Ecumenism is more than just a fun word to throw around at a dinner party to sound smart – it’s a holy practice of being open to the way God is at work in those who believe and worship in ways different than us. One of the first things I was told when I began my ecumenical studies was that the point is not to make you convert to another tradition or faith, but to fall more in love with your own tradition while celebrating the practices of others. In other words, when we invite the sacred practices of others into our lives, our love for God and our neighbors grows as United Methodists.
Making these deep and meaningful connections can be difficult, though, if you don’t know where to start, so here are five ways to get involved in ecumenism:
- Get to know the other religious leaders in your area.
If there isn’t an active clergy group in your town, then start one! Invite other religious leaders for regular meetings and find a unifying mission that you can all partner on. Note that one common hurdle for this is that in many areas, there are many more Christian leaders then that of other faiths, making it difficult for non-Christian leaders to feel included. Be intentional about making sure there’s room for all voices! - Engage in ecumenical and interfaith worship regularly.
Partner with other churches for Christian services like for that of Holy Week or with other faiths for special services like for Thanksgiving. Include practices like the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (which is in January every year), the National Day of Prayer, or the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle in your worship. Invite clergy from denominations that with which United Methodists have Full Communion Relationships to lead communion and use it as an opportunity to educate your congregants. - Attend United Methodist Ecumenical Interreligious Trainings (UMEIT).
Did you know that the Council of Bishops offers a variety of Ecumenical Trainings? Some have in-person elements, are age-restricted, or have applications for participation, but there is something for everyone – including online gatherings and courses. - Attend or sponsor others to attend conferences related to this work.
You may be surprised to learn how many others are invested in this work! Every year, organizations like the National Workshop of Christian Unity and Nati-Reti have gatherings, as does the World Council of Churches (of which the Methodist Church is a founding member). Every five years, the World Methodist Council has a robust conference somewhere around the world! - Take a trip!
Connect with the local Rabbi or Imam and attend one of their services with some of your congregants, pulpit swap with another religious leader, or send a group of your congregants to attend a different church one Sunday. A great tool for helping new members or confirmands identify similarities and differences between United Methodists and other denominations is to have them worship with another tradition and talk about what they observed.
Ecumenical and interreligious commitments are a gift to our spiritual selves and can be a gift to the local church. In a world that seeks to divide us, may we find the spark of the Spirit in God’s invitation to joy in connection!
Rachel is a member of GNJ’s Committee on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and is serving as the Young Adult Delegate for the World Methodist Council. As a graduate of the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, she is passionate about how working alongside those of other traditions and faiths deepens our spiritual roots of God’s divine calling.
Photo by Timothy Scahill on Unsplash