Ecumenical Attitudes as Criteria for Ecumenical Relations

Abstract

Quality of relationship is required to manifest the unity of the Church, together with common confession of faith and mutually recognized order. This is one of the lessons learnt from the history of Faith and Order, a think-tank now more than seventy-five years old on the premises for the unity of the Church. The author of this article contends that criteria for such quality can be seen in attitudes, defining the relationship required for communion in and between institutional churches of different traditions. The BEM document of 1982 and the processes required in that document offer excellent examples of ecumenical attitudes. This document has also been pivotal for the establishment of bilateral agreements, like the Porvoo agreement between Anglican and Lutheran Churches. The ecumenical attitude of mutual accountability, described as openness, reliability and ability to give and take criticism, is important in the development of an ecumenical ecclesiology. The article uses Ivar Asheim's ethics of attitude and provides examples of how these attitudes influence ecumenical processes, such as BEM, Porvoo and Leuenberg.