A Book Review on A History of Ecumenical Movement: An Introduction

A Book Review on

A History of Ecumenical Movement: An Introduction by O.L. Snaitang

- Laldanmawia

………………………………………………………………..

Introduction: The book called “A History of Ecumenical Movement: An Introduction” is written by O.L. Snaitang, published in 2004 by BTESSC/SATHRI at Bangalore. It is reprinted twice in following the demands of theological students and other readers. The book is quite good for introducing ecumenism to the fresh readers. In this book, yes, Snaitang discusses the ecumenical movements starting from the Biblical experiences, following the search for unity in the History of Christianity. It is the book where we find the history and development of world’s ecumenical movements, even focusing regional scenario. The book was divided into five chapters, which are sub-divided into smaller topic. Then in the following discussion in this paper, the book will be summarized chapter by chapter and given complaints and suggestions.

I: Introduction

In his introduction Snaitang wisely mentions the reason for the study of ecumenism or ecumenical movements. The study will bring a sense of respect to other faiths and for providing ecumenical book for theological education in India.. And he mentions how the book came out and he did his researches. 

II: A Survey of Christian Unity till the 17^th Century

Snaitang objectively bring out some Church history which had concern about unity and division. Firstly the book discusses the unity in Biblical experiences. There, Babel experience (Genesis11:19) and Pentecost experience are types of unity; Babel unity is an exclusive, not for all the people. We can have Babel unity in our today’s context which is not ecumenical and inclusive unity. But Pentecostal unity is inclusive and it is an understanding unity regardless of dialects, race, etc. Then the book brings up the meaning of ecumenical movements.  It is the movement of unity in different aspects, aroused out in the 20^th century, having root on Pietism, Evangelical Awakening and Missionary Movement. Thirdly, division and unity of its causes are explained. In the Apostolic time, Christianity brought people together, mean while, it was the Christian beliefs and understanding, division had been coming up. In spite of all other false teachings, Gnosticism and Marcionism posed more tread to the church unity. Time passed, other heretical teachings were threatening unity, such as Arianism, Macedonianism, Apollonarianism, Nestorianism and Eutychianism. These teachings were challenged by early church’s fathers in the different council.  By coming to the year 1054, Christianity faced big Challenge. There was division of East and West called Schism between Greek and Latin speaking community.

III: Ecumenical Development in Mission Perspectives from the 18^th Century to 1910

This chapter is divided into three main topics which are explained and expanded with different sub-topics. The 18^th Century brought evangelical movements, which have implications for inter-denominational unity. Many religious movements including new organizations aroused out, which also bring cross denominational cooperation. Pietistic Movement burst out in Germany under the influence of Jacob Spenner of German Lutheran Church. It brings a sense of unity through sharing experiences in common, who came from different ecclesiastical background. Pietism brings spiritual unity, It promotes cross-denominational relations and it gives a sense of Mission. Then Christian Institutions in cross denominations are being formed. Among them Young Men Christian Association in 1844, Young Women Christian Association in 1854 and Student Christian Movements and societies in different countries and regions. These institutions welcome members from any church background. They work together and share same experiences. They bring people together to work for God in unity.

The rise of Evangelical Awakening in Europe and America of its belief systems and activities carried tremendous ecumenical ideals. The people of the movement influenced had share the same faith to each other, they move towards the same goal, and they fought against the social evils.

The 19^th Century brought the so called Modern Missionary Movements. The contribution of this movement was mainly forming Mission Societies and sending missionaries to different countries. Baptist Missionary Society, London Missionary Society, the Church Missionary Society, the Church Missions to the Jews, the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the Basel Society, Swedish Missionary Society and many others societies were formed during this century. These societies were from different ecclesiastical origin, but work together in many ways in doing mission.

In the second part of the chapter, Snaiting discusses the Missionary Conferences in Europe and North America. The Anglo-American conferences were happened in many ways and times. The New York Conference in 1854, the London Conference in 1854, the Liverpool Conference in 1860, London General Conference in 1878, the New York Ecumenical Conference in 1900 and the Edinburgh World Missionary Conference in 1910 were prominent conferences which had great impact in Christian unity and cooperation in many ways.

The third division talks about Ecumenical Beginnings in India of its ecumenical involvement in Mission Fields. India became mission field of Western Christians. Danish-Halle cooperation and Lutheran-Anglican cooperation made great input to the emergence of ecumenical works in India. Different missionary societies in India work together in bringing the same goal. There was a good cooperation among Home boards. London Secretaries’ Association was formed by BMS, LMS, CMS, WMMS in London in 1819. Missionary conferences are often happened in different regions in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In India missionaries often met to each other in Bombay, Madras and Calcutta to encourage ecclesiastical openness and to promote interdenominational fellowship. As a national and regional widespread, conferences were also organized in different cities and towns. They also tried to bring more native representation.  

IV: Church Union Movement and the Growth of Modern Ecumenism (1910-1948)

The Fourth chapter is sub-divided into two main parts. The first division talks about Church union movements in Indi and other selected countries. Snaitang brings out different concepts of church union in spite of spiritual, federal, organic and conciliar. Spiritual model of church union does not have structures; it was a spiritual community of faith. The Federal union believes in the form of unity in diversity. The Organic Model aims for merging of different denominations into one organization. And the Conciliar unity tries to bring churches into unity and mutual acceptance even in the midst of diversity. And in the South India ecumenical movement had great impact and result. Church unity started already with the rise of nationalism in India. The Edinburgh Conference of 1910 brought the setting up of the National Missionary Council in 1914 and NCCI later, and another inter denominational cooperation in forming theological college and other institutions were coming up to happen. 

