Global Christian Forum defines six aims

Christian Century, Oct 18, 2000

In the early stages of what they call the Global Christian Forum, 30 officials from Protestant, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal traditions have outlined six "purposes" for a possible international Christian partnership of unparalleled breadth.

Handling "our Christian differences" peaceably, engaging in theological reflection, encouraging greater communication and fostering "relationships that may lead to common witness" were among the proposed goals to emerge from a consultation on September 9-11 at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

The idea of an independent forum to discuss common concerns originated with Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, after the WCC's 1998 General Assembly in Zimbabwe. But the first meeting in Switzerland of interested parties, including Cecil M. Robeck Jr., a Fuller professor long active in Roman Catholic-Pentecostal dialogues, was mostly of World Council--aligned figures, according to Robeck.

"I looked around the room, and I said, 'This is crazy; if they really want to talk with evangelicals and Pentecostalists--not about them--the makeup of the meetings has to change," said Robeck, a Pentecostal who teaches church history and ecumenics at Fuller.

Among those taking part in September's consultation were John A. Rodano of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; David H. Engelhard, general secretary of the Christian Reformed Church in North America; Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim of Aleppo, Syria, and Frances Sunderaraj, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of Asia. Also present were officials of World Vision International, the Church of Norway, the Church of Sweden, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, the Russian Orthodox patriarchate in Moscow and an Anglican archbishop from Kenya.

"As we begin a new century," said a letter inviting participants to the meeting, "it strikes some of us that this might be an opportune moment in which to explore some new possibilities with new partners."

The fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe, the secularization of Western culture and the persecution of Christians in several countries raise new problems and possibilities, the letter said. "In India, for instance, the recent tensions have brought Christian communities from very different traditions closer to one another."

Besides an effort "to deepen commitment to God's mission in the world" and to enhance understanding of its "contemporary expressions," the forum's proposed aims seek to calm ecclesiastical conflicts: "To pursue principles and practices that would enable us to handle our Christian differences and distinctives creatively and peaceably."

Citing John 17:21 and 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 as guideposts for cooperative mission and reconciliation, another purpose approved was: "To strengthen the wholeness of the church by encouraging communication and cooperation."

The consultation, hosted by Fuller President Richard Mouw, was marked by "unambiguous goodwill," said Robeck, one of three steering committee members.