Receptive Ecumenism
This is a term you'll find being bandied around, especially when people are talking about spiritual ecumenism.
It sounds complicated but, in essence, receptive ecumenism is simple. As we engage with people who belong to Churches not our own, we often focus on what gifts our own tradition can add to the ecumenical treasure trove. That's important. But receptive ecumenism goes further. Instead of looking at what we can bring, our strengths, perhaps, it invites us to look at the gifts and strengths of others, to notice what we can learn or receive from them.
A major conference, part sponsored by Churches Together in England, focussed on this topic at Ushaw College, Durham, early in January 2009. It was a follow-up to the conference three years previously in the context of the award of an honorary doctorate to Cardinal Kasper by Durham University.
Useful links:
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Receiving gifts
A new leaflet, designed to help Churches Together groups and others to reflect on the gifts we receive from others.
Click the image to download
Its sister leaflet, which contains notes for group facilitators, is here:
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