Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jan/91

Contributor - Rev. W. Kroon

Title - Praying for Christian Unity

Topic - Church In The World

Christian Unity is important to the Church. It is important for we are told that our Master prayed that we all be one in order that the world may believe that God has sent Him to us (John 17:21). We also seek unity for the simple reason that we accomplish little or nothing in disunity.

The Reformed Church has played an important role in the search for unity among denominations. Many of our leaders have been on the forefront in the search for unity. The Reformed Church also supports the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which will be held January 20 - 27, 1990.

However, as I reflect on the above I ask myself- What do we have in mind as we pray for unity? What kind of unity do we seek? and how do we seek to accomplish unity among believers? I ask this for is seems that, some believers promote one thing while others seem to promote something entirely different.

The Ecumenical Movement

During the past forty years various Ecumenical Synods, Councils and Fellowships have come into being to promote unity. Some of the better known organizations are the World Council of Churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and The Reformed Ecumenical Synod. Two of the best known national organizations are the Canadian Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

There was a time that many of the leaders in the ecumenical movement hoped and prayed that through common study, worship and action, member denominations might eventually merge. Some of this has happened with the formation of the Church of South India and some may still happen in the Netherlands where the Reformed and the Christian Reformed Churches seek to become one in the foreseeable future. However, this is no longer perceived as a realistic goal. In other words the more than 300 denominations that belong to the World Council of Churches have no intention of becoming one super church.

I firmly believe that as long as there are divisions in the Church of Jesus Christ there will always be a need for organizations such as the Canadian and World Council of Churches. These organizations have been instrumental in bringing church leaders together for worship, prayer and dialogue. Minor and major conflicts between denominations have been solved before they became major sources of irritation. Even many of the smaller evangelical denominations in the world feel that their needs and concerns are being taken seriously by the World Council of Churches. Consequently, six more denominations have sought membership in the WCC at its upcoming Assembly, to be held in Canberra, Australia, on February 221, 1991. Some of these include the Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola, the Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Baptist Association of El Salvador, and the Free Pentecostal Mission Church of Chile. These evangelical churches from the southern part of the globe will strengthen the voice from the Third World in the WCC.

Unity through the work of Coalitions

There are a number of Christian leaders in Canada who believe that the best way to promote unity is through involvement in the work of the coalitions. Coalitions are action groups made up of men and women from various denominations to promote a common cause. In this case their aim is to fight injustice in our society. Some of these coalitions are dealing with Human Rights in Latin America, with Economic justice, the place of women in the work force, with Aboriginal Rights and the plight of refugees.

These groups have made many contributions to the Church here in Canada. Even the Canadian government often consults them before it takes action on matters under discussion. They have often spoken with a prophetic voice and therefore merit support. These coalitions however, have a tendency to work in isolation and overlook the importance of the vertical aspects of the Gospel such as mission, worship and personal devotion.

Unity through solving Denominational Issues

In a recent article in Christian Week it was pointed out that many denominations that belong to the evangelical wing of the Church see the struggle for unity as an effort to overcome divisions within the denomination. For them a prayer for unity is a prayer for internal healing, for reconciliation and for a greater toleration for those who hold different points of view. All these denominations seem to be divided over different issues. For instance, the Free Methodists and Nazarene churches struggle with "holiness" issues, the Christian Reformed Church with the ordination of women, the Mennonites with pastoral leadership over against the leadership of the congregation.

The large Southern Baptist Church in the US is also sailing through troubled waters. Whatever they are fighting about they seem to put the blame on their clergy for what is happening. It is reported that they have fired 2000 pastors in an 18 month period. They too need to pray for unity.

As I reflect on the above I come to the conclusion that in the years to come we need the ambition, the insight and the contributions of the various groups mentioned previously. I believe that the church is best served if these groups, with their different focuses on unity, listen to each other and appreciate each other's contributions.

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