ECUMENISM, EAST AND WEST

Archbishop [of Canterbury] Justin Welby was in Istanbul at the invitation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who as Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome occupies the First Throne of the Orthodox Christian Church.

 

In an address, the Archbishop spoke of his commitment to the reconciliation of Eastern and Western churches.
He described Patriarch Bartholomew as "an example of peace and reconciliation, politically, with the natural world", and paid tribute to his historic visit to the installation of Pope Francis I as an expression of this.

"Such reconciliation [is] very dear to my heart and is one of my key priorities," the Archbishop said.
"It is the call of Christ that all may be one so that the world may see. I will therefore be taking back with me the warmth of your hospitality and also, after our discussions today and tomorrow, a renewed and refreshed focus for greater unity and closer fellowship.
"We want to carry the cross of our divisions, but be filled with the hope and joy that comes from the grace and the love of Jesus."

The first question that comes to my mind, given the diversity of practices now apparent in the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Western Protestant traditions, is “How can this happen?”

Happily, that’s really not the most important question.  THE most important question is “Are we open to the Holy Spirit’s empowerment?  Are we willing to allow it to happen?”

We’re not in charge; we’re only (at best) facilitators, or (at worst) impediments.