Faith Sharing as Form of Dialogue

Last week’s Shalom was about ecumenism as basically a prayer movement. Before He died Jesus prayed for His disciples and followers that “they all may be one…” (John 17:21).

Sometime in 1910 the Pentecostals began to promote the unity of all those who believe in Jesus Christ. The years that followed saw Christians engaging in dialogue on how this could be realized. So it was dialogue multiplied a thousand over. But not much faith sharing was happening. There are three other forms of dialogue that were more emphasized: 1) dialogue of life, 2) dialogue of collaboration, and 3) dialogue of experts. But dialogue of faith sharing? Not much.

Then the Vatican Pontifical Council for Christian Unity (PCCU) and the Protestant World Council of Churches (WCC) met and agreed to review John 17:21. And the result was the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity celebrated in all Catholic and Protestant Churches all over the world from January 18 to 25 every year. The text of the rites was prepared by a Committee composed of experts from both groups.

It is my hope that this Year of Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue will see a more frequent faith sharing among Christian Churches and faith traditions. This might happen when dialogue is rightly understood as gradual personal sharing of one’s faith in the process of deepening human friendship which is the bottom line of dialogue.