Preface

Abstract

It was my great joy to serve as Dean of the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) in conjunction with the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC). I left this exciting event with a fresh spirit of hope for the future of the ecumenical movement and am delighted that the Ecumenical Review has agreed to do this special issue as a way to share some of the fresh perspectives growing out of this event with the wider Christian family. Our hope and dream in GETI was not only for an event in Korea (as significant as that was) but rather that this event will plant the seed for “the future of ecumenism and the transformation of world Christianity in the 21st century” (as we subtitled the GETI). Publications such as this special edition of The Ecumenical Review are only the beginning of a wider dialogue and a deeper building of ecumenical community that will be part of the tapestry of ecumenism in the 21st century. This tapestry represented in GETI has many threads that we began to weave together in Busan. The creative mixture of academic study of ecumenism, participation in the WCC assembly, encounter with Asian and Korean Christianity, and the rich intercultural dialogue among our students and faculty from different cultures, genders, nationalities, and confessions made GETI a tremendous formation event for the next generation of leaders in the ecumenical movement. The fabulous hospitality of Korean Christians and the experiential learning opportunities, such as our visit to the Martyrs' Monument in Gwangju, also gave us a living laboratory of the power of ecumenism in the lives of Christians who both prayed and lived the assembly theme, “God of life, lead us to justice and peace.” We came away from Korea convinced that this is the way to do ecumenical formation. Now we seek to deepen this experience as we engage the important question of the future of the ecumenical movement. GETI was … a forum for discussion where none had to give up his or her own identity, but could still engage in ecumenical dialogue towards visible unity of the church. On the basis of this experience we have come to the conclusion that there is a great need for theological education pursued in an ecumenical and dialogical way. We recognise the significance of a forum like GETI for the formation of future ecumenical leaders and we call on the WCC for the continuation of the GETI as part of its programme. The reflections found in this issue of The Ecumenical Review represent important dimensions of the theological content of the emerging ecumenical movement. They are also supported by an emerging ecumenical community begun by those who were privileged to share in this event in Seoul and Busan. Evaluations of the experience in GETI (overwhelmingly positive) show that while the lectures, many of which are printed here, were very valuable, they were not the most valuable dimension of the GETI experience. What was clearly valued the most was the opportunity for students and younger theologians, in the smaller seminar groups, to share experiences and learn from one another. These students came from an incredible diversity of communions, nations, genders, races, and social locations but shared a common passion for the unity and mission of Christ's church. This is the building block for ecumenism in the 21st century! What is important going forward is to replicate opportunities like GETI in all parts of the world. Bringing together the most promising students, younger pastors, and emerging theologians to reflect on the future of ecumenism academically, experientially, interculturally, and in encounter of living expressions of places where God is leading us to justice and peace is the key to ecumenical formation and to a vital ecumenical movement for the 21st century. I am encouraged that the WCC through Ecumenical Theological Education (ETE), the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, and other new initiatives seems committed to placing ecumenical formation at the centre of its priorities for the period ahead. Partners from seminaries and theological institutions in North America are meeting in April 2014 to explore how we might together build upon this model to place ecumenical formation at the centre of theological education in our part of the world. I know that similar initiatives are being considered in other parts of the world, and that is a sign of an emerging movement. Also encouraging is the initiative of the students at GETI, who are creating an ongoing network for continued communication through Facebook and other means, for sponsoring ecumenical work and discussion events, and for advocacy for the priority of ecumenical formation for the emerging generation of leaders in our churches. GETI is only a step but a very important step, toward the renewal of the ecumenical vision for the 21st century. This is a time when ecumenism is needed more than ever but when older patterns of ecumenical life no longer seem adequate for the challenges we face. New patterns of ecumenical life must be created in the image of a God who “makes all things new,” and GETI is an important first step in that direction. I am grateful for all that GETI achieved in Korea last autumn, but I am even more excited for how these concepts will bring new life, hope, and momentum to the ecumenical future in years ahead. Clifton Kirkpatrick is Visiting Professor of Ecumenical Studies and Global Ministries at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, U.S.A., a former President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and former Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).