the Church universal.

This book contains twelve studies by well-qualified authors, many of them already very well-known in the field of ecumenism. It represents a stocktaking at the end of the twentieth century of "the unity we have" and a reassessment of "the unity we seek." It provides a well-documented overview of the field: a thorough and accessible introduction for everyone with an interest in ecumenism and an invaluable resource for everyone involved at any level. A substantial section charts some of the major ecumenical developments of the twentieth century and some of the new problems that have emerged.