Mennonites in Dialogue: Official Reports from International and National Ecumenical Encounters, 1975-2012

by Fernando Enns (Editor), Jonathan Seiling (Editor), César Garcia (Foreword by)

Overview

Ecumenical dialogue is not an end in itself. It serves as an indispensable instrument to overcome the divisive, mutual misinterpretations of the past. Ecumenical encounters pave the way toward healing painful memories and lead to a deeper understanding of the church's given unity, thus becoming a more credible witness of that truth. Mennonites in Dialogue is a collection of all conversation texts involving Mennonites on international and national levels, covering forty years of encounters with Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Reformed, Baptists, and Seventh-Day Adventists, among others. The texts illustrate growth in agreement as well as identify the remaining convictions that still divide. Several texts appear here for the first time in English. An introductory essay provides an overview of the motivations for dialogue, the challenges faced--both in the processes of dialogue and in their substance--as these conversations evolved, the achievements gained, and the prospects for the future. A detailed index enables a more effective comparison of the topics and issues throughout the collection. Mennonites in Dialogue is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the process of identity formation within the Christian tradition through encounter with the other, as well as a rich introduction to the theology of that global peace church--the Mennonites.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498203647
Publisher:	Pickwick Publications
Publication date:	07/06/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	504
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Fernando Enns is Professor of (Peace-) Theology and Ethics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Director of the Institute for Peace Church Theology of the University of Hamburg. A member of the World Council of Churches' Central Committee since 1998, he is author of The Peace Church and the Ecumenical Community (2007).

Jonathan Seiling is a translator and historical theologian engaging interconfessional history. He is currently a research associate at the Institute of Peace Church Theology at the University of Hamburg, Germany and a Fellow of the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre.
Fernando Enns is Professor of Mennonite Theology and Ethics at VU University (Amsterdam) and Director of the Institute of Peace Church Theology at the University of Hamburg (Germany). He is the author of several books, including The Peace Church and the Ecumenical Community (2007).
Fernando Enns is Professor of (Peace-) Theology and Ethics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Director of the Institute for Peace Church Theology of the University of Hamburg. A member of the World Council of Churches' Central Committee since 1998, he is author of The Peace Church and the Ecumenical Community (2007).

Table of Contents

Foreword César García xi

Translator's and Editors' Preface Jonathan Selling xv

Abbreviations xix

Introduction Fernando Enns 1

I Mennonites-Roman Catholics

I.1 International (1998-2003)

"Called Together to Be Peacemakers": Report of the International Dialogue between the Catholic Church and Mennonite World Conference 19

II Mennonites-Lutherans

II.1 France (1981-1984)

Report of the Dialogue between Lutherans and Mennonites in France 115

II.2 Germany (1989-1992)

Report on the Dialogues between Representatives of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) and the Association of Mennonite Congregations in Germany (AMG) 137

II.3 U.S.A. (2002-2004)

"Right Remembering in Anabaptist-Lutheran Relations": Report of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-Mennonite Church USA Liaison Committee 169

II.4 International (2005-2010)

"Healing of Memories: Reconciling in Christ": Lutheran World Federation and Mennonite World Conference 187

III Mennonites-Reformed

III.1 The Netherlands (1975-1978)

Dialogue between Reformed Churches and Churches of the Anabaptist Tradition 309

III.2 In Switzerland (2006-2009)

"From Coexistence to Cooperation": The Dialogue Commission of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (SEK-FES) and Conference of Mennonites in Switzerland (KMS-CMS) 327

III.3 International (1984-1989)

"Beyond Brokenness into Gods New Creation": Representatives from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) 373

IV Mennonites-Baptists

IV.1 International (1989-1992)

"Baptists and Mennonites in Dialogue": Report on Conversations between the Baptist World Alliance and the Mennonite World Conference 389

V Mennonites-Seventh-day Adventists

V.1 International (2011-2012)

"Living the Christian Life in Today's World": Report on the Official Conversations between the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the Mennonite World Conference 423

VI Churches of the First, the Radical, and the Magisterial (Second) Reformations (1986-2003)

"The International Prague-Consultations": Reports on the Multilateral Dialogues between Church of the Brethren, Czechoslovak Hussite Church, Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, Hutterian Brethren, the Mennonites, the Moravians, the Society of Friends (Quakers), and the Waldensians (I-III), with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Lutheran World Federation (IV-VII) 435

Prague I The Heritage of the First and Radical Reformations, 1986 438

Prague II Eschatology and Social Transformation, 1987 442

Prague III Christian Faith and Economics, 1989 448

Prague IV Toward a Renewed Dialogue, 1994 452

Prague V Justification and Sanctification, 1998 459

Prague VI New Life in Christ, 2000 463

Prague VII The Significance of Reforming and Prophetic Movements for Church and Society, 2003 467

Appendix

Shared Convictions of the Mennonite World Conference, 2006 471

Historical Timeline of Mennonite Ecumenical Dialogues 473

Index 475

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Mennonites in Dialogue is a great invitation to discovery. Discover one's own heritage when others ask us: 'Who are you?' Discover the history of a peace church in relation to others on a shared road: 'How do we differ, and what connects us?' But also discover the questions not fully answered yet: 'Where do we go from here?' May the dialogues continue, for the advancement of our mutual witness of reconciliation through Jesus Christ!"
—Rev. Regina Claas, EBM International Consultant for Leadership Training in Southern Africa

Editorial Reviews

"Mennonites in Dialogue is a great invitation to discovery. Discover one's own heritage when others ask us: 'Who are you?' Discover the history of a peace church in relation to others on a shared road: 'How do we differ, and what connects us?' But also discover the questions not fully answered yet: 'Where do we go from here?' May the dialogues continue, for the advancement of our mutual witness of reconciliation through Jesus Christ!"
—Rev. Regina Claas, EBM International Consultant for Leadership Training in Southern Africa

From the Publisher