Desert Pilgrimage || April 27-30, 2009—Phoenix, Arizona
Documents
Seminar Audio Recordings
#1 Ecumenism 101
#2 Student Essay Contest
#3 Eucharist
#4 Patristics and the Early Church’s Contribution to Ecumenism
#5 Living the Lund Principle
#6 Capacity of Faith – Latino-Catholic Perspective
#7 Racism as an Impediment to Ecumenism
#8 Can Mormons Be Part of the Ecumenical Movement?
#9 The Ecumenical Implications of Post-Modern Thought
#10 Common Words Among Christians and Muslims
Featured Speakers
Opening Worship
Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick || VIDEO
President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC)
Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick was elected as leader of the worldwide organization of 214 Presbyterian, Reformed and Congregational Churches from 107 nations at the Alliance’s 24th General Council in Accra, Ghana in 2004. For the last twelve years he has served as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and, at the conclusion of his term of service in 2008, was elected by the General Assembly as Stated Clerk Emeritus. On completion of his service as Stated Clerk, Rev. Kirkpatrick has become Visiting Professor of Global Ministries and Ecumenical Studies at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Over the years he has been a major leader in the ecumenical movement in the U.S.A. and around the world. In addition to his leadership with the Alliance, he has been a member of the Central and Executive Committees of the World and National Councils of Churches and one of the Presidents of the U.S. Conference on Religions for Peace. Dr. Kirkpatrick is a graduate of Davidson College, and he received his theological education at Yale University Divinity School and his doctor of ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. In addition, he has been recognized with honorary doctoral degrees from Westminster College, Han Nam University, Silliman University, and Davidson College.
Keynote Address
Metropolitan Gerasimos || VIDEO
Greek Archdiocese of San Francisco
His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos was born in Kalamata, Greece and immigrated to the United
States. He received his B.A. in 1973 from Hellenic College in Brookline Massachusetts and his M.Div in 1976 from Holy Cross School of Theology. He was ordained to the Diaconate in 1979 and was called to serve as Archdeacon to His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, a position he held until 1996. Concurrently, he was appointed Dean of Students at Hellenic College/Holy Cross from 1980 until 1999. As Dean, he became centrally involved in the success of various programs benefiting future priests and also created the “Orthodox Actionline,” the first Archdiocesan telephone ministry directed towards those who do not have substantive ties to the Church. In 1986 he received his Master’s Degree in Counseling and School Psychology at Boston College, after which he entered the doctoral program. He received his Doctorate in Counseling and School Psychology in 1993. His doctoral dissertation is titled, “Intellectual Deficiencies in a Substance Abuse Population.” In 2000, he became Administrative Assistant to the Rev. Nicholas Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College/Holy Cross, a post he held until he was elected Bishop of Krateia by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in December of 2001. He was appointed by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios as Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. On February 22, 2005, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate selected him to be the new Metropolitan of San Francisco, and his Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America presided over the Enthronement
Ceremony at the Ascension Cathedral in Oakland, California
on April 2, 2005.
Morning Bible Study
Dr. Margaret Mitchell || VIDEOS
Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature at the University of Chicago Divinity School.
Dr. Mitchell’s research and teaching span a range of topics in New Testament and early Christian writings in their relationship to the wider Greco-Roman world and literary culture in which they were composed, as well as in the legacies of those texts as sacred scripture for Christian communities in later antiquity and beyond. She is the author of Paul and the Rhetoric of Reconciliation; The Heavenly Trumpet: John Chrysostom and the Art of Pauline Interpretation, and (with Rowan Greer) of The “Belly-Myther” of Endor: Interpretations of 1 Kingdoms 28 in the Early Church. She is also editor (with Frances M. Young) of The Cambridge History of Christianity, Volume 1 (Origins to Constantine). Recent articles include “Origen, Celsus and Lucian on the ‘Dénouement of the Drama’ of the Gospels,” “The Letter of James as a Document of Paulinism?” and “Looking for Abercius: Reimagining Contexts of Interpretation of the ‘Earliest Christian Inscription.’” Prof. Mitchell is currently revising for publication her 2008 Speaker’s Lectures at Oxford University, “The Corinthian Correspondence and the Birth of Christian Hermeneutics,” and preparing a volume of translations of eighteen lesser-known exegetical homilies of John Chrysostom.
