Review: Reshaping Ecumenical Theology

From The Living Church-

One of the Church of England’s leading ecumenists, Dr. Paul Avis, general secretary of the Council for Christian Unity and Canon Theologian of Exeter, has given us another fine book on today’s ecumenical movement. He is absolutely frank about the enormous problems we face in the search for Christian unity today, but passionate about pursuing the “full, visible unity” of the Church for the sake of its mission.

Avis begins by acknowledging and even celebrating the diversity of Christianity which has been present since its inception, but asks an important question: “When does multiplicity become fragmentation?” (p. vii). As the chapters unfold he introduces the centrality of mission into the discussion, making it clear that he does not see unity and mission as separate, or even complementary, activities but as two sides of the same coin.

One of the refreshing things about this book is its realism as to what unity means and how we can reach it, for “the days of ecumenical pipedreams are now over” (p. ix). Avis has written extensively over the years on achieving unity “by stages,” moving from an initial process of interaction which produces greater mutual understanding, through formal theological dialogues, to the mutual acknowledgement of one another as “churches,” to searching for concrete forms of cooperation, even finally the possibility of collaborative episcope (pastoral oversight), perhaps the final stage before full, visible unity.

While Anglicans have traditionally seen the historic episcopate as serving to enhance the unity of the Church, the question is sometimes asked in ecumenical circles (and Avis asks it in his Chapter 7) whether episcopacy really is a focus of unity or a cause of division. Setting the episcopal office firmly in the context of mission, the author argues convincingly that episcopacy has an important role in the very nature of the Church and in each of its four “notes” — unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2010/12/2/review-reshaping-ecumenical-theology