About the Society for Ecumenical Studies
The Society for Ecumenical Studies welcomes members from all churches and backgrounds, clergy and lay, who are committed to the unity of the Church of Christ and to study of its nature and purpose. Members seek to promote understanding and co-operation, practising the prayer of Jesus to his Father on the night before he died 'that they all may be one, that the world may believe.......' (John 17: 23)
The aims of the Society for Ecumenical Studies are to
- advance the Christian Ecumenical Movement and the unity of humanity in Christ
- foster receptive ecumenism and ecumenical learning between the different traditions of the Churches
- bring together practical and theological experience in social, international and interfaith fields
- enable theological exploration with regard to Christianity's divisions, ecclesiology, the reconciliation of the Churches and the visible unity of Christians
- arrange occasions for persons of different generations, races and theological convictions to meet, exchange news and ideas, debate, work and pray together on significant study projects
The Society for Ecumenical Studies works in collaboration with study institutes, ecumenical organisations and groups of churches at local, national and international levels.
The Society for Ecumenical Studies organises seminars, day conferences and other events that explore current issues and challenges within the Christian Ecumenical Movement. These provide appropriate historical and theological awareness, as well as stimulating imaginative and creative responses to today's perplexities. Recent events include:
- The Ecumenical Significance of the King James Bible - to mark the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. Lecture with Professor Pauline Croft MA (Oxon) DPhil. FSA FRHistS, Professor of Early Modern History, Royal Holloway, University of London - at Methodist Central Hall, September 2011.
- The Ecumenical Theology of Rowan Williams - Meeting with Dame Mary Tanner and Fr Oliver Rafferty SJ. In the Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster Abbey June 2011 by kind invitation of the Dean. This was "sold out" - a great success. Articles will appear in Ecclesiology and Theology shortly.
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