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quest for an integrated understanding of unity and mission was clearly expressed in<br />
The<br />
Unity Statement of the 10th assembly. This Statement tries to articulate the unity<br />
the<br />
for the coming years in the light of current developments in the world, in<br />
agenda<br />
and in the ecumenical movement. It says: “The unity of the Church, the unity of<br />
churches<br />
human community and the unity of the whole creation are interconnected. Christ who<br />
the<br />
us one calls us to live in justice and peace and impels us to work together for<br />
makes<br />
and peace in God’s world.”(3) The three layers in the search for unity - church,<br />
justice<br />
community and the whole creation - need to strengthen one another. Although<br />
human<br />
holistic understanding is not entirely new in the ecumenical movement, it helps to<br />
this<br />
for a sound theological understanding of the pilgrimage.<br />
provide<br />
we have embarked on this pilgrimage, further theologicaland ecclesiological<br />
Now<br />
is urgently needed. The metaphor of a pilgrimage is rather new in the<br />
reflection<br />
movement and needs to be developed further as an inspiring concept that<br />
ecumenical<br />
motivate churches and ecumenical bodies to move together. Similarly, the<br />
can<br />
of justice and peace needs further reflection to avoid that secular<br />
understanding<br />
are copied into ecumenical language and approaches without critical<br />
concepts<br />
way of encouraging theological and ecclesiological reflection on the pilgrimage of<br />
One<br />
and peace is to open the conversation with the fathers and mothers of the<br />
justice<br />
movement. Can their experience and insights help us attain a deeper<br />
ecumenical<br />
of our current journey?<br />
understanding<br />
would M.M.Thomas have said about this proposal to begin as ecumenical<br />
What<br />
a pilgrimage of justice and peace?<br />
movement<br />
know his answer we cannot only refer to his major publications, but we need to<br />
To<br />
his own faith journey. After all we are talking about his response to the idea<br />
understand<br />
a pilgrimage, a journey through which we try to discern what the Holy Spirit wants us to<br />
of<br />
about Christian responsibility for promoting justice and peace. What can we learn<br />
tell<br />
Thomas’ theological journeyhe did not start with a fomal theological<br />
Interestingly<br />
He graduated in chemistry and started his career as a teacher at the<br />
education.<br />
Asram High School (1935-1937). During his years as student and later at<br />
Perumpavoor<br />
High School he got in touch with the SCM and the Mar Thoma Youth Union. Being<br />
the<br />
to learn more about Christian faith, he started reading books, whatever was<br />
eager<br />
to him. He began with books which strengthened his spiritual life, from authors<br />
available<br />
Thomas à Kempis, Weatherhead, Baron von Hügel, William Temple, Canon Streeter,<br />
like<br />
Carvie, W.R. Malthey. Through the SCM he also got to know scholars like Reinhold<br />
A.E.<br />
Nicolas Berdyaev, John Macmurray, V.A.Demant and Hendrik Kraemer. These<br />
Niebuhr,<br />
helped him to understand the wider perspective of Christian faith.<br />
thinkers<br />
1984 in a meditation at the Princeton TheologicalSeminary, where he was visiting<br />
In<br />
at that time, he referred to a saying of Hendrik Kraemer that every person<br />
professor<br />
assessment.<br />
from Thomas’ own faith journey?<br />
Towards a theology of prophetic participation
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