world of ecumenism also frequently encounter adherents from other world religions.


Looking at how the word “ecu-


menism” comes to us gives a sense of how earlier church incarnations viewed ecumenical outreach. Don- ald McCoid, assistant to the ELCA presiding bishop and executive for ecumenical and interreligious rela- tions, said: “Ecumenism has its roots in being of the same household (oikoumene). The quest for a united Christian church has kept this mean- ing of ecumenism as the focus for Christian dialogues and Christian unity.”


ELCA member Kristin Berkey-Abbott (right) visits the Hindu temple where her friend Shefali Choksi worships.


Diverse households


Ecumenism, interreligious affairs in a multicultural age


By Kristin Berkey-Abbott O


ne afternoon when our office suite at the university where I teach was unusually busy, a student approached me. “Can I pray?” she asked, ges- turing to the already occupied conference room. I asked if she would like a quieter space and unlocked an empty office for her. Less than a week later, I came across another student on a prayer rug in the


stairwell.


I then went to the dean of student affairs to propose that we create a desig- nated prayer space on campus. And not for the first time did I think about how the world of ecumenism has expanded to include interreligious partners. When I was a college student in the 1980s, we worked on ecumenical efforts with Roman Catholics and Baptists. Today students venturing into the


Berkey-Abbott is a freelance writer and member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Pembroke Pines, Fla. 32 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


And there are many benefits to ecumenism within Christian faith traditions. As individuals we find our spiritual lives enriched by talk- ing with other Christians about the ways they express faith. Even if we don’t adopt a practice, getting to know it can be liberating—expand- ing our sense of possibility. While I can’t imagine that I will ever wor- ship the way my Charismatic Catho- lic friend does, I find her testimony compelling. My Quaker friend and I find ourselves on parallel paths as we look for ways to retreat from a noisy world.


Congregations also find benefits from ecumenical outreach. McCoid observed, “We have joined six churches in a full communion agree- ment: [the Moravian Church, United Church of Christ, Reformed Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Episcopal Church, and the United Methodist Church]. These full communion agreements have provided [for] the interchangeability of ordained ministers. “There are [also] congrega- tions who cooperate with shared (Lutheran-Episcopal, Lutheran-Pres- byterian, etc.) ministries.” Ecumenical benefits extend to shared mission planning and church-


TOM SALYER


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