Blogs

Receptive Ecumenism

Annika recounts her ecumenical experiences, and reflects on her work towards promoting receptive ecumenism in the Anglican and Methodist traditions. 

Rach's Reflection: Evangelism is a Scary Word

Rach looks back over how she "did evangelism" in the past, and what it looks like for her today.

What is Ecumenism? What isn’t it?

Let me first be clear by ruling out what ecumenism is not and should not be. Ecumenism is often wrongly caricatured as merely passively accepting everything other denominations say, think, do and believe without thought or question. However, to participate in the services or activities of another denomination and to converse and discuss with those from other Churches is not a one-dimensional, binary zero-sum game. To engage in ecumenism is not to compromise on your core principles, backslide, betray your values or become a relativist.

It’s The Little Things

For all of my life so far, I have been a Methodist. I was baptised in a Methodist church and I was confirmed in a Methodist church. My mum is a Methodist minister. And yet I found myself, inexplicably, attending an Anglican church whilst at univeristy. 

Don’t worry. I’m still a Methodist! But the local Methodist church was few in attendance and those who did attend were of a certain age. What was I to do? Give in and start attending the local C of E church where my friends went? Well, yes, actually.