Dialogue with Other Christians

+CMOC and Dr Rowan Williams 345px

Like any family, the Church has several branches. Each is different (Roman Catholic, Methodist, Anglican to name but a few) but all share a common source: Jesus Christ. In the past, as in the best of families, we’ve been divided.

Ecumenism (unity or cooperation with other Christian churches) is about healing and forgiving the quarrels of the past, so we can all work together as a united witness to our shared faith in Christ. It’s about acknowledging our faith differences, but celebrating the fact all co-exist within the family of Christ.

For more information visit our Dialogue and Unity page

The Search for Christian Unity

The Search for Christian Unity was published in 2002 and is a shortened version of the Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism which was issued by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in 1993.

Not only does it give the Vatican II teaching on ecumenism (especially in the Decree Unitatis Redintegratio), but it also gathers together the teaching, legislation and guidance issued since that time by successive Popes, the Holy See and the Code of Canon Law.

This shorter version focuses mainly on those parts of the 1993 Directory judged by the editors to be of more immediate concern to clergy and laity at ‘grassroots’ level, and tries to present the material in a way which is both accurate and readily accessible. In preparing the text we also consulted with our ecumenical partners via the Theology and Unity Group of Churches Together in England.

Read/download

The Search for Christian Unity