January Focus - Unity

Praying For Unity

The latest spasm in the forward movement of the Church occurred this summer and fall in the affirmation and then the consecration of the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. Bishops of the Church from Texas to Africa and Asia have raised alarm.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the formal head of the Anglican Communion of which the Episcopal Church in the United States is a part. Although he holds no authority outside the Church of England, the member churches of the Communion look to Canterbury as a symbol of their unity.

In November 2003 he issued a formal response to the consecration of the Bishop of New Hampshire. He said,

The divisions that are arising are a matter of deep regret; they will be all too visible in the fact that it will not be possible for Gene Robinson's ministry as a bishop to be accepted in every province in the communion.

It is clear that those who have consecrated Gene Robinson have acted in good faith on their understanding of what the constitution of the American church permits. But the effects of this upon the ministry and witness of the overwhelming majority of Anglicans particularly in the non-western world have to be confronted with honesty.

The autonomy of Anglican provinces is an important principle. But precisely because we rely on relations more than rules, consultation and interdependence are essential for our health.

The Primates meeting last month expressed its desire to continue as "a communion where what we hold in common is much greater than that which divides us". We need now to work very hard to giving new substance to this, and to pray for wisdom, patience and courage as we move forward.

His words are a plea for the unity of the Church. This has been the central challenge of the Church since its very beginning. The history of the Church can easily be read in terms of risks to its unity. One or two examples will be sufficient.

Beginning with the Book of Acts division threatened the Church. The issue involved debate between the "Hellenists" -- Greek speaking Jews from the Diaspora and the "Hebrews" - Jews who lived near Jerusalem. The Hellenists believed they were being treated as second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God. The resolution of the dispute led to the institution of the deaconate, under the leadership of Stephen, the first martyr of the Church. (Note: Stephen as the first martyr of the Church, was not martyred by the Church. This unfortunate practice would come later.)

Following the apostolic period threats to the unity of the Church continued. Two unique spiritualities came into conflict with one another, one centered in Alexandria of Egypt, the other centered in Antioch of Syria. The Alexandrians were much more philosophical and mystical in their faith. The Antiochians were much more concrete and practical. The Church in Alexandria tended to emphasize the divinity of Christ. The Church in Antioch tended to emphasize the humanity of Christ. The debate led eventually to resolution in the careful drafting (and compromise) that is the Nicene Creed.

A commitment to unity is an essential feature of Christian faith. Covenant making and keeping is the very heart of what the Church is about. Jesus died on a cross to manifest the Creator's commitment to keep covenant and maintain unity with the Creation.

Union always involves the embrace of "the other." Differentiation is as fundamental a quality of unity as the bond. Where there are no distinctions, there can be no union. Where there are no diverging points of view, differences of opinion, even profound value conflicts - unity comes cheap. Such an easy unity hardly requires the death of a savior.

The Book of Common Prayer includes a collect for the Unity of the Church.

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one: Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. . . .

This prayer rises out of John 17 and the prayer Jesus prayed before his betrayal and crucifixion. Even before Jesus completed his ministry, he knew enough about his disciples to know that they were going to have trouble getting along. He knew this would be a perennial issue. He is careful to even pray for disciples of the distant future.

Unity in the Church does not come through assent to core doctrine, although it is important for the Church in every generation to struggle with the content of belief. Unity in the Church does not come through a general feeling of good will, although we are twice blessed when our shared faith is accompanied by feelings of good will.

Genuine unity in faith only comes through prayer. The last thing Jesus did before he died was not to write a theological manual. He prayed for his disciples that they might be one, even as he and the Father are one.

No phrase is as divisive as the challenge, "I'm right; you're wrong." No phrase is as unifying as the invitation, "Let us pray."

Monthly Focus Archive

2006:

Easter Focus: New Covenant
Lenten Focus: A Covenantal Response to Poverty
February Focus: Moving Forward

2005:

December Focus: Longing
November Focus: The Gift of Years
October Focus: Stewardship
September Focus: Foundations
Summer Focus: The Book of Acts
Easter Focus: Tapestry
Lenten Focus: Rule of Life
January Focus: The Next Wave

2004:

December Focus: Surprising Grace
November Focus: Free Indeed
October Focus: Money Madness
September Focus: The Outrageous Promise
Summer Focus: Into the Fullness
June Focus: Thick Faith
Easter Focus: All Things New
Lent Focus: A Hungry World
February Focus: Commitment
January Focus: Unity

2003:

December Focus: Hope
November Focus: Worship
October Focus: Stewardship
September Focus: Seasons of Faith
Summer Focus: The Gospel of John
May Focus: Faith
April Focus: Resurrection
March Focus: Truth
February Focus: Covenant Groups
January Focus: Sabbath

2002:

December Focus: Shut Up and Sing
November Focus: Spiritual Gifts
October Focus: Stewardship
September Focus: Intentional Faith