July 19, 2009:

Ponderings of a Pilgrim PASTOR

“Christian Unity in the New Millennium”

            The first part of the twentieth century was a time of unions and reunions among Christian churches.  Councils of Churches were formed  -  local, state, national and world  -  which brought together diverse Protestant and Orthodox churches.  Significant theological dialogue took place which revealed that we had more in common as Christians than we may previously have thought.  We found meaningful ways to cooperate in missionary efforts abroad as well as social service projects at home.  Unions of churches took place such as our own United Church of Christ.  There were also re-unions of churches that had been divided since the Civil War.

            If you had asked someone in 1960 what he or she thought would come next, they might well have responded:  “Sooner or later, all the divided Christians churches will be united in one Universal Christian Church.  At least, most of them will be other than the most conservative Protestant churches.”  But that didn’t happen, did it?

            The World, National, and various state Councils of Churches are shadows of what they once were.  The famous “God Box” in New York City built to house many of the various denominations’ offices, now stands largely empty as denominations  -  including our United Church of Christ  -  scattered to establish headquarters in different parts of the country.  Most communities are like Chattanooga with no local council of churches.  Christian unity is very much on the back burner for nearly all Christians these days.

            Some applaud what has happened, believing that the attempt to establish Christian unity was as arrogant as the attempt to build the Tower of Babel.  Only God can bring unity, they say, not human beings.  Others  -  and I include myself  -  believe that while there was a measure of pride and elitism in the efforts to promote Christian unity, the goal of unity is still incredibly important.  As someone observed years ago, “How can a divided Church speak to a divided world?”  If Christians can’t unite, what hope is there?

Love,  Pastor Dave