Churches Together in Britain & Ireland & the Centre for Eastern Christianity, Heythrop College
“In Our Time”
An Exploration of the Dynamic Relationship between Christian
Ecumenism and Inter Religious Dialogue, its opportunities and challenges in the
21st Century
12 September 2013, 11.00-16.00
Venue: Heythrop College, 23 Kensington Square, London W8 5HN
Speakers:
Revd Dr Keith Clements
Dr Anthony O’Mahony
Professor Peter Riddell
The Ecumenical
Movement “Oikumene” refers both to the unity of all Christians and also of the
reconciliation of the whole created order. Christians are called to pray for unity, and
work so that the prayer of Jesus might be fulfilled “that they may be one”. However, with some of the enthusiasm for Christian
unity dimmed and with some theologians speaking of “an ecumenical winter”,
there has been some suggestion that the ecumenical endeavour has moved on and
inter religious dialogue has become the fresh urgency. This thinking, however, may be misplaced. Inter religious dialogue, far from replacing
ecumenism, is in fact a dynamic expression of the ecumenical movement that
seeks not only the unity of all Christians but the reconciliation of all
creation to God.
In this day
conference we shall be exploring this theme in greater depth. In particular we will consider the following
questions:
- What is distinctive about Christian
ecumenism and why does it matter? - What does inter religious dialogue
tell us about Christian (ecumenical) self-identity? - How does current Christian thinking
develop and resource itself in a context that is both religiously plural and
ecumenical? - How
ecumenical approaches relate to bi-lateral dialogues between denominations and
faiths.
For further information or to register your attendance, please contact
Revd Peter Colwell peter.colwell@ctbi.org.uk