Tag: Ecumenical news

Summer Ecumenical Institute in Saskatoon, SK

Here is another opportunity for ecumenical conversation in which Mennonites and Catholics have both played a part, in western Canada.

Summer Ecumenical Institute 2009: Telling our story, shaping our future: Christian unity and reconciliation in Canada

June 2-5, 2009 in Saskatoon, SK

The Summer Ecumenical Institute will function as a stock-taking and a vision-building exercise for the grassroots ecumenical community in Canada. 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism. It is also the 50th anniversary of the announcement by Pope John XXIII of the Second Vatican Council, one of whose main aims was the advancement of Christian unity. It is 50 years since our founder, Fr. Bernard de Margerie, received his call to the path of ecumenism. There is much to celebrate!

This conference will be the climax of a year of themed events giving thanks for the past achievements of the ecumenical movement and committing ourselves to Christian unity and reconciliation for the future. Continue reading “Summer Ecumenical Institute in Saskatoon, SK” →

Joint statement by Mennonites and Catholics to WCC Decade to Overcome Violence now available

Following up on their 1998-2003 dialogue and ground-breaking document, Called Together to Be Peacemakers Mennonite and Catholic leaders met together for a brief conference October 23-25, 2007 in order to offer joint suggestions for the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV). The DOV will culminate in an International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) in 2011. In preparation, representatives from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Mennonite World Conference met at the Centro Pro Unione in Rome with the goal of submitting theological reflections that Mennonites and Catholics, committed to overcoming violence, might affirm together as a witness to peace in the ecumenical context. Continue reading “Joint statement by Mennonites and Catholics to WCC Decade to Overcome Violence now available” →

Mennonite delegation well received by Catholic leaders in Rome

News Service
November 5, 2007

Strasbourg, France – Mennonites and Catholics are developing a common
statement to the World Council of Churches (WCC) as it prepares for the
International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in 2011. The convocation,
convened by the WCC, will come as the culmination of the WCC “Decade to
Overcome Violence. Churches seeking Reconciliation and Peace” (2001 – 2010). Continue reading “Mennonite delegation well received by Catholic leaders in Rome” →

Notre Dame Theology Conference now available online

Wish you could have been at the Mennonite-Catholic Theological Conference at the University of Notre Dame late in July?  The conference brought together top Mennonite and Catholic theologians and ecclesial leaders in order to stimulate scholarly interest in Called Together to Be Peacemakers — the final report of the international dialogue between Mennonite World Conference and Vatican representatives — while also providing resources for Catholic and Mennonite ecclesial communities to study and discuss this text in an informed way.

Well now you have another chance.  You can “attend” the conference on-line.  Continue reading “Notre Dame Theology Conference now available online” →

Toronto dialogue group releases report

New on our website is the report of a dialogue group at the Toronto School of Theology. Ten graduate students in theology, half of whom are Roman Catholic and half Mennonite, met together regularly for two years to analyze and discuss Called Together to be Peacemakers, the final report from the international dialogue between Mennonites and Roman Catholics, 1998-2003. Their final report is entitled “Responding to the Call: Reflections on Called Together to be Peacemakers.” It gives particular attention to five themes — authority and the reception of teaching in each tradition, religious liberty, baptism, Eucharist, and peace. The report is available at http://www.bridgefolk.net/theology/dialogue.

Mennonite Central Committee leads ecumenical delegation to Iran

An ecumenical delegation organized by Mennonite Central Committee — the arm of Mennonite churches in North America for relief, development and peacemaking — has just returned from Iran. Among the delegation was David Robinson, executive director of the Catholic peace organization Pax Christi USA. Continue reading “Mennonite Central Committee leads ecumenical delegation to Iran” →

Still more local dialogues in Winnipeg!

In our Bridgefolk Brief last week we provided updates on a number of local dialogues between Mennonites and Roman Catholics that have come to our attention. One of these relayed information from a Canadian magazine concerning a congregation-to-parish dialogue in Winnipeg. As it turns out, this is only the beginning. Dr. Helmut Harder responded with additional information on what’s happening with Catholic-Mennonite dialogue in Winnipeg: Continue reading “Still more local dialogues in Winnipeg!” →

WCC panel on the challenges of dialogue

The following article provides a helpful survey of approaches and issues in interreligious or interfaith dialogue.  While the issues involved in ecumenical dialogue among Christians may be somewhat different, there are many parallels.

Gerald Schlabach
Bridgefolk Executive Director
info@bridgefolk.net
www.bridgefolk.net Continue reading “WCC panel on the challenges of dialogue” →