Magyar Egyház, 1983 (62. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1983-03-01 / 2. szám
MAGYAR €GYfíAZ 12. oldal The statements clearly tell the agreements and disagreements between the two traditions. The final statements are, of course, submitted to the parent bodies, who, in turn, send them to their constituency for study. At this time our Consultation is in its Round IV. Round I. dealt with several explosive issues. Three statements, Ministry in the Church, Women in Church and Society, and Proposed Pastoral Guidelines for Interchristian Marriages were prepared. The title of the third indicates that it examined the problems and conveyed some suggestions but did not present definitive agreements. As to the first theme, the Consultation found that a basic obstacle to unity was the diverse structure of ministry in the two traditions, that is Roman Catholic and Reformed. Episcopacy, papcy, repetition of ordination, mutual recognition of ministries were all thoroughly discussed and although not many final agreements could be reached clarification of the issues and mutual understanding of each other’s theological positions paved the way for future agreements. The statements were published in various magazines (Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Worship, Monday Morning). A number of papers presented at the sessions were published in a book, Reconsiderations: Roman Catholic/Presbyterian and Reformed Theological Conversations 1966—67 (New York: World Horizons, Inc. 1967). Round II. endeavored to combine theological an sociological factors in the search for Christian unity. A case study showed that concern for sociological co-operation was far greater — particularly locally — than for theological unity. This study produced a lengthy essay on the “shape of unity we seek”. The product was published in book form under the title The Unity We Seek (edited by Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoeßer and Dr. Andrew Harsanyi, New York: Paulist Press, 1977). The study was organized into four sections: I. The Mission and Nature of the One Church of Christ; II. The Unity We Seek in Belief; III. The Unity We Seek in Structure; IV. The Unity We Seek in Worship. Recommendations were attached to each section. Among them are proposals for shared ministries, even a shared eucharist on some occasions, covenant communities, mutual education of the faithful in each other’s position, etc. It is believed that this study is an honest effort to show the existing barriers to unity but also the way how unity can be sought. Round III. again chose explosive issues, one of them was abortion, the other human rights. A new method of presentation was agreed upon: brief statements, 96 and 156 printed lines respectively, were followed by commentaries from each sode explaining the reasons for agreements and disagreements. The printed publication bears the title Ethnics and the Search for Christian Unity {Washington-Princeton, 1980). The preface over the signature of the two co-chairmen states the principle of approach to the two themes: to treat both problems from the viewpoint of the Christian ecumenist, showing with clarity where there is agreement between the two traditions and with charity where there is disagreement; also, that diversity and unity are not mutually exclusive. The Consultation was not a series of bargaining sessions with the aim to reach a compromise. We were well aware of the painful difference that exist between the two traditions philosophically, theologically, and, consequently in the practice of the Churches and of individual Christians dealing with these neuralgic issues. At the same time, having clarified the underlying reasons for the differences, we better appreciated the many points of agreement. And so we arrived to Round IV. For the first time the Consultation decided to co-ordinate its study with the world level dialogue between the Roman Catholic and the Reformed/Presbyterian Churches (conducted by the RC Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches) which is now going to discuss The Church and the Kingdom of God. The theme of Round IV of the Amrican Consultation is The Church and the Kingdom; Church-State-Society. Again we chose a dual line the emphasis being on modern war and the war and peace traditions of our two traditions, the other on state interference with religion and Church in America. We are now in the middle of this Round IV which means that we are at the stage of research and articulation. At the last session, in March. 1983, delegates from the various Reformed and Presbyterian Churches gave outlines of the positions of their respective denominations in regard to war, just war, nuclear holocaust, peace. The Roman Catholic position paper was the now nationally discussed Pastoral Letter, The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response. At our last session the final (third) draft of the Pastoral Letter was not yet published but we received an advance briefing on it the very day after it was formulated. It comes before the Bishops’ Conference in May. Here is a selection of questions under discussion by our present dialogue: What is the role of the Church in society? Is the Church mediator, seed or sign of the Kingdom? What is our hope as Christians for society? Can(should) must the Church transform society? What is the motive of Christian efforts and what are the appropriate methods of Christian influence on action in society? To what extent can society be equated with the state? What is the scope and what are the limits of legislation in regard to morals and to religion (e.g. abortion, prayer in public schools, financial aid to parochial schools)? We believe these consultations are extremely useful even if they will not bring about organic unity of Christendom in the immediate future. But they do help to abolish bigotry, to strike “anathema” from the Christian dictionary and make Christians of all traditions to look upon each other as brothers and sisters who love Jesus Christ.
