Course Code: BHC03

Ecumenical Movements

BD IV, Semester II, 2 Credit Hours, College Paper

Course Objectives

• To understand the biblical and theological foundations of ecumenism
• To identify the different impulses and forms, both secular and religious, which brought about co-operation, unity, renewal and joint action among mission bodies and churches.
• To understand the meaning of union as unity in diversity about the church’s calling to witness and service in India.
• To see the Indian ecumenical movements in the global context.
• To study different approaches to Christian unity and their significance for today.
• To help the student apply the concepts of unity in his/her local situation.

Course Requirements

• Final Examination 60%
• Internal Assessment 40%

Course Outline

1. Introduction
   • Biblical and theological foundations of ecumenism
   • Meaning and significance of Ecumenism
   • Early beginnings of ecumenism
2. Early beginnings of modern ecumenical movement
   • Evangelical and Missionary movements of the 19th century
   • Christian Youth/Student/Women Movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries
3. World/International Missionary Conferences and Its Consequences
   • Edinburgh (1910)
   • Life and Work, and Faith and Order movements
   • International Missionary Conferences (IMC)
4. World Council of Churches: Formation, Development, and Programs
5. Continental Ecumenical Movements
   • Christian Conference of Asia
   • EATWOT
   • CASA, etc.
6. National Ecumenical Movements
   • NCCI
   • National Christian Councils in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar
7. Regional Ecumenical Christian Councils
8. Wider Ecumenical Movements
   • Roman Catholic, Evangelicals, Orthodox, Pentecostals, World Christian Forum, and People of other faiths
   • Edinburgh 2010: Programmes and Projections
   • Different Concepts of Church Union Movements: federal, Organic, Conciliar, Confessional and Spiritual Union
9. Indian Expressions of Ecumenism
   • Ecclesial movements: SIUC, CSI, CNI, CCI
   • Theological Institutions: Serampore College, UTC, KUTS, TTS, ACTC, KTC, etc.
   • Other Institutions: CMC Vellore, CMC Ludhiana, MC College Chennai, UC College Aluva, Bible Society of India Bangalore, ECC Bangalore, etc.
   • Mission Societies: National Mission Society, Indian Mission Society
   • Ashram movements: Santal North India, Manganam Christava Ashram Kottayam, etc.
10. Ecumenical Social Ethics and Critical Reflections

Essential Readings

• Hedlund, Roger E. Roots of Great Debate in Mission…
• Kinnamon, J.M. and Brain E. Cope, The Ecumenical Movements
• Philip, T.V., Ec umenism in Asia, New Delhi: ISPCK, 1994
• Snaitang, O.L., A History of Ecumenical Movement; An Introduction, Bangalore: BTESSC/SATHRI, 2006
• Thomas, M.M., Recalling Ecumenical Beginnings, Delhi: ISPCK, 1987
• WCC, Mission and Evangelism: An Ecumenical Affirmation, Geneva: Revised 2003

Suggested Readings

• Council of Serampore College, The Story of Serampore and its College, Serampore: CSC, 2005
• Duraisingh, Christopher (ed.), Called to One Hope, Geneva: WCC, 1998
• Faith and Order, Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry document, Geneva: WCC, 1982
• Gnanadason, A. (ed.), Ecumenism; Hope in Action – Essays in Honour of Dr. Mathai Zachariah, Nagpur: NCCI, 1990
• George, Samuel, “Cyprian and the Unity of the Church,” New Life Theological Journal 1, no. 4 (March 2012): 99-113
• George, Samuel, “Kalisiya – ek Bharatiya Sanskarika Samudaya (Ekklesia – an Indian Sacramental Community),” in Ekklesia: Indian Conversations, edited by Samuel George, H. Joseph Lalfakmawia and Ajungla Jamire, 131-148. New Delhi: CWI & MCT, 2014
• Haidar, Dipankar, Essays on New Testament, Hermeneutics and Mission Studies, Raghabpur-West Bengal: Raghabpur Seva Niketan, 2011
• Hedlund, R.E., Roots of the Great Debate in Mission
• Hooft, W.A. Vissert, The Genesis and Formation of the World Council of Churches
• Jurji, E.J., ed., The Ecumenical Era in Church & Society
• Koshy, N. (ed.), A History of the Ecumenical Movement in Asia, Vols. I & II. Hong Kong: WSCF/CCA, 2004
• Longchar, Wati (ed.), Asian Handbook for Theological Education and Ecumenism, Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2013
• Lössky, N., Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement
• Massey, James (ed.), Ecumenism in India Today, Bangalore: BTESSC/SATHARI, 2008
• Nalunnakkal, George Mathew and A. P. Athyal eds., Quest for Justice: Perspectives on Mission and Unity, Delhi: ISPCK, 2000
• Nash, Margaret, The Ecumenical Movement in the 1960s
• Pathil, K., Ecumenism: Unity in Diversity. Models in Ecumenical Dialogue
• Patta, Raj Bharat, A Violent Sight on a Silent Night: Misriological Discourses on Violence against Christians, Delhi: NCCI/ISPCK, 2009
• Peruumalil, I.C., Christianity in India; A History in Ecumenical Perspective
• Philip, T.N., Edinburgh to Salvador; Twentieth Century Ecumenical Missiology
• Rouse, R. and Stephen Charles Neill (eds), A History of the Ecumenical Movement 1517-1948
• Sahu, D.K., Mission and Ministry: Challenges from the Ecumenical Movement
• Selvarajah, Muthiah, “God of Life Re concile us: Prophetic Vision and Political Will for Reaching Dignified Reconciliation,” in Leslie Dareeju and Lynn Jacob, *God of Life – Reconcile Us!* Perspectives on Peace-Building, Pilimatalawa, 2014
• Suryaprakash, P., ed., *Ecumenism: Prospects and Challenges*
• Thomas, M.M., *My Ecumenical Journey*, Trivandrum
• Thomas, M.A., *Towards Wider Ecumenism*, Bangalore: ATC, 1993
• Thurian, Max, ed., *Ecumenical Perspectives on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry*
• Tiwari, Ravi, *Senate of Serampore College at Ninety: Issues and Concerns*, Serampore: SSC, 2008
• Vibila, Liz, “Reconciliation as Mission Dei,” in Leslie Dareeju and Lynn Jacob, *God of Life – Reconcile Us!* Perspectives on Peace-Building, Pilimatalawa, 2014
• Wainbright, Geoffrey, *The Ecumenical Movement*
• Wati, Ben, *Whither Evangelicals? The Evangelical Movement in India*, Bombay: GLS, 1975
• Weber, Haris-Ruedi, *Asia and the Ecumenical Movement*