Weaving Together: Honoring the Golden Thread of Church Unity

A few weeks prior, an episode of Secrets of the Dead captured my attention mid-broadcast when I discovered they were delving into the remnants of a basilica believed to be the site of the Council of Nicaea. However, it was not, but the episode served as a reminder of the results of that council. The one that resulted in the Nicene Creed, which, on any given Sunday, most worshippers recite. The one that asserts “We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.”

This raises the question: If we all declare the same creed, why is it that we cannot worship in unison?

This inquiry is laden with complex responses, addressed by theologians through ecumenical discussions, stemming from Greek and Latin origins which signify “house” and “universal.”

We ought not to allow the difficulty of the question to overshadow the hope for unity that eternally thrives within the Body of Christ, in answer to Jesus’ plea for his followers that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21).

If the gospel author from the first century felt the necessity for such a prayer, it may lead us to acknowledge that divisions within the Body of Christ are not a recent occurrence! Nor are the injuries they cause fatal.

We are currently in the midst of the worldwide observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. For over a century, Jan 18-25 has been marked as such. It is crucial to emphasize: concentrating on Christian unity is not an adversarial stance. The WPCU does not place Christianity in opposition to any other faith, but acts as an annual focal point for congregations that acknowledge one baptism in Christ to reaffirm our dedication to move closer towards each other.

While the Catholic Church has been proactive in organizing and promoting this yearly observance at least since the 1960s, based on my experience, it is uncommon to find Catholic communities aware of its importance. Individual Catholics, indeed. However, I notice little emphasis on it at the local parish level. I hope my information is simply lacking.

The encouraging news is, there is very little standing in our way towards that unity. We can each begin right now.

This realization struck me during a dialogue with Dr. Jon Nilson for my congregation’s monthly podcast, F.L.O.W.cast. (Shameless plug: the episode releases on Jan. 23 and can be accessed wherever you obtain your podcasts by searching @flowcastlisten.) A veteran in ecumenical discussions, particularly with the Anglican Communion, Jon imparted his knowledge in theology for many years at Loyola Chicago.

As I readied myself for the podcast, I aimed to avoid the entanglements of an obscure discussion of little relevance to our audience. I believe we succeeded. Indeed, we ended up titling the episode “Coffee Ecumenism.” Our most significant takeaway was that, while it is vital for different Christian denominations to engage in high-level conversations concerning theological specifics and historical separations, genuine church unity will be nurtured – and is actually taking shape – at the grassroots level – member to member – in cafes and church basements, in homeless shelters and community parks, in marriages and families – one part of the Body of Christ reaching out to another.

“We have all the high-level documents that we need at this point,” Jon noted. “We need to become very intentional about fostering our grassroots connections.”

Jon and I concluded our dialogue with one final, significant hope and fervor for ecumenical discussion: racial justice within our congregations. “There will be no visible unity among the churches until we address the racial issue that is our country’s original sin,” he remarked. “The African American churches are absolutely justified in feeling, ‘Why should we align with these congregations that have yet to acknowledge the sin, let alone fully commit themselves to addressing it?’”

This aspiration for interracial healing in our congregations resonated with desires expressed at the January Greater Springfield Interfaith Association’s general assembly, which is referenced in the podcast. It is a vital goal, and considering our setting here in Springfield, an urgent one.

I have directed my focus towards WPCU this year for this reason, among others.

Most significantly, this historical juncture. Monday marked the national observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the installation of a controversial president who, if we are to take him at his word, is intent on creating disorder and division. We desperately require the testimony of Christian unity at this moment.

Furthermore, the Final Document of the XVIth General Synod of Bishops, which concluded last October, offers fresh hope for church unity by laying the groundwork for discussions regarding papal authority, a long-standing hurdle in ecumenical dialogue.

Lastly, this year signifies the 1700 anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the foundation of our cherished collective creed. As John Oxenham’s beautiful hymn reminds us, our service in the name of this God, Jesus, is “the golden cord closely binding humankind.”

May we be united in such a way.

Sister Beth Murphy, OP, is the communications director for the Dominican Sisters of Springfield.