"Today, two experts on each side of that Catholic/Lutheran divide say what they detect in the trenches is an “astounding” thirst for unity.
Kathryn Johnson, director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said at a recent ELCA assembly, that spirit was strong.
“The depth of yearning people expressed in our decision-making body, which is sixty percent lay
people, caught us by surprise,” she said. “People want us to move forward on this, because it comes into their daily lives.
“I think the visibility of this anniversary offers us an opportunity to say, ‘We are not where we were, and we do not want to stay where we are. We want to go forward,’” Johnson said.
“The depth of that feeling from our people, I think, astounded us,” she said.
Sister Susan K. Wood, a member of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas, a theology professor at Marquette and a veteran leader in Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, said that joint commemorations of the Reformation anniversary may mark a turning point.
“Before this commemoration, people used to speak of an ‘ecumenical winter.’ It was like ecumenism was dead on the rocks,” Wood said. “What’s happened, I think, is this commemoration has moved us into a springtime, where people care about Lutheran/Catholic relationships.
I think it’s affecting people because every diocese is having some kind of commemoration together,” Wood said, “and it’s putting ecumenism back on the map in a way that it wasn’t before for ordinary folks.” CRUX
............ his deadly wound was healed:...Revelation 13:3
Kathryn Johnson, director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said at a recent ELCA assembly, that spirit was strong.
“The depth of yearning people expressed in our decision-making body, which is sixty percent lay
“I think the visibility of this anniversary offers us an opportunity to say, ‘We are not where we were, and we do not want to stay where we are. We want to go forward,’” Johnson said.
“The depth of that feeling from our people, I think, astounded us,” she said.
Sister Susan K. Wood, a member of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas, a theology professor at Marquette and a veteran leader in Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, said that joint commemorations of the Reformation anniversary may mark a turning point.
“Before this commemoration, people used to speak of an ‘ecumenical winter.’ It was like ecumenism was dead on the rocks,” Wood said. “What’s happened, I think, is this commemoration has moved us into a springtime, where people care about Lutheran/Catholic relationships.
I think it’s affecting people because every diocese is having some kind of commemoration together,” Wood said, “and it’s putting ecumenism back on the map in a way that it wasn’t before for ordinary folks.” CRUX
............ his deadly wound was healed:...Revelation 13:3
