Receptive Ecumenism
Receptive Ecumenism Workshops for Inter Church Councils and for Congregations/Parishes
If your ICC, Parish, Congregation would like to explore the practical application of Receptive Ecumenism, contact Geraldine Hawkes, SA Council of Churches, sacc1@picknowl.com.au or phone 8215 0300 to discuss how our team can work with you.Booklet
Following the visit of Professor Paul Murray in July 2012, people from across SA Council of Churches felt inspired to keep alive the ‘conversation’ on the promise and potential of Receptive Ecumenism. A booklet has been prepared which contains many insights, wisdom, images and phrases from Paul. We hope that people across the Church, in whatever land, will also feel inspired to action by what they discover in these pages. It is a work-in-progress and all are invited to share the fruits of their deliberations and actions, as we each engage in the way of Receptive Ecumenism, as a source of nourishment on the journey towards our unity in Christ.To download, please click here[1.0 MByte]
Handout
Professor Paul Murray has sent through a copy of the handout for the lecture and the workshops he gave while he was in SA during July 2012. To download, please click here [30.0 KByte]The Promise and Potential of Receptive Ecumenism
24-28 July 2012 - five-day series of Conversations and Presentations held in 7 different venues across South Australia
Presented by Professor Paul D Murray, Centre for Catholic Studies, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University, UK
Participants included:
• Over 215 people from at least 11 different traditions
• Leaders/Heads of 8 different Churches
• Lay and ordained leaders in local congregations
• Theologians, Scripture Scholars, Liturgists, Church Historians…
• Members of bi-lateral dialogues
• Students for Ministry
• Chaplains
• Retired Church Leaders
• Leaders from ecumenical organisations
Key words and phrases:
• Broken sign value
• Healing gifts for wounded hands
• Offering our wounded hands - or offering our best china?
• Run at the horizon and the horizon expands
• Surprised by joy – expectant and penitent joy, realising we are on Holy ground fed by the presence of Christ
• Lean into the Spirit, the agency of the ecumenical journey
• A journey of continuing growth on each side
• Start with the part of the garden we’re responsible for…
• A renewed emphasis on ecumenism
• A renewed insight into the importance of ecumenism
• Learning from as distinct from learning about
• Understanding Receptive Ecumenism – recognising we are on Holy Ground in each other’s presence
• Sharing our woundedness with others
• Introduction of a new concept to me
• The change of thought and new receptive ecumenism is extremely important to the future of our combined Christian faith
• Need for openness
• Importance of Theology of Blessing in the absence of sharing at the table
• Receptive ecumenism is a movement, not a programme
• An understanding of RE as vision and strategy
• Respecting not only other denominations, but the strength of their tradition
• The desire of many more people for ‘eternal’ unity
• RE is not a method or a tool, but ultimately a disposition of the heart
• Receptive ecumenism … as a tool … for my tradition as well as for others
• Starting with what is difficult within my tradition
• Receiving others in ecumenical way of love
• Humility
• Paul’s input new way of looking at ‘problem’ Þ becomes a new way of doing ecumenism
• Reconnection with an interest in ecumenism
• The difference between receptive ecumenism and spiritual cherry-picking
• Anyone can be an ecumenical starter!
• Learning to lean into the Spirit
• How can we sing a new song?
Feel free to share your own insights - contact Geraldine Hawkes
Paper
Sr Elizabeth Young RSM, Coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie, recently spoke with her parish community following the visit of Professor Paul Murray to Port Pirie on 24 July. Please click to read her [11.8 KByte] insights, reflections and hopes
You Tube
Have a look at the clip, prepared by Matthew Stuart, Committee for Local Ecumenism.
Receptive Ecumenism
The essential principle behind Receptive Ecumenism is that the primary ecumenical responsibility is to ask not “What do the other traditions first need to learn from us?” but “What do we need to learn from them?” The assumption is that if all were asking this question seriously and acting upon it then all would be moving in ways that would both deepen our authentic respective identities and draw us into more intimate relationship.
For more information please click here
For Further reading about Receptive Ecumenism
Receptive Ecumenism and the Call to Catholic Learning: Exploring a Way for Contemporary Ecumenism
Edited by Paul D Murray, Durham University
This volume, comprising 32 original essays by a team of internationally recognised scholars from across the Christian traditions, represents the published fruits of the first major Receptive Ecumenism conference in Jan 2006.
20% Discount! $ 41.56 (p/back), $ 107.16 (h/back)
To place an order, contact Oxford University Press - Australia Customer Service Team:
Ph: 1300 650 616 Fax: 1800 813 602 Email:
Quote Discount Code ‘CATHLEARN’ when ordering to receive the 20% discount
Receptive Ecumenism: Governance, Strategy and Finance
Presenter: Geoff Moore, Professor of Business Ethics at Durham Business School, Team Leader for the Governance and Finance Research Team within the Receptive Ecumenism & the Local Church Regional Project.
Geoff briefly outlined the theological background to Receptive Ecumenism and then described the “Receptive Ecumenism and the Local Church” Project which involves six Christian denominations in the north-east of England. In particular, he reported on the findings from the Governance, Strategy and Finance theme that he has been leading.
For more information about Geoff and the Project, have a look at Faith & Leadership
The Powerpoint presentation is available, please contact South Australian Council of Churches sacc@picknowl.com.au or phone 8215 0300 to get a copy.
South Australian Council of Churches
Receptive Ecumenism - An exchange of gifts
Many of us recognise that the ecumenical context has changed.
Rev Dr Denis Edwards explores with us how the primary ecumenical responsibility is to ask not "What do the other traditions first need to learn from us?" but "What do we need to learn from them?"
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 1 Peter 4:10
Receptive Ecumenism - Denis Edwards
Receptive Ecumenism - A response