RESOURCING THE CHURCH FOR ECUMENICAL MINISTRy A ...

3. In most churches, when they have a history of
cooperation ecumenically, it is energized by a
relatively small group. Deaths and migration
can kill these efforts almost overnight.
4. When denominational loyalty is ebbing, a
vision like that within our tradition of a
gathered community around a common table
loses out to people’s loyalty to a local church. If
they don’t care about the denomination, then
ecumenical conversations are probably not seen
as of critical importance. On the other hand, if
people don’t identify themselves by
denominational labels, is that a bad thing?
Maybe they have already boiled it down to the
essentials and are not bothered by what they see
as denominational details.
5. If a congregation or a lead minister has been
burned in a cooperative effort, the likelihood
of them trying it again is slight at best.
6. If denominational loyalty is slanted towards our
aging membership, then so is meaningful
conversation about ecumenical relationships.
Denominational connection gives us a baseline
Lofton • Ecumenism for the Local Church
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for shared values and for differing beliefs. If
that goes away, does the methodology for
conversation also go away?
On the other hand, if people don’t
identify themselves by denominational
labels, is that a bad thing?
Like many of you, I have committed the last several
decades to building local congregations, and when
the opportunity presented itself I have actively
pursued ecumenical and interfaith conversations
and activities. But I have also come to realize that the
circle of leadership energized and willing to give
leadership to those kinds of initiatives is small, and
in many communities, disappearing. Do I have
hope for the future of cooperation? Absolutely! Are
we at the beginning of something new and exciting?
I would love it. But, it also appears that this is a very
fragile jewel that could easily be lost in the noise of,
and desire for, local church and institutional
survival. If it dies in our generation, we and all those
who come after us will be poorer for it.