THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships 2016 A publication of the Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships The United Methodist Church
The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships WHAT IS OCUIR? Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships (OCUIR) works on global, national, and local levels to promote interfaith relations and build communities that seek peace and unity. OCUIR is the office of the Council of Bishops that leads the denomination in ecumenical and interreligious ministries. As stated in the 2012 Book of Discipline, 403.1.e: "The role of the bishop is to be the shepherd of the whole flock and thereby provide leadership toward the goal of understanding, reconciliation and unity within the Church - The United Methodist Church and the church universal." 1
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The office exists to assist the bishops in facilitating The United Methodist Church s witness in ecumenical ministries and interreligious dialogue. John Wesley s theology of grace and catholic spirit build on the biblical mandate for disciples to be one that the world might believe. The vision of the office and the Council of Bishops is to celebrate God s unconditional love for all people and creation by living more fully into Christian unity and by expanding and deepening the range of interreligious relationships so that the world may experience abundant life. Bishop Mary Ann Swenson Ecumenical Officer of the Council of Bishops The Council of Bishops elects an Ecumenical Officer from its membership who is responsible for formal relations with other churches and/or ecclesial bodies. The Council of Bishops also engages in ecumenical work through its Leadership Team on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations (LTEIR). 3
The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships WHY IS THE WORK OF OCUIR IMPORTANT? The cultivation of Christian unity and interreligious relations, the task of all United Methodists, is critical to making disciples of Jesus Christ. The body of Christ is strengthened when people of faith work together. Scripture calls Christians to be both neighbors and witnesses to all people. Through dialogue, critical reflection and walking alongside ecumenical partners, United Methodists work toward reconciliation and unity in embodying the love of Christ in the world. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me..." (John 17:20-21, NRSV) Those who followed Jesus in leadership taught the same unity among believers. "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:7, NRSV) 4
The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships HOW DOES OCUIR S WORK BENEFIT REGIONAL AND LOCAL MINISTRY? "... making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:3-6, NRSV) The United Methodist Church seeks to live out this calling through the leadership of our bishops and OCUIR. Article VI of our Constitution says: "As a part of the church universal, The United Methodist Church believes that the Lord of the church is calling Christians everywhere to strive toward unity; and therefore it will seek, and work for, unity at all levels of church life..." The work of OCUIR enables bishops and annual conferences within the denomination to build ecumenical and interreligious relationships. In addition, the office strives to work closely with regional ecumenical leaders by providing resources and training through the United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training (UMEIT). 5
On behalf of The United Methodist Church, OCUIR staff and Episcopal leaders participate in interreligious church councils and consultations, multilateral and bilateral dialogues and other forms of outreach that have led to the healing of churches and nations. HOW DOES OCUIR BENEFIT THE UMC? The body of Christ is strengthened when people work together through interfaith partnerships. OCUIR works on behalf of the entire denomination to seek out and build relationships. OCUIR affirms the Lund Principle that calls for churches to ask themselves...whether they should not act together in all matters except those in which deep differences of conviction compel them to act separately. 6
The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE PART OF AN INTERRELIGIOUS COMMUNITY? In each place, we share our lives with each other, we witness and are witnessed to, we invite others into the Christian community and we are invited by others into theirs. Our prayer is that the lives of all in each place will be enriched by the differences of others, that a new sense of community may emerge, and that others may receive the gift of God in Christ while we receive the gifts which have been given them. Resolution 3141: Called to Be Neighbors and Witnesses: Guidelines for Interreligious Relationships The ideals of the Wesleyan tradition compel United Methodists to search for common ground, even under the most challenging and difficult circumstances. Faith communities gain identity, strength and effectiveness by working together. OCUIR builds partnerships, fosters better understanding, and fortifies beliefs. 7
By providing training and resource materials, OCUIR reminds leaders of the value of ecumenical commitments and interreligious partnerships. Consistent with its Wesleyan heritage, The United Methodist Church has been a leader in the ecumenical movement. In his sermon, A Catholic Spirit, Methodism s founder John Wesley said an individual with a Catholic spirit is one who gives his hand to all whose hearts are right with his heart. 8
