A Unique Opportunity for Serving Christ in Ecumenism

Next Tuesday, April 8, the Semi-Annual meeting of the Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops takes place near O’Hare Airport in Chicago. To my pleasant surprise I have been afforded the opportunity to speak to the bishops about evangelical Christianity and our role in ecumenism and mission. I will speak, as well as share lunch, with the bishops and thus I will interact with them as a friend. To say that I was delighted to accept this invitation when it was given to me several months ago, and now to be near the date of our meeting, is a source of deep joy and a call to pursuing true humility in mission. I go to this meeting to share as well as to learn. I go to love and be loved. I go to expand the work of ecumenism in my own circles, especially among younger evangelicals, and I go as the Liaison of the Lausanne Catholic-Evangelical Conversation. In this role I have been given further joy and opportunity.

This committee is chaired by Bishop Denis J. Madden, Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore. Bishop Madden is a leader in ecumenism in America who I look forward to meeting for the first time. Sharing this meal and fellowship with him and the other bishops on this vital committee will present new opportunities for building bridges of unity.

I humbly solicit your prayer for me during these coming days as I prepare my thoughts and heart for this meeting on April 8. I also ask that you support ACT3 Network in any way that you can as we seek to be a catalyst for missional-ecumenism globally. We are a small network but we have been given immense opportunity and it seems the Holy Spirit is using this mission to build bridges. We need you to be faithful to our calling in this part of Christ’s kingdom.