RESOURCING THE CHURCH FOR ECUMENICAL MINISTRy A ...

Contextual and Local
Ecumenism
Christopher B. Morton
Rev. Christopher B. Morton, is the Executive
Director of Associated Ministries in Tacoma Washington.
It was truly a pleasure to study with Dr. John Poebe,
who was, at the time, if I remember correctly, the
director of Bossey Institute. During the course on
ecumenism taught by Dr. Poebe at LTS, I remember
him saying distinctly that at the core of ecumenism
is relationships. Through all of the studies of
Scripture demonstrating God’s desire for unity,
growing in my understanding of words like koinonia,
syncretism and dialogue, it was made clear that at
heart of it all was relationships. Two key words for
ecumenism, as I learned about it then, were
relationships and dialogue. In fact, it was made clear
that central to dialogue is the willingness of the
people to be vulnerable and open to one another.
To be truly in relationship. Whether bilateral,
multilateral, or interfaith, dialogue is essentially the
genuine encounter with and of the other person. In
his book, Theology by the People, Poebe states, “the
ecumenical movement gets nowhere unless and
until ordinary church people are involved in it,
embrace it and carry the torch for ecumenism.”
That sort of theological grounding of ecumenism,
coupled with my independent study on local
ecumenism with Dr. Michael Kinnamon, has
taught me a few things to keep in mind as God
continues to call me to an ecumenical vocation.
Associated Ministries builds community that is humane,
compassionate, and just. As you can see from the handouts,
the mission statement is lived out by our
primarily becoming a community service agency.
Through an array of more than 25 services, and a
history of incubating significant ministries like
FISH Food Banks, Emergency Food Network,
Pierce County Habitat for Humanity, and Pierce
22
County AIDS Foundation, Associated Ministries
has identified ways that the religious community can
contribute to strengthening the broader communities
where no one else was willing or able to go.
Years ago the 14 emergency sheltering providers of
Pierce County asked Associated Ministries to be the
neutral place where complaints could come to be
resolved, dollars could come to be distributed, and
regulations could be upheld. Today Associated
Ministries has more than seven housing and shelter
services, including the management of more than
$1.5 million in emergency shelter, rental assistance
and utility assistance funding. And we conduct site
visits of all 14 shelters to ensure that they are in
compliance with the federal and state rules and
regulations. While our member congregations are
not directly engaged in that ministry, it is incumbent
upon us at Associated Ministries to
demonstrate to our member congregations how
each time that Laura, our Intake Specialist, answers
the phone, she is responding on behalf of the
churches. Last Tuesday, Laura worked with 97
people who called our dedicated phone line looking
for housing and shelter services, and I am convinced
that every day Laura and the staff in housing and
shelter services literally save people’s lives—maybe
not by providing assistance, but by being in relation
to and with the person who is calling. Not always
mindful of it, but nonetheless on behalf of our 250
member congregations.
Which is all to say that there are significant challenges
facing the local ecumenical organization.
The gap between the constituting members (that is,
congregations and judicatories) and local and
regional ecumenical organizations continues to
grow, just as the pressing chasm between pulpit and
pew. It’s not a matter of interest, or even desire, but