The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships WHAT ARE THE MINISTRIES OF OCUIR? Representation: OCUIR represents The United Methodist Church at meetings of conciliar bodies and with our ecumenical partners. Whenever the Council of Bishops deems it important for The United Methodist Church to have a presence and give witness to our theology of unity, OCUIR is present. This includes participation in councils and bodies, such as the World Council of Churches (WCC), the National Council of Churches (NCC), Christian Churches Together (CCT), Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) and the World Methodist Council (WMC). This ministry shares resources through the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund (ICF). Theology: OCUIR takes leadership in dialogues with other faith communions and in conversations about the theology of unity. The dialogues include those moving toward or in full communion, as with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Pan-Methodist Commission, the Moravian Church, Northern and Southern Province, and the Episcopal Church in the USA. Ongoing conversations for understanding, like that with the Roman Catholic Church and with several interreligious roundtables, are a key part of this ministry. 9
Leadership Development: OCUIR works to develop principled Christian leaders in ecumenical and interreligious ministries throughout the connection. This includes granting individual scholarships to attend ministry events, such as the National Workshop on Christian Unity (NWCU), the Parliament of the Worlds' Religions, United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training (UMEIT), and Switzerland's Ecumenical Center at Bossey, which welcomes students from around the world for academic study specializing in ecumenical theology, missiology and social ethics. In addition, Local Initiative Grants are awarded to groups within annual conferences creating ecumenical and interreligious ministries in their local contexts. This includes building networks on a local level, among specific groups such as young adults, and online through social media. Additionally, OCUIR provides training and encouragement to annual conferences and makes resources readily available for those who want to learn more about OCUIR s work. 10
The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships On regional, national and international levels, OCUIR represents the church s work for justice, reconciliation and peace through ecumenical bodies: The Pan-Methodist Commission The Pan-Methodist Commission is a full-communion fellowship in which the African Methodist Episcopal (AME), African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ), African Union Methodist Protestant (AUMP), Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME), Union American Methodist Episcopal (UAME), and United Methodist (UM) churches worship, plan, serve and envision together. World Council of Churches The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a global fellowship of churches whose relationship with one another and activities together are an expression of their common faith in Jesus Christ. National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA The National Council of Churches (NCC) represents 37 member communions in covenant community to offer common witness to Jesus Christ and to share in a ministry of reconciliation. World Methodist Council A worldwide association of 80 Methodist, Wesleyan and related Uniting and United Churches, the World Methodist Council (WMC) engages, empowers and serves its member Churches by encouraging Methodist unity in witness and facilitating mission in the world. 11
Christian Churches Together Christian Churches Together (CCT) provides the only venue where representative churches from all the major groupings in the United States Protestant, African American, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical and Orthodox Churches representing over one hundred million Christians come together for prayer, dialogue, fellowship and witness. Wesleyan Holiness Consortium The Wesleyan Holiness Consortium, which includes representation from the Nazarene, Methodist, Free Methodist, Salvation Army, Brethren and Christ and the Christian Missionary Alliance, seeks to foster a collaborative approach to ending modern slavery by proclaiming a hopeful alternative and by engaging in sustainable action. Religions for Peace Religions for Peace advances common action among the world s religious communities for peace. Multi-religious cooperation for peace is its hallmark. This cooperation includes dialogue and common concrete action. Churches Uniting in Christ Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) is a covenant relationship among eleven Christian communions that have pledged to live more closely together in expressing their unity in Christ and combating racism together. 12
The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships HOW CAN YOU CONNECT WITH OCUIR? The Book of Discipline requires every annual conference to have a group who focuses on ecumenical and interreligious ministry ( 642.1). The designated contact person for each annual conference is connected with OCUIR through regular mailings and newsletters. Individuals may also request to be on the mailing lists. OCUIR s website is a resource for articles, news and networking. www.ocuir.org OCUIR articles are posted daily on Twitter and Facebook. www.facebook.com/ocuir www.twitter.com/ocuir Contact OCUIR: Council of Bishops OCUIR 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 300 New York, NY 10115 212-870-3800 800-653-8936 questions@ocuir.org www.ocuir.org 13
One way to support our work is through the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund (ICF): www.umcgiving.org/icf 14
The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships The United Methodist Church 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 300 New York, NY 10115, USA Tel: 212-870-3800 E-mail: questions@ocuir.org www.ocuir.org