Closing Lunch
Rev. Dr. Cecil “Mel” Robeck, Jr. || VIDEO
Professor of Church History and Ecumenics and Director of the David J. DuPlessis Center for Christian Spirituality, Fuller Theological Seminary
Cecil M. “Mel” Robeck, Jr., Ph.D. was an advisory editor to the 48 volume reprint series, The Higher Christian Life, which offers primary sources on the Holiness, Pentecostal, and Keswick movements. For nine years he was editor of Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. He has authored some 200 articles published in a range of historical, theological, and ecumenical journals, periodicals, and denominational magazines. For nearly two decades, Mel has served as an apologist for an interpreter of Pentecostalism in international ecumenical circles. In 2000, Mel offered a course on “Global Pentecostalism and the Ecumenical Challenge” at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, the first time a Pentecostal had been invited to offer any course there. Mel’s historical research centers on the Azusa Street Mission and Revival. Since 1997, he has worked with civic and religious leaders from the Japanese American, the African American, and the Pentecostal communities in Los Angeles as part of the Azusa Street Memorial Committee.
Summary
Monday Highlights From the 2009 NWCU Meeting in Phoenix
as activities get underway.
Once again, Christian leaders who are committed to the quest for greater unity among the Christian denominations are gathering in Phoenix. The meeting is being held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Phoenix.
Registration began this morning (Monday April 27) and nearly 300 persons began gathering for the events that are to following the next four days.
of the Hyatt Regency.
Among those attending, the largest number of attendees were from the following five denominations (listed in order of number of attendees). Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodists and Presbyterians. Also attending were persons from the Armenian Orthodox, Disciples of Christ, Greek Orthodox, LDS, Reformed Church of America, and the United Church of Christ.
During the morning, many of the denomination groups held workshops and planning meetings for their various communions. The Methodists have organized a new Network for Methodists, their attendance is greatly increased.
Monday afternoon – Orientation and Network Events
Monday afternoon saw a continuation of denominational network meetings.
An Orientation for first time attendees at the National Workshop was led by Sister Dr. Lorelei Fuchs (Catholic) and Father Daniell Hamby (Episcopalian). Photo on the right shows that Orientation while it was underway.
NWCU Opening Worship Service
The NWCU Opening Worship Service was held at St. Mary’s Basilica in Downtown Phoenix. Leading the worship service were religious leaders from the local community: the Rev. Dr. Ken Moe (Presbyterian), Bishop Thomas Olmsted (Catholic-Phoenix), Metropolitan Gerasimos (Greek Orthodox), Bishop Minerva Carcaño (United Methodist), the Rev. Dr. Dennis Williams (Disciples of Christ), the Rev. Dr. Jan DeVries, (Presbyterian Synod of the Southwest), Bishop Gerald Kicanas (Catholic – Tucson)and the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer (United Church of Christ).
The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, President of the World Alliance of Reformed (WARC). Prior to his retirement in 2008, Dr. Kirkpatrick served as the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The service included several anthem by Choirs and Musical Performers from the Phoenix area.
Special thanks to photographer J.D. Long-García of the Catholic Sun for photos from the Worship Service.
Tuesday Highlights
National Council of Churches Hosts Breakfast
Tuesday’s activities began with a Breakfast hosted by the National Council of Churches. The breakfast was hosted by nearly all workshop attendees. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of the NCC, brought greetings to the participants in the 2009 NWCU, and introduced the various NCC Staff and Board members were present at the breakfast and at the NWCU. This special breakfast event has become a feature of the NWCU since the Chicago workshop.
Opening Plenary and Keynote Address
In their first Plenary Session, attendees heard the NWCU Keynote Address, which was again sponsored by Order of St. Lazarus. Making the Keynote Address, for the 2009 NWCU, Was Metropolitan Gerasimos, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
Metropolitan Girasimos’s address raised important issues and at the same time challenged participants. In his opening remarks he said, “Where is the common base from which we can rebuild the Body of Christ?”
He reminded us that the task of Christians is to keep the Body of Christ united, and where it is divided, to work for its reconciliation.
