Folia Canonica 4. (2001)
STUDIES - John D. Faris: A Canonical Examination of the Acquisition, Consequences and Loss of Membership in a Church - A Catholic Perspective
MEMBERSHIP IN A CHURCH 153 Conclusion As we participate in this 13th Internationa] Congress of the Society for the Law of the Eastern Churches, we should be aware that our next congress will probably occur on the eve of the third millennium. We are cognizant that the Church has been divided for virtually all of the second millennium and ought to be sensitive to the harm that has come from such division. Perhaps, if we derive anything from this congress it will be an awareness of our common membership in the Church and the ecclesial identity of the communities to which we belong. To require Christians to defend their status as Christians or the right of their churches to exist - in the face of denial by other Christians - is counterproductive and demoralizing to any ecumenical effort. Instead, let such issues be presumed and let us move forward as members of the one Church of Christ.
