The Hope of Our Calling || April 16-19, 2012—Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Documents
Seminars
- The Art of Ecumenical and Religious Exchange
Fr. Leo Walsh (Catholic)
Fr. Leo Walsh Being involved in ecumenism and/or interfaith activities is an art as well as a science. This seminar provided the basics needed to be an effective Ecumenical/Interreligious officer informed “lay person.” Topics include a “Five-Minute History of the Modern Ecumenical Movement”; “The WCC and Vatican II”; and “Current Theological and Practical Issues.” The workshop leader was Pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Anchorage, and formerly the Interreligious Specialist at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- Reading Each Others’ Scriptures
The Rev. Darryn Hewson (United Methodist), Rabbi Abby Jacobson and Imam Imad Enchassi
The Rev. Darryn Hewson , Rabbi Abby Jacobson and Imam Imad Enchassi What is distinct about how different faith traditions use and understand their scriptures? What do they have in common? And what can we learn from one another? This seminar provided an enriching exploration of how Jews, Christians, Muslims and others view their sacred texts and apply them to their life in community and in the world.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- Ecumenical Advocacy
Shirley Cox (Catholic) and Richard Klinge (Catholic)
Richard Klinge There are times when it is important for the church to speak out on important issues before the legislature. This seminar provided an overview of how bills become laws and gives practical advice about the best possible times and ways to advocate ecumenically. Shirley Cox is the Legal Services Developer for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Richard Klinge is Associate Director of Catholic Charities – Oklahoma City.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- The Hope of Eternal Life: Common Statement—U.S. Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue
Dr. Michael Root (Catholic)
Dr. Michael Root The Lutheran-Catholic dialogue completed Round XI with agreements that contribute to the ongoing ecumenical journey. The common statement “The Hope of Eternal Life” offers fresh insights into some issues that proved contentious in the debates of the sixteenth century. Among issues explored in this dialogue were continuity in the communion of saints, prayer for and about the dead, the meaning of death, purgation, an interim state between death and the final general judgment, and the promise of the resurrection. The presenter is Professor of Systematic Theology, Catholic University of America.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- By the Numbers: A Quantitative Look at the American Religious Landscape
The Rev. Dr. Eileen Lindner (PC-USA)
The Rev. Dr. Eileen Lindner Changing patterns of church membership gains and losses, seminary enrollments and the emergence of new church groups have altered the long dominant face of American Christianity. Growing religious pluralism and increasing secularism have likewise contributed to a substantial reconfiguration of the American religious landscape. This workshop charted these changes and identified emerging trends in faith communities and their implications for Christian unity and ministry. It gave special attention to the ways in which church institutional life is adapting within the American context. The workshop leader is editor of the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- PowerPoint slides
- Native American Spirituality
Bishop Steven Charleston (Episcopal)
Bishop Steven Charleston Many followers of Native American spirituality do not regard their spiritual beliefs and practices as a “religion” in the same way that traditional western Christianity talks about “religion.” Rather, Native American spirituality and practices form an integral and seamless part of the very being of a person. This seminar explored various aspects of native spirituality and considered the rich cultural diversity among first peoples across North America, with a special focus on Native Americans for whom Oklahoma is a homeland. Bishop Charleston is Interim Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Oklahoma City, and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- Young Adulthood Interrupted: Is There a Place in Today’s Churches for Young Adults?
The Rev. Dr. Eileen Lindner (PC-USA)
The Rev. Dr. Eileen Lindner Using contemporary research, this workshop examined the patterns of affiliation and disaffiliation that characterize the generation born between 1980 and 1995. Often called Generation Y or Millennials, this group has exhibited behaviors and interests in faith identification that hold important implications for the character of American religious demography. Churches, at both the congregational and denominational levels, are seeking to understand and respond to a new generation, now young adults,whose perspectives and longings are quite distinct from earlier generations. This workshop also explored the themes and patterns which are emerging from the data which traces the religious identification of this age cohort. The facilitator is editor of the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- PowerPoint slides
- Ecumenical Engagement: Providing Healing and Hope Throughout the Disaster Cycle
The Rev. Mary Gaudreau (United Methodist)
The Rev. Mary Gaudreau Faith communities hold a unique and valuable role through all phases of disaster: preparedness, response, relief, recovery and mitigation. This workshop introduced participants to some of the well-established national and state level networks through which faith communities engage in vital disaster-related communication, cooperation,coordination and collaboration. Participants also learned avenues through which they can become better prepared to serve others impacted by disasters and to prepare for disasters they themselves may experience. The presenter is a consultant with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and Domestic Emergency Service Office.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
- Christian Response to Peace and Non-Violence
Dr. Michael Trice (Lutheran), Jordan Blevins (Brethren), and Ronaldo Cruz, a Pax Christi representative (Catholic)
Dr. Michael Trice, Jordan Blevins, and Ronaldo Cruz This seminar explored concrete efforts among our churches and other partners to promote nonviolence, peace and reconciliation in a broken world. Learn about contributions Christians can make together to raise awareness, inform public dialogue, and take meaningful steps to attend to suffering and to overcome violence. Also addressed were recent actions by church bodies to seek forgiveness for historic wrong committed against one another. Panelists included representatives from major peace networks, including Pax Christi (Roman Catholic), National Council of Churches, and Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry (ecumenical in the Jesuit tradition).
