Ecumenical Movements (1900–Present)

Introduction: Seeking Unity in a Divided Church

Christianity entered the 20th century as a deeply divided faith. Centuries of schisms—between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic, between Catholic and Protestant, and within Protestantism itself—had left a fragmented global church. Yet the same century saw an unprecedented impulse toward ecumenism, the pursuit of visible Christian unity.

The ecumenical movement was shaped by multiple forces:

• The experience of world wars, which underscored the scandal of division.

• The rise of global missions, which made denominational rivalry in new mission fields increasingly untenable.

• The spread of secularization and modern ideologies, which challenged Christianity to present a united witness.

From early Protestant cooperation to the creation of the World Council of Churches (WCC), from the Catholic Church’s ecumenical turn at Vatican II, to contemporary dialogues between Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, and Pentecostals, ecumenism reshaped modern Christianity.

1. Early Ecumenical Impulses (1900–1914)

The Student Christian Movement

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions (1886) and related student fellowships cultivated a spirit of interdenominational cooperation. Their slogan, “the evangelization of the world in this generation,” reflected the urgency of missions beyond denominational disputes.

The Edinburgh Missionary Conference (1910)

The landmark Edinburgh Conference brought together Protestant missionary leaders from Europe and America. While Orthodox and Catholic representatives were absent, the conference fostered a spirit of unity around mission. It is often considered the formal beginning of the modern ecumenical movement.

2. The Interwar Period and New Organizations (1918–1939)

Faith and Order / Life and Work

Two streams of ecumenical activity emerged:

• Faith and Order focused on doctrinal dialogue and theological unity.

• Life and Work, inspired by figures like Nathan Söderblom of Sweden, emphasized cooperation in social and ethical issues.

Though separate, these movements would eventually merge under the World Council of Churches.

International Missionary Council

The International Missionary Council (IMC) was formed in 1921 to coordinate Protestant missionary efforts, building on Edinburgh’s momentum. It emphasized cooperation across denominations in global evangelism.

3. The World Council of Churches (WCC)

Founding (1948)

After World War II, Protestant and Orthodox churches united in the creation of the World Council of Churches in Amsterdam. The WCC’s stated purpose was “to call the churches to the goal of visible unity in one faith and one eucharistic fellowship.” Roman Catholics declined to join but maintained informal contact.

Expansion and Work

The WCC grew to include hundreds of member churches worldwide. It facilitated dialogue, coordinated relief work, and addressed global issues such as racism, economic justice, and peace. Its commissions on Faith and Order and Mission and Evangelism carried forward the earlier streams of ecumenical cooperation.

4. Catholic Ecumenism and Vatican II

Pre–Vatican II Isolation

For much of its history, the Catholic Church opposed ecumenism, seeing unity as requiring return to Rome. Pope Pius XI’s encyclical Mortalium Animos (1928) condemned non-Catholic ecumenical initiatives.

Vatican II (1962–1965)

The Second Vatican Council marked a revolution. The decree Unitatis Redintegratio (1964) affirmed ecumenism as a central Catholic concern, recognizing elements of truth and holiness in other Christian communities and committing to dialogue.

Post-Vatican II Dialogue

Catholic theologians engaged in dialogue with Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and others. Notable achievements include the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1999) between Catholics and Lutherans, resolving a central Reformation-era dispute.

5. Orthodox Participation

The Orthodox churches, though initially cautious, became active in the ecumenical movement. They were founding members of the WCC and participated in theological dialogues. Yet tensions remain, particularly over issues of ecclesiology and modern moral teachings.

6. Evangelicals and Pentecostals

Evangelical Ambivalence

Many evangelicals distrusted ecumenism, associating it with theological compromise. However, movements such as the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (1974) emphasized unity in mission, if not institutional union.

Pentecostal Engagement

Initially skeptical, Pentecostal churches gradually engaged in ecumenical conversations. The Pentecostal–Roman Catholic dialogue (begun 1972) and other bilateral talks opened new paths for cooperation.

7. Ecumenism and Global Christianity

As Christianity shifted to the Global South in the 20th and 21st centuries, ecumenism increasingly took new forms. In Africa, Asia, and Latin America, ecumenical cooperation often centered on social issues, justice, and mission rather than abstract doctrinal debate. Regional councils of churches proliferated, contextualizing ecumenism in diverse cultural settings.

8. Achievements and Challenges

Achievements

• Greater mutual understanding between traditions.

• Doctrinal agreements (e.g., justification, baptism, Eucharist).

• Cooperative social witness in issues of justice, peace, and environment.

• Breaking down centuries of hostility, especially between Catholics and Protestants.

Challenges

• Deep divisions remain over papal authority, sacraments, ordination, and sexual ethics.

• Fear of relativism among conservatives.

• Fragmentation of Protestantism into thousands of independent denominations, complicating dialogue.

Conclusion: Unity and Diversity in the Modern Church

The ecumenical movement from 1900 to the present has not produced a single unified church, but it has profoundly changed the Christian landscape. Once entrenched hostilities have softened; cooperation in mission and service has become the norm; and dialogue continues on theological differences. The dream of “one church” may remain elusive, but the ecumenical movement testifies to the persistent call of Jesus “that they may all be one” (John 17:21).

Suggested Assignments

1. Research Essay (6,000 words): Analyze the significance of the Edinburgh Missionary Conference (1910) for the birth of ecumenism.

2. Comparative Study (5,000 words): Compare Catholic ecumenism before and after Vatican II.

3. Case Study (4,500 words): Examine the role of the World Council of Churches in addressing apartheid in South Africa.

4. Theological Reflection (3,500 words): Reflect on John 17:21 in light of modern ecumenical movements.

5. Creative Assignment: Write a fictional dialogue between a Catholic bishop, a Protestant pastor, and an Orthodox priest at a WCC assembly.

References

Congar, Y. (1984). Diversity and Communion. Liturgical Press.
Hastings, A. (1999). A History of English Christianity, 1920–1990. SCM Press.
Hastings, A. (Ed.). (1999). A World History of Christianity. Eerdmans.
Hutchison, W. R. (1987). Errand to the World: American Protestant Thought and Foreign Missions. University of Chicago Press.
McGrath, A. E. (2019). Christian Theology: An Introduction (6th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Rusch, W. G. (1985). Ecumenism: A Movement Toward Church Unity. Augsburg.
Vischer, L. (2003). A History of the Ecumenical Movement, Vol. 1–3. World Council of Churches Publications.