Evangelii Gaudiumand the Prospects for Ecumenical Mission

Abstract

Abstract Evangelii Gaudium (EG) is addressed to bishops, clergy, consecrated persons and lay faithful of Catholic Church. It comes out of an internal discussion of the new and devotes considerable space to particular concerns of Catholic Church, such as its pastoral activity, preaching ministry, and devotion to Mary. Out of 288 sections, it devotes only three near end to dialogue. So it would not seem at first sight to offer much prospect for ecumenical mission. However, this impression is deceptive. This article compares EG with main concerns of World Council of Churches' statement on mission and evangelism in changing landscapes, Together towards Life (TTL), which was published earlier same year, and finds a remarkable extent of common ground. It also finds that both documents share an inclusive and holistic understanding of mission/evangelization. ********** Evangelii Gaudium (EG) is addressed to bishops, clergy, consecrated persons and lay faithful of Catholic Church. (1) It comes out of an internal discussion of the new (2) and devotes considerable space to particular concerns of Catholic Church, such as its pastoral activity, preaching ministry and devotion to Mary. Out of 288 sections it devotes only three near end to dialogue (244-246). So it would not seem at first sight to offer much prospect for ecumenical mission. However, this impression is deceptive, first, because of extent of common ground between EG and World Council of Churches' (WCC) statement on mission and evangelism in changing landscapes, Together towards Life (TTL), (3) which was published earlier same year, and second, because of its inclusive and holistic understanding of evangelization. I shall argue that EG shares four-fold mission agenda of TTL, as expressed in its four main sections on practising life-giving mission of Spirit, including marginalized, creating a missionary church, and proclaiming gospel authentically. In each case I shall point to ways in which confluence of EG with TTL gives ground for ecumenical mission. Practising Life-giving Mission of Spirit TTL has a distinctive pneumatological framework. Each of its main sections is titled with a characteristic of Holy Spirit: Spirit of mission, Spirit of liberation, Spirit of community, and Spirit of Pentecost. Moreover, life which is focus of title of document is made synonymous with presence and action of Spirit. Although not quite so prominently, EG is similarly infused with theme of pneumatology: Spirit animates ministry (15), impels evangelization (119, 130), guides evangelizer (14, 139, 119), and nourishes missionary disciple (50, 280). (4) In EG, Holy Spirit is principal agent of evangelization (122), sowing Christian values in society (68), enriching culture (116), penetrating every human situation and all social bonds (178), and bringing about liberation (178, see 197). The Spirit in freedom (279) goes ahead of evangelization, liberating and enlightening non-Christians (254, 265), directing people toward church (47), blazing new trails (105), and enabling response to gospel (112). As Spirit of Christ, Spirit is source of grace that gives hope (84) and confidence (145, 280) and frees us from our self-centredness to evangelize (97). The Spirit raises up communities of evangelism (29), is manifested in works of love (37), and mobilizes loving attentiveness that enables seeking of other's good (199). The Spirit is both source of diversity and also brings about unity (131, 230) by reconciling different parts of church (40, cf. 246) and building harmony between cultures (117). The mission pneumatology of EG comes to a climax in its last chapter, in which spirit of new evangelization is likened to Spirit of Pentecost and Mary is described as its supreme exemplar. …