- VIDEO – produced by Bruce Prescott.
Highlights
Monday, April 16 Activities
Activities began as attendees arrived and network members held pre-workshop meetings.
Many of the NWCU attendees arrived on Sunday to attend Network meetings held in conjunction with the National Workshop on Christian Unity. On Monday Morning the United Methodist Network (UMEIT) held its first Training Session, while the Episcopal (EDEIO), Catholic (CADEIO) and Lutheran (LERN) Networks held board and executive committee meetings.
While those groups met, the bulk of the attendees arrived at the hotel and registered for the NWCU. This year, the Oklahoma City Local Planning Committee had everything well organized (as we have come to expect all LPCs to excel), and took the added step of organizing a fleet of church vans who provided free transportation from the Will Rogers Airport to our downtown hotel. This transportation service proved to be a big hit to attendees.
During the afternoon, a Newcomer Orientation was held, while Network groups continued with sessions for their members.
NWCU Opening Worship Service
At 7:30 pm, participants gathered at First United Methodist Church to begin the National Workshop on Christian Unity by worshiping together. Both participants and local guests attended and took part in the service. Presiding over the service were key religiousleaders of the Host Community and the NWCU.
The worship service provided a wonderful example of how ecumenical worship can be effectively planned and conducted, and NWCU participants gave high praise to the Local Planning Committee for their leadership.
Following the service, there was a reception held at the church, which is located across the street from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building which was destroyed on April 19, 1995. That explosion destroyed a major portion of the church facilities where our service was held.
Tuesday NWCU Activities
Graymoor Breakfast
Each year, the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute sponsors a breakfast for all participants in the National Workshop on Christian Unity. Once more NWCU participants took part in this event which was hosted by Father James Loughran, who brought attendees up to date regarding the work of the Graymoor Fathers.
Participants welcomed to Oklahoma by Anadarko Public Schools Indian Education Dance Troupe Members
Tuesday Morning Plenary – Vatican II at 50
Our Tuesday morning Plenary was again sponsored by the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, a 700 year old chivalrous order that in addition to other ministries prays for the unity of the church and generously supports the NWCU as an effort to further the quest for Christian Unity.
Our lecture, this morning was given in observance of the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Second Vatican Council. Dr. John Borelli, Special Assistant to the President of Georgetown University for Interreligious Affairs, gave a comprehensive analysis of the way in which the event of the Vatican IIhas impacted all churches over the 50 years that have passed since the Council. Your webmaster believes the address by Dr. Borelli is one of the most significant addresses given at our forum during the past decade.
Following the presentation by John Borelli, the participants moved to the luncheon room where we had a post-luncheon panel reflect upon the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council an upon Dr. Borelli’s remarks.
In her response to John Borelli’s presentation, Dr. Westerfield-Tucker made reference to the The Reims Statement: Praying with One Voice.
Tuesday Afternoon Network Seminars
Following the Tuesday Afternoon Seminars, the four major networks sponsored Seminars on a variety of topics, each Seminar being open to all attendees of the workshop. Therefore these Seminars provided learning opportunities for not only the individual networks, but for any other person wishing to take part in the events. Members of the individual networks were able to attend seminars provided by networks other than their own. They thus provide an opportunity for cross-network dialogue and learning.
Tuesday Evening Eucharistic Services
Holy Eucharist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral
Those denominations participating in Full Communion and Interim Full Communion relationships celebrate the Eucharist at each workshop, using the event to experience forms of Communion practiced among our various church bodies while also sharing in the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper. This year they celebrated using the approved rubrics for joint celebrations of the Eucharist by the Episcopal and the United Methodist Churches. The service was celebrated by The Rt. Rev. Dr. Edward Konieczny, Episcopal Bishop of Oklahoma. The message was brought by Bishop Bennie Warner of the United Methodist Church.
