Global Christian Forum ends in agreement to progress together

News Item from Ekklesia

After four days of meetings, some 240 leaders of a broad range of
churches, confessions and interchurch organizations from over 70
countries agreed to carry forward what they call "the Global Christian
Forum process", an open platform for encounter and dialogue whose goal
is to "foster mutual respect, explore and address common challenges".

Participants broke into a spontaneous doxology when the final draft of a
"Message from the Global Christian Forum to Brothers and Sisters in
Christ Throughout the World" was approved at the last session of the
meeting, which took place 6-9 November 2007 in Limuru, near Nairobi,
Kenya.

The message, one of the few tangible results of the forum, says the
event was a "historic breakthrough" as participants were able to gather
"globally as never before". Representatives of the historic Protestant
Churches, the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches, the Pentecostal
Churches, the broader Evangelical movement and other Christian churches,
communities and interchurch organizations, attended the meeting.

"We are extremely pleased by the development and outcome of this
meeting," said the Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, moderator of the World
Council of Churches (WCC) central committee. "What one decade ago was
born within the WCC as an idea that seemed fragile and almost impossible
to achieve has led to a milestone in the ecumenical journey."

Among the forum's achievements, participants affirmed they were
encouraged "to move out of the familiar ground, [and] to meet each other
on a common ground where mutual trust might flourish", and where they
"might be empowered to celebrate, enter into dialogue and act together".

They also agreed to "repent of past failings" in their relationships,
and felt encouraged to "develop a new awareness and understanding of one
another, and to recognize that God is graciously working among us". This
came in spite of an acknowledgment they still have "differing views on
substantive issues such as ecclesiology [the understanding of the
church], the scope of evangelism and mission".

For the Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, general secretary of the
Reformed Church in America and a member of the forum's continuation
committee on behalf of the WCC, the event is a "watershed in modern
Christian history… God's Holy Spirit has begun erasing the excuses that
have kept Christians apart from one another and judging one another."

The message affirms the participants' commitment to promote "ever
greater understanding and cooperation among Christians". That is to be
done by building "on the basis of many ecumenical, inter-confessional
and other historic initiatives to overcome divisions in the Christian
family. We do not seek to replace these efforts."

The way ahead

In a separate "Proposals for the future" document, participants made
several precise recommendations as to the next steps. The forum's focus
will continue to be "relationships" and "conversations", while "any
resulting joint actions will be outworked through the participating
churches and organizations".

In addition, the process will continue to be based on "committed
participation" rather than becoming a "membership organization". The
"circle of participation" will be "broadened and deepened", with
"particular attention to under-represented groups, including women,
youth, indigenous peoples and the physically challenged".

The forum's continuation committee, which will drop the "continuation"
from its name, will pursue the forum process at "regional, national and
local levels, as well as at the global level".

A "small secretariat" - so far staffed with one person working half time
- will ensure the follow up, and in order to fund it "participating
church bodies" will be requested to "assume financial responsibility".
The forum's committee will undertake to "establish a broad and
sustainable financial basis" for its work.

"The WCC, in cooperation with other partners, is committed to supporting
the secretariat of the forum as has been the case up to now," said WCC
central committee moderator Walter Altmann, commenting on the
recommendation.

A "thorough evaluation" of the nine-year forum process will take place
and a "representative consultation" will review it and "reflect further
on the future of the forum". The forum committee will "engage in
dialogue with the church families and bodies represented in Limuru"
concerning the appointment of a new committee.

A moving moment of the final session came when participants joined in a
standing ovation for Mr Hubert van Beek, the secretary of the forum's
continuation committee, in recognition of his unparalleled contribution
toward making the whole process possible.

"There have been others before us and there will be others who will take
over from us", he said in thanking the group for its acclamation,
"because our goal does not depend on individual persons, but rather is
in God's hands".

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Global Christian Forum website: http://www.globalchristianforum.net/

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