THIS January week of prayer for Christian unity is intended as a time of renewal in ecumenical life, but there appear to be many who sense that ecumenism is firmly in the doldrums. In Ireland we have come far since the early 1970s when the first "Ballymascanlon talks" were held meetings between Protestant and Roman Catholic church leaders. Those mould breaking gatherings inevitably made the headlines; now they are taken for granted.
The feeling that ecumenism is in the doldrums is perhaps partly due to the fact that, while Christians have come so far, they know they have so much farther to go, and there does not yet appear to be any real impetus for that next stage of growing together.
There can be no doubt that Christians in Ireland, as elsewhere, are looking increasingly to their churches for real opportunities to grow closer in faith and life and in communion with one another. If the churches are unable, to provide ecumenical inspiration, as they did at different stages in the course of this century, they will be left behind by their own people. What inspired one generation seldom inspires the next.
The current state of ecumenism in Ireland nationally is one of considerable co operation. There are no doubt particular local areas where real difficulties persist in inter church relations - and this is certainly true in Northern Ireland, where the peace that is being enjoyed has not meant an end to sectarianism.
THERE is much reconciling work, indeed an enormous mount, still to be done.
What the Irish churches as a whole need to do, however, is to grow from a position of co operation to one of greater mutual commitment. What credit is it, after all, if Christian churches co operate? That is the very least that is to be expected.
Moving from co-operation to commitment involves a change in mindset. It means thinking ecumenically. That change in thinking patterns will come, without doubt, and so too will greater mutual commitment, but how long it takes depends on the willingness of all of us to change.
Pessimism about ecumenical life is perhaps also due to the slowness of movement towards organic church union which is, and must always remain, the ecumenical vision. The 1990 response of the Vatican to the work of the first Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) did not inspire Anglicans, and indeed one feels that neither can it have universally inspired the Roman Catholic Church.
But that is not the end of the matter. The work of ARCIC and of the many other dialogues continues because the search for visible unity can never be surrendered; it is, indeed, the express will of Christ. In fact, in this sacred endeavour there really can be no place for pessimism, let alone any cynicism.
THE 1995 papal encyclical Ut Unum Sint restated in confident terms the Roman Catholic Church's commitment to ecumenism. It also helpfully reaffirmed ecclesial organic union as a fundamental ecumenical goal. Organic union does not prejudge the terms and shape of the one, visible church which is the ecumenical imperative; rather, organic union means discovering new ways of ecclesial living that embody both the unity that is discovered and the diversity that is the real experience.
In terms of Anglican Roman Catholic relations there can be no doubt that this encyclical (which, however, was universal in application) comes as an unambiguous commitment to the principle of dialogue on the Vatican's part. It is welcome because it certainly will bring an added impetus to the ecumenical enterprise, even if one might have wished for something rather more creative than affirmative.
THE initial period of Anglican Roman Catholic dialogue, in ARCIC-I in particular, has been a difficult experience. But it should be recognised that some of the thorniest of issues were addressed by ARCIC-I: eucharistic doctrine, the ordained ministry, ecclesial authority. Very solid foundations were laid here, but the foundations are far from the completed house.
Pope John Paul, in Ut Unum Sint, set forth five areas in which he felt Christian dialogue needs to deepen: (1) the relationship between Scripture and Tradition; (2) the Eucharist; (3) ordination to the threefold ministry; (4) the Magisterium; and (5) the doctrine of the Virgin Mary.
There is immense scope for a deepening of Anglican Roman Catholic dialogue in all of these areas and perhaps the 1998 Lambeth Conference will add to this list. ARCIC clearly still has plenty of work to do and, under the third item in the Pope's list, the issue of women's ordination will be to the fore.
In the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity there is much ecumenical achievement for which to give thanks. Quite apart from the advances in official relations between the churches both in Ireland and globally, and quite apart from the advances in theological dialogue both by Irish theologians and in the international dialogues, there have also been in relatively recent years real advances in practical working together.
There may be those who have had their individual, difficult experiences, but the total picture is without doubt one of steady and sustained growth in inter church relations. It is to be hoped and prayed that all Christians will in this week of prayer discover a deepening of their ecumenical commitment, for the work of ecumenism in truth has only just begun.
