Ecumenical Dialogue As Credible means Of Evangelizations
Date
2004-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
Divisions have been a problem in the Church since the earliest days, and the call to
reconciliation and communion has also been present in the Church since its beginnings. In our
time, however, the effect of the divisions that have given rise, not just to internal dissensions,
but to churches that are doctrinally and structurally divided from one another, has been seen
as serious infidelity to the will of Christ and to the mission of the Church: "I pray not only for
them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be
one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also be in us, that the world may believe
that you sent me.... So that they may be one, as we are one" (Jn 17, 20-22). The modem
ecumenical movement is a response to this situation of sinful division, which has affected
Africa as elsewhere, even though Africa was not involved in the original disputes that gave
rise to the divisions it has inherited through the different mission churches.
Many African countries just celebrated one hundred years of evangelisation. It is quite
amazing and astonishing to notice the multitude of Christian churches in some African cities
and towns, as it is the case in Kampala. As part of my missionary formation I was in Uganda
for my apostolic training. I was rather challenged by the rivalry and open dissensions between
the different Christian denominations in all spheres of life.
As I prepare myself to start my ministry as a missionary in Africa, the theme of
ecumenical dialogue among different Christian churches challenges me. It calls me to be more
actively an agent of Christian unity. But why bother about ecumenical dialogue and the
credibility of evangelisation? My own background motivated me to reflect on the task of
3
evangelisation and my mission as a Missionary of Africa in a continent that is sometimes torn
by religious rivalries. I come from a family where my parents are members of the Assemblies
of God (Protestants), and some of my brothers and sisters are Catholics (my elder brother is a
Roman Catholic priest since 1991). I was born in Cote d'Ivoire where like in any other
African country there are many Christian denominations. But I never experienced rivalries or
dissensions among the Christians. On the contrary members of the same family, like mine,
went to different Christian churches but they always lived in peace, harmony and mutual
understanding. They never allowed the religious divisions to take over the family unity and
values.
In order that the mission of the Church in the world may be more credible, and that
humanity may ultimately be reconciled in Christ, we propose to examine the ecumenical
situation in Uganda. This essay is an attempt to look at the ecumenical dialogue in the light of
Christian disunity.
The first chapter describes the pastoral situation and method of evangelisation at the
time of first evangelisation in Uganda. Though the analysis shows that there have been great
rivalries and divisions between the Anglicans and the Catholics who first evangelised
Uganda, there is still hope for ecumenical dialogue between the Christians as shown in the
consolidation.
The second chapter examines the ecumenical dialogue in evangelisation, evaluating
the positive achievements, identifying the negative factors and proposing further positive
actions based on the catholic principles. We also look critically at the missionary ecumenism
based on Vatican II and the importance of ecumenical dialogue.
The third chapter studies the ecumenical dialogue as a credible means of
evangelisation. It takes into account the mission and common witness, and collaboration
4
between churches. The challenge is that dialogue is a new way of being church for all
Christians: the concrete ways of dialogue between Christians especially at the grassroots.
St Paul still challenges Christians of all denominations:
All the same, I do appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the
differences between you and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united again in
your belief and practice. From what... people have been telling me, my dear brothers, it is
clear that there are serious differences among you (1 Co 1, 10-13).
Description
Keywords
Ecumenical Dialogue, Evangelizations