NWCU Seminars
Following the Keynote Address, participants took part in the National Workshop Seminar offerings.
Network Luncheons & Network Seminars
Following the NWCU Seminars, attendees took part in luncheons conducted by all of the major Ecumenical Networks Those Networks also held afternoon network events covering a wide range of topics.
Tuesday Evening Eucharistic Celebrations
Tuesday evening, there were two special Eucharistic Celebrations. The Catholic Network CADEIO celebrated the Eucharist at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and took part in a reception that followed.
Episcopal, Lutheran, United Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ & other Reformed participants took part in a Eucharistic Service that was held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. This year (following a rotating pattern) the service followed the liturgy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and was celebrated by ELCA Bishop Steve Talmage, Bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod. The sermon was brought by the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, Southwest Conference Minister, the United Church of Christ. Following the Eucharist, the participants shared in a and rich fellowship at Trinity Cathedral.
Wednesday Highlights
Graymoor Continental Breakfast
Again, the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute graciously hosted another continental breakfast for Workshop Participants. A large percentage of the Workshop attendees gathered for breakfast and table fellowship prior to attending the Plenary Bible Study. Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute director, James Lounghran, welcomed us and reminded us of the new theme for the 2010 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Text, “You are witnesses of these things” Luke 24:48
Plenary Bible Study
Dr. Margaret Mitchell, Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature at the University of Chicago Divinity School, led the attendees in a study in which she shared some of her work on the Corinthian letters. The NWCU Bible Study is sponsored by the American Bible Society which makes a generous gift to help underwrite the cost of our event. Prof. Mitchell is currently revising for publication her 2008 Speaker’s Lectures at Oxford University,“The Corinthian Correspondence and the Birth of Christian Hermeneutics,” She worked to give us an overview of how I Corinthians should be approached and read. She reminded us that the central message is an appeal for Christian Unity in which St. Paul warns that Christ’s Body is being torn “limb to limb.” Paul calls for reconciliation, using the medical term which in Greek refers to the act of re-setting a dislocated limb. Paul warns them that those who destroy the unity of the Body will be destroyed by God.
NWCU Seminars
Following the Bible Study, participants once more took part in the National Workshop Seminar offerings.
Network Luncheons & Network Seminars
Following the NWCU Seminars, attendees again took part in luncheons conducted by all of the major Ecumenical Networks. The LARCUM (Lutheran, Anglican, Catholic & United Methodist) heard a presentation by Father Ron Roberson, CSP, on the topic, Responses to Ut Unim Sint. The Presbyterian Network, EIF-PCUSA held a Luncheon at Historic First Presbyterian Church (located a short distance from the hotel).
Those Networks also held afternoon network events covering a wide range of topics.
- EIF-PCUSA Network, (Presbyterian Church)
- UMEIT (Methodist) Network
Moravian Church Love Feast Celebrated on Wednesday Evening
On Wednesday evening, experienced a Moravian Church Love Feast (a non-eucharistic sharing from a common table). The Love Feast was celebrated at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
Thursday Highlights
Plenary Bible Study
Thursday’s activities began with the continuation of the Bible Study, led by Dr. Margaret Mitchell, Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature at the University of Chicago Divinity School
NWCU Seminars
Following the Bible Study, participants once more took part in the National Workshop Seminar offerings.
Workshop Closing Speaker and Luncheon
The closing address of the National Workshop on Christian Unity was the Rev. Dr. Cecil “Mel” Robeck, Jr., Professor of Church History and Ecumenics and the Director of the David J. DuPlessis Center for Christian Spirituality at Fuller Theological Seminary. Mel Robeck gave a “spirited” analysis of the evolution of Penticostal participation in the quest for Christian Unity. Following Dr. Robeck’s address, participants took part in the Closing Luncheon before many of them departed for their return home.
Post Workshop Activities
For some participants, the Closing Workshop was not the close of their activities in Phoenix. Many remained behind for Network Planning Meetings, the meeting of the National Ecumenical Officers Association, and an all day Friday meeting of the NWCU National Planning Committee. By the time those people had returned to their homes, planning was well under way for the 2010 NWCU that will be held in Tampa, Florida, April 19-22, 2010.