By Marie Mulvenna

Atlantans from all denominations observed the tenth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s decree on Ecumenism with a special evening prayer service at Christ the King Cathedral, Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan presiding.

The Cathedral services concluded an entire day program on ecumenism sponsored by the Religious Unity Commission of the archdiocese held in a seminar at St. Joseph’s Infirmary auditorium. Participating in the program were Father Kevin McMorrow, rector of Atonement Seminary of the Friars of the Atonement; Dr. Horst Albrecht, visiting professor of homiletics and ethics, from the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Preetz, Germany and Warren Toleman, prior of the Ecumenical Institute in Atlanta.

At the Cathedral service, Father McMorrow presented the main address, stating that the future of ecumenism would most likely hinge on how the churches unite to serve the needs of the poor and oppressed of the world. He said world problems were so acute and could no longer be neglected and that the unity of churches in coping with and solving such problems should greatly advance the ecumenical thrust of the past decade. He called on participants to keep Jesus as the core of their lives and “through Him all things happen.”

At the seminar, which was attended by clergy of various denominations, Father McMorrow discussed the meaning of ecumenical dialogue, explaining it was somewhat a phenomenon in the Catholic Church prior to Vatican II but had since been pursued resulting in better understanding by Catholics of the doctrines and histories of other faiths.

Father McMorrow said true dialogue requires not only conversation but listening, questioning, readiness to be questioned, an attitude of sympathy and openness to others. “Basic ecumenical dialogue,” he said, “shows an awareness that those baptized in Christ share many things in common.”

He said the methods and procedures of ecumenical dialogue differ just as do the aims of the dialogues. Some, he explained, are planned to extend over wide periods of time on a large range of subjects while others restrict themselves to selected topics or problems. The immediate aim of all such dialogues he said is “to assess the common situation in which the participating churches find themselves today and to give a mutual presentation of their history and characteristics. They seek to clarify existing difficulties as well as new possibilities in interchurch relations.”

Presenting a critique of ecumenical dialogue to date, Father McMorrow called for the “need to overcome the communication gap,” stating that the results of such dialogues must filter down to the people and the clergy. He pinpointed a gap between pastoral procedures and ecumenical dialogue which, he said, could be closed by keeping track of the theological divergences and keeping people informed.

He listed three main problems as: 1) the need for more structured approach and goals 2) getting the results to the people and 3) how agreements reached in dialogue can be translated into official action by the participating churches.

Father McMorrow said a static, status quo perspective was a “formidable barrier to ecumenical dialogue,” stating frozen, fixed and immutable ideas defeated the entire movement. He called on participants to move from the static to the dynamic, in the “search for the unity.” Ecumenical dialogue is one means of contributing to the resumption of Communion among those churches who glory in the name Christian.”

Dr. Horst Albrecht, a noted specialist in communications who has taught in Roman Catholic seminaries in Germany, responded that those taking part in such dialogue had to look for the differences as well as what they have in common. “We possess some riches in common and our Baptism in Christ but we must go one step further,” he said. “We must find that identity that we are all children of God and He is Lord of all of us.”

Relating to the role of communications, Dr. Albrecht said the mass of church people “do not know what we are talking about.” He urged the use of communications media to evangelize in order for people to “understand what they hear.” Dr. Albrecht also urged Churches to unite to serve the needy and the poor.

Warren Toleman also underlined the need for collaboration in helping the needy, stating “when it comes to painting to help someone you can’t tell the way they hold the brush if they are Methodist, Lutheran or Catholic.” Toleman said he had come to appreciate others’ worship life and said worship life was dynamic when it included the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Toleman called for witnessing and “doing something” not retreating to tradition alone or becoming a defender of the status quo. “Let’s find unity includes the Father, Son and Holy spirit but also rejoice in our particular thrust.”

The afternoon portion of the all-day seminar focused on ministry in ecumenical perspective with Father McMorrow referring to a past joint statement signed by Pope Paul VI and the Archbishop of Canterbury which declared their intention of initiating “a serious dialogue which, founded on the Gospels, and on ancient common traditions, may lead to that unity in truth, for which Christ prayed.”

He referred to conversations in the United States “to better understand the attitude of our separated brethren and more aptly present our own belief.’ As the result of many dialogues on ministry. Father McMorrow said there was general recognition of several points related to ministry 1) all recognize the sacramentality of ministry 2) apostolic succession, with some division still present on some aspects of that topic 3) the indelible character of ministry in terms of a life-long charge of witnessing to the Gospel. 4) special ministry which is understood as part of the general ministry of the church, a ministry existing within the priesthood of all believers that serves to unite and order the New Covenant People for its task of self-sanctification and Christianization of the world at large.