Receptive Ecumenism As Transformative Ecclesial Learning

Receptive Ecumenism asks not what other churches can learn from us, but 'what can we learn and receive with integrity from our ecclesial others?' Since the publication of Receptive Ecumenism and the Call to Catholic Learning: Exploring a Way for Contemporary Ecumenism (OUP, 2008), this fresh ecumenical strategy has been adopted, critiqued, and developed in different Christian traditions, and in local, national, and international settings, including the most recent bilateral dialogue of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC III). The thirty-eight chapters in this new volume, by academics, church leaders, and ecumenical practitioners who have adopted and adapted Receptive Ecumenism in various ecclesial and cultural contexts, show how Receptive Ecumenism has grown and matured. Part One demonstrates how Receptive Ecumenism itself is capable of being received with integrity into very different ecclesiologies and ecclesial traditions. In Part Two, this approach to transformative ecumenical learning is applied to some recurrent ecclesial problems, such as the understanding and practice of ministry, revealing new insights and practical opportunities. Part Three examines the potential and challenges for Receptive Ecumenism in different international settings. Part Four draws on scripture, hermeneutics, and pneumatology to offer critical reflection on how Receptive Ecumenism itself implements transformative ecclesial learning. Addressing the 70th Anniversary of the World Council of Churches, Archbishop Justin Welby, said that 'One of the most important of recent ecumenical developments has been the concept of Receptive Ecumenism'. This volume provides an indispensable point of reference for understanding and applying that concept in the life of the Christian churches today.

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.

In Receptive Ecumenism and the Renewal of the Ecumenical Movement, Antonia Pizzey offers a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the approach of Receptive Ecumenism, which is widely regarded as having the potential to revitalise contemporary ecumenism.

This volume proposes a fresh strategy for ecumenical engagement - 'Receptive Ecumenism' - that is fitted to the challenges of the contemporary context and has already been internationally recognised as making a distinctive and important new contribution to ecumenical thought and practice. Beyond this, the volume tests and illustrates this proposal by examining what Roman Catholicism in particular might fruitfully learn from its ecumenical others. Challenging the tendency for ecumenical studies to ask, whether explicitly or implicitly, 'What do our others need to learn from us?', this volume presents a radical challenge to see ecumenism move forward into action by highlighting the opposite question 'What can we learn with integrity from our others?' This approach is not simply ecumenism as shared mission, or ecumenism as problem-solving and incremental agreement but ecumenism as a vital long-term programme of individual, communal and structural conversion driven, like the Gospel that inspires it, by the promise of conversion into greater life and flourishing. The aim is for the Christian traditions to become more, not less, than they currently are by learning from, or receiving of, each other's gifts. The 32 original essays that have been written for this unique volume explore these issues from a wide variety of denominational and disciplinary perspectives, drawing together ecclesiologists, professional ecumenists, sociologists, psychologists, and organizational experts.

In Hermeneutics of Doctrine in a Learning Church, Gregory Ryan offers an account of the dynamic, multi-dimensional task of interpreting Christian tradition, with reference to doctrinal hermeneutics, Receptive Ecumenism, and the ‘pastorality of doctrine’ seen in Pope Francis.

This book contains fresh insights into ecumenism and, notwithstanding claims of an “ecumenical winter,” affirms the view that we are actually moving into a “new ecumenical spring.” It offers new theological insights in the areas of Christology, Pneumatology and Trinitarian theology, and discusses developments in ecumenism in the USA, UK, Australia, India, and Africa, as well as in ecumenical institutions such as the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Anglican Roman Catholic Commission (ARCIC).

What do we need to learn and receive from the other to help us address challenges or wounds in our own tradition? That is the key question asked in what has come to be known as ‘receptive ecumenism’. And nowhere is this question more pressing and pertinent than in women’s experiences within the church. Based on qualitative research from five focus groups, 'For the Good of the Church' expose the difficulties women face when they work in a church – sexism, unfulfilled vocation, and abuse of power and privilege, as well as the wide range of gifts and skills which women bring in light of these. The second part of the book continues to draw on the particular wounds and gifts, which arise in the focus groups. Specific case studies are used to identify gifts of theology, practice, experience, vocation and power. Against negative prognoses of an ‘ecumenical winter’, Gabrielle Thomas reveals how radically different theological and ecclesiological perspectives can be a space for learning and receiving gifts for the well-being of the whole Church.

Lebendige Tradition Kontinuität und Wandel als Herausforderungen für Kirchen und Theologien Tagungsbericht der 21. Wissenschaftlichen Konsultation der Societas Oecumenica Living Tradition Continuity and Change as Challenges to Churches and Theologies Proceedings of the 21st Academic Consultation of the Societas Oecumenica Living tradition is the focal point of this volume, exploring ›theologies of tradition,‹ ›captivities of tradition,‹ ›changing traditions,‹ and ›dynamics of Tradition.‹ It takes on the notion of ›living tradition‹ from four distinct angles. How do various churches and denominations handle continuity while embracing different theologies of tradition? How do individuals address traditionalism and fundamentalism when faced with the captivities of tradition? In what ways can identity be preserved through discontinuities when dealing with changing traditions? The volume encompasses contributions from 31 scholars, presented during the 21st academic consultation of Societas Oecumenica (the European Society for Ecumenical Research). [Lebendige Tradition. Kontinuität und Wandel als Herausforderungen für Kirchen und Theologien] Die lebendige Tradition steht im Mittelpunkt dieses Bandes und untersucht ›Theologien der Tradition‹, ›Gefangene der Tradition‹, ›sich verändernde Traditionen‹ und ›Dynamiken der Tradition‹. Der Begriff der ›lebendigen Tradition‹ wird aus vier verschiedenen Blickwinkeln betrachtet. Wie gehen verschiedene Kirchen und Konfessionen mit Kontinuität um und berücksichtigen gleichzeitig unterschiedliche Theologien der Tradition? Wie gehen Einzelpersonen mit Traditionalismus und Fundamentalismus um, wenn sie mit den Fesseln der Tradition konfrontiert werden? Auf welche Weise kann Identität durch Diskontinuitäten im Umgang mit sich verändernden Traditionen bewahrt werden? Der Band umfasst Beiträge von 31 Wissenschaftlern, die während der 21. akademischen Konsultation der Societas Oecumenica (der Europäischen Gesellschaft für ökumenische Forschung) vorgestellt wurden.