Ministry

Ministry Message

Unity: a powerful expression of faith

(Regarding Christian people who would come to faith in the future, Jesus prayed), “Father, may they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:23

On Tuesday 31 October, I was fortunate enough to be at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Adelaide to witness an incredibly historic event. Lutheran and Catholic Christians from all over Australia came together to sign a joint statement, acknowledging and celebrating the unity they have come to share through cooperation and dialogue in the last fifty years.

Following this, Lutherans and Catholics joined together in worship by repenting of their sins, acknowledging their regret for centuries of hostility, coming before God together in prayer, listening to his word as brothers and sisters, and confessing their common faith together in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. It was a very moving occasion and an important one in the life of the Christian church.

The following excerpt is taken from the service itself:

“Catholics and Lutherans embrace each other as sisters and brothers in the Lord. Together they rejoice in the truly Christian gifts that they both have received and rediscovered in various ways through the renewal and impulses of the Reformation. These gifts are reason for thanksgiving. The ecumenical journey enables Lutherans and Catholics to appreciate together Martin Luther’s insight into and spiritual experience of the gospel of the righteousness of God, which is also God’s mercy.”

As part of the service, representatives from both churches made five commitments to ongoing unity. These included a willingness to focus on the things that unite our churches, rather than the things that divide. This unity is to be expressed visibly, where possible, to give a concrete witness to our shared faith. Both churches also committed to being mutually transformed by the other and sharing in the discovery of the gospel’s power in our time. Finally, Lutherans and Catholics committed to witnessing together to God by working alongside each other in mission and service to the world.

This was a great day to celebrate, as together we received from each other and shared a powerful experience of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of Holy Spirit in the church. Complete unity has not yet been reached, but God blessed us with an event that saw Christians, who have been divided for so long, come significantly closer to full communion. It was a beautiful expression of faith and an even greater expression of the mercy of God at work in his people.

Pastor Dale