From local ministries to international dialogues, “the United Methodist Church acknowledges that disunity among Christians is scandalous, contrary to Christ’s will for the disciples and a stumbling-block before the world,” said the Rev. Dr. Stephen Sidorak, who is in charge of global UMC efforts to bring about Christian unity. I’m guessing he’s right: If you are not a person who grew up calling a particular church or denomination home, it’s hard to figure out why a town needs a whole street full of churches. Why can’t they all just get along? If they’re still fighting about stuff from four centuries ago, God knows they can’t be all that relevant to my life.
So here’s the good news! We have been busily clearing up some of those old, divisive issues. Last summer, the Methodists and Lutherans concluded a long process of coming together. Now we are in “full communion,” which means we’ll share pastors, seminaries and ministries. Then in October of last year, the Methodists, Lutherans and Catholics held a huge worship service to celebrate a new, shared understanding of our central doctrine of salvation. This is a very big deal and moves us all toward greater unity.
