On the Possibility of a Soft Ecumenism

Abstract

The Uniting Church has a number of critical ecumenical partnerships with churches overseas. Though UnitingWorld is involves itself in various programs of solidarity and development. Most of this work is carried out in the Asia-Pacific region in keeping with the Basis of Union. At the same time the Uniting Church has committed itself to be a multicultural church. There is not always the same routes present for ecumenical alignment for all diasporic communities back to their churches of origin. That is the case for ministers and members who come from a Middle Eastern backgrounds, even though they provide an obvious link back to biblical lands not found in the prevailing ecumenical models. In the absence of such, following a visit to Lebanon by the then President of the Assembly and Director of UnitingWorld, a pattern of ‘soft ecumenism’ has emerged.  It is dependent upon a network of friends committed to this link. Of critical importance is the role of ministers received into the Uniting Church from this region. They become, in effect, apologists for the Uniting Church, meaning that they find themselves in an in-between role between their communities (both at home and in the original homeland churches) and the Uniting Church. They often need to explain and defend stands made by the Uniting Church and its understanding of faith and practice while they themselves need to negotiate what ministry involves in a church different from their own. In the process of reception there is seldom any interest in what their prior experience has been and in what gifts from a very different context they bring.