Roman Catholic Mass at St. Joseph Old Cathedral
Catholic Mass photos provided by Julie Conroy
St. Joseph Old Cathedral was the location of the annual Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers’s Eucharist in Oklahoma City. Other members of the Workshop and local community were invited to attend. Archbishop Paul Coakley was the Principal Celebrant and Homilist. Among the main concelebrants were Archbishop Kevin McDonald from England, Bishop Denis Madden, Chair of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Father Don Rooney, President of CADEIO, and Father Bruce Natsuhara, Pastor of St. Joseph Old Cathedral.
Wednesday NWCU Activities
National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA Breakfast
Our day began with a breakfast sponsored by the National Council of Churches. At the Breakfast, National Council leadership shared information regarding the search that is taking place for a new General Secretary. Acting General Assembly Clare Chapman (right inset photo), also spoke of how the NCCC is going through a re-envisioning and restructuring process. She was joined in this process by Kathryn M. Lohre (left photo inset). Kathryn, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is President of the NCCC. Our morning continued as we entered into a time of communal prayer led by the Most Rev. Denis Madden, Chair of the Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U. S. Catholic Conference of Bishops.
Wednesday Plenary Luncheon – Catholicity
At the Wednesday Plenary Luncheon, NWCU National Planning Committee Chair, Robert Flannery presented an Ecumenical Recognition Award to the Rev. Thomas Prinz. Tom served from 2002 to 2012 as Treasurer of the National Ecumenical Officers Association, and in that capacity devoted countless hours on behalf of the NWCU. His work, like all people giving leadership to our organization was as a volunteer. He gave of histime out of his commitment to the quest for Christian Unity. Tom Prinz is a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The main message for our Plenary Luncheon was presented by Bishop Steven Charleston, formerly Diocesan Bishop of Alaska, and the Interim Dean of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Oklahoma City. A citizen of the Choctaw Nation, he is passionate about preserving the integrity of creation. Bishop Charleston spoke on “Called to Be One Family: Catholicity Embraces the Whole.”
- VIDEO: Called to Be One Family: Catholicity Embraces the Whole
Following the Plenary Luncheon, participants again took part in network-sponsored events dealing with a wide range of issues related to Church Unity, both as a reality we are living into and as a reality that is seen in the manner in which we, by working together, give witness to our broken world.
Visit to Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
Nearly half of our participants took part in the visit to the site of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building, on the eve of the seventeenth anniversary of that tragic act of terrrorism. The Museum which tells the story of that event, was open Wednesday evening specifically for our program.
We began the program by joining in a time of prayer at the “Jesus wept” memorial on the grounds of St. Joseph Old Cathedral. We then continued into the Museum which is laid out in a timeline that begins with the hours leading up to the disaster and continues until it ends with a memorial to each of the individuals who died in the explosion, displaying their photo and a personal item that had been part of their life. Traveling through the Museum, one could not help but be overwhelmed by the tragedy of that day. Below are photos from that visit to the Site.
Thursday Activities
Morning Worship
Our final day’s actvities began in prayer together. Leading us in worship were Msgr. Patrick Gaalaas, Garland Pohl, and William Sappenfeld. They led us in s servce of readings and reflection on those readings.
Our Workshop Bible Study
This year’s NWCU Bible Study was led by Bishop Teresa E. Snorton, Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District (Alabama and Georgia) of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. She led us in a study of the text that is the theme for this year’s Workshop, Ephesians 1:28, “The Hope of our Calling.”
Prior to the beginning of the Bible Study, it had been announced that at 9:02 am, we would pause in observance of the Anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building seventeen years ago this day.
Closing Address
The closing address of the Workshop was dellivered by the Very Rev. John F. White. Bishop White is the Ecumenical and Urban Affairs Officer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church—of which he is the 130th bishop. He has pastored churches in Florida and Georgia.
As an educator with a Doctor of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University, he taught at Edward Waters College. He is also a member of the Continuing Education faculty of the International Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, from which he received his MDiv.
In his presentation, Bishop White addressed the issue of how racism has impacted the participation of the historic black churches in the National Workshop on Christian Unity and explored how we might better engage Black Christians in the work of the Workshop. Both he and Bishop Snorton committed themselves to the task of encouraging a greater number of Black leaders to takw part in the workshop.