Abstract
AbstractAgainst the background of the theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity,” this article explores the relevance of “gifts” and “giving” in the context of ecumenical relationships and the role that ethics play in these relationships. Giving, receiving, and giving back in turn are seen as important ethical indicators in three ways. First, in terms of cultural anthropology, they point to the diverse ways in which different cultures understand the human being. Second, gifts denote social structures, status, and how people relate to each other in a wider creative web of relationships. Third, the idea of the gift picks up the central theological concept of God’s grace, freely given. At the heart of the narrative of Jesus and the events of the cross and resurrection is the reconciling and liberating gift and giving of Jesus. Such a non‐sacrificial reading is central to the questions evoked by the theme for the WCC assembly, scheduled for August–September 2022 in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
