“Christian unity is not an option we can take or leave, it’s God’s demand and God’s promise,” the president of the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta said Sunday at a Christian Unity Service at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Dr. Bevel Jones, council president and pastor of First Methodist Church, Decatur, told his audience: “To one extent we manifest unity Christ is glorified; to the extent we are separated Christ agonizes.”

“Why should anyone believe Christ is the hope of the world, when the Church has a broken body? The world will more readily believe the Gospel when reconciliation becomes more of a reality,” the speaker said.

Dr. Jones said the Church cannot win its battle against iniquity with scattered regiments. “We must march as a body.”

Tracing the revolution in the world, Dr. Jones said, “Breakthroughs are a dime a dozen. We have broken the sound barrier, the space barrier and we are living in the greatest revolution the world has ever known. And, it’s just beginning.”

“What about this ferment? There is a new spirit among the People of God. People of various faiths and tongues are beginning to communicate with each other. In a half century we have moved from mutual toleration to mutual appreciation.”

“Charity is beginning at last in the household of God, reconciliation is taking place among Christ’s own.”

Dr. Jones said it is wise to pursue ecumenical efforts without haste. He warned against those who extol unity for its own sake, who clamor for ecumenism.

“We are not seeking a monolithic pattern. We are seeking spiritual unity and common denominators of concern,” Dr. Jones said.

In welcoming the group to the cathedral, Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin said that Peter told Jesus at the Transfiguration: “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”

He said the same could be said about the service. “We come here in humility and love to acknowledge our solidarity as children of a common father. May our prayers be a token of our love of God and each other and may the bonds that link us become even stronger.”

Dr. William Geren, pastor of Dogwood Hills Baptist Church, East Point, and Dr. A.S. Dickerson, pastor of Central Methodist Church, Atlanta, read sections from scriptures.

Father Matthew Kemp, priest-secretary of the Archdiocesan Religious Unity Commission, led the Litany of Reconciliation.

Dr. Jones said the objective of the unity service was to seek greater understanding and cooperation among Christians.

He pointed out in written comments in the service program that the cathedral has been one of more than 200 participating churches.

The service marked the third consecutive year that Atlanta churches have observed the Week of Prayer of Christian Unity.