And in different Euro-American countries, church union movements was more and more coming up Intra-confessional union, trans-confessional corporate union, union of Episcopal and non-episcopal churches in Scotland, Canada, China, Japan, India and other countries were notable achievement in church unity.

The book talks about evolution of modern ecumenical movement in the second division. It brings World Missionary Conference of Edinburgh in 1910 and its impact on the growth of modern ecumenical movement. It was widely represented conference having thousands of delegates from different mission societies and mission fields. Its importance could be found on the agreement in mission works together. The church accepted each other particularly in bringing the gospels into the nations. And it was responded by Catholic in the Vatican II. The World Missionary Conference of 1910 gave birth to the rise of modern ecumenism in the 20^th Century. International Missionary Council was formed in 1921 which was joined by different national councils and council of churches of places.. It stimulated thinking and investigation on missionary questions and to help coordinate activities of the national missionary organization of different countries. The 1910 Missionary Council was also followed by different councils like World Missionary Council in Tambaram in 1938, National Christian councils in regional centers,  World Council of Christian Education in 1940s, the World Council of Churches in 1948, etc which helped in bringing ecumenical movement in the worldwide. The book says that Missionary Conference of 1910 represented both evangelical vision and ecumenical venture. These two worked for the upliftment of societies in parallel manner. Ecumenism actually had a concern for the liberation of the poor; it had partnership with other churches and shared resources.

V: Ecumenical Development in the Regional and Global Scenario

This chapter mainly discusses about ecumenical movements in India and other regions. In India, the United church of North India was formed in 1924 by the union of Presbyterians and the Congregationalists. It was a great achievement in India in regards to ecumenical movements. Then there came another movement for the union of churches in India. The Church of South India (CSI) was formed in 1947, and Church of North India (CNI) in 1970. In Northeast, Northeast India Christian Council (NEICC) was found in 1962, which was developed from Assam Christian Council. These councils had great impacts in church unity in many ways. At the same time there are also some problems in making them to work vigorously. The traditional cultural differences, nationalities of missionaries, form of worship, ecclesiastical organizations, rituals and life-style and church internal problems and split were the major factor contributed for the failure of church unity in Northeast India. The 20^th Century was a century of ecumenism in India. From the time of formation of CNI, CSI and Mar Thoma church, they tried to work cooperatively in every possible ways and formed the Commission of Churches in India (CCI).

Then the book discusses WCC and its related bodies in the second sub-division. Vatican II was very notable council that it opened Catholic towards church unity. It changed the way how Catholic saw other confessional churches as well. In 1960, Catholic sent two observers at the WCC Central committee meeting. They had more and more connection with other confessional bodies. It had now widespread ideas that every church must work together in winning the soul. Meanwhile Eastern Chuches like Orthodox Church in Russia, Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia, etc, changed their attitude towards WCC and started to join. The Reformed or Protestant churches were actively participating in ecumenical fellowship and action. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) formed in 1870, the Baptist World Alliances (BWA) in 1905, the World Methodist Council (WMC) in 1881, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in 1947, the Disciples’ Ecumenical Consultative Council (DECC), the Pentecostal World Conference (PWC) in 1947, etc are notable councils in the Protestant circle who bring ecumenism in denominational and confessional wide. In another region like Asia, Africa and Pacific, there had been Conference of Churches like Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), All Africa Conference of Churches and Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) are the bodies which have vision for ecumenical development.

Women were also participating quite well in the ecumenism as individual or group. 1988-1998 was called Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women. It called to form women’s association, actions groups, etc.

And the book also discusses ecumenical concerns for the victims of injustice in the fifth part of the division. Human right is one of the major issues in WCC and other Christian Councils. WCC took challenge to face such problems to help the people who suffer injustices and all. It has programs to combat racism and to bring peace, justice and integrity of Creation. 

VI:Vision and Encounter in the Life and Work of Selected Ecumenical Personalities

In this Chapter, Snaitang discusses some ecumenical personalities and their views and works towards ecumenism.

Bishop V.S. Azariah (1874-1945) was an outstanding Indian missionary who brought a union of episcopacy and non-episcopacy, and who contributed a lot in founding Indian Missionary Society, and the National Missionary Society. And K.C. Banerjee, a lawyer as well as active member in the Indian National Congress, found Christo Samaj in 1887 which had vision of indigenous propagation of the Christian truth. C.H. Brendt (1862-1929) brought an idea of the Faith and Order movement. John R. Mott (1865-1955), he was an architect of Modern Ecumenical Movement. S.J. Samartha, an Indian prominent ecumenist brought inter-religious dialogue. N. Soderblom (1866-1931) was a leading personality in the Life and Work Movement. M.M. Thomas was an Indian who became first Moderat5or of WCC Central Committee. K.H. Ting a Chinese ecumenical leader was known for Chinese indigenous Christianity. Brigalia Hlophe Bam is still alive; she is an ecumenical woman leader in Africa and Worldwide. Kathleen Bliss (1908-1989) p[propounded ecumenism by staying together. Sarah Chakko (1905-1954) was the first ecumenical woman on WCC Presidium. And there are many other ecumenical leaders whom the author mentioned in this book. All these leaders contributed for the ecumenical movement and development by writings, speeches, and leadership.

Complaints and Suggestions:

Complaints:

1) The book has weakness that it was not systematically arranged; It mixes Indian situation and other regional situation even in one chapter also.

2) When we read about something happened in Europe, the book led us read another place like Africa, or Asia suddenly

3) The book has concern about Christianity only, not so much inter-faith relationship.

Suggestions

1) If the book is written and arrange systematically, it will be easy to read and to remember.

2) Snaitang brings out the origins of different historical events. If he could bring them more precisely, it will be more interesting.

3) If the author has also focus on ecumenism in relations to the religious pluralism in India and abroad.