Thanks to STEP, I have had the great opportunity of intersecting with ecumenical forums at many levels, from the World Student Christian Federation to the "New Fire" pre-event of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America General Assembly just this past weekend. One of the most powerful aspects of ecumenism to me is the promise of unity - that even though we are diverse in our backgrounds, traditions, theologies, and world views, we can realize (that is, see and make real) the unity we already have in Christ. We recognize also that this unity is something we already have - because of what God has done - even though we as human beings are still seeking, and at times struggling, to capture and represent that unity in our interactions with each other.

I must confess that I have been disappointed in a number of ecumenical settings when some groups have stood up in response to those petitioning for the Church (in the widest sense) to become yet more inclusive, to warn that topics that might divide us should not be discussed, lest they threaten our current unity. It is completely non-sensical to me that inclusion should be a topic that threatens unity, as my understanding of the gospel is that it is the Good News that all are welcome in the Love and Grace of God, that all human beings, especially the marginalized, oppressed, and suffering are sacred. These arguments perhaps should not be surprising - even Paul and Peter in the early church had arguments around full inclusion of Gentiles, but what we see throughout the ancient and recent history of the Kindom of God on earth is that we continually sacrifice the partial, temporary unity we have achieved in order for the Spirit to bring us into a fuller, more inclusive, more complete unity.

The fact that these objections tend to come along lines of power, that is, continuing to exclude from our midst those we ourselves have marginalized, suggests to me that "unity" in this sense is used as a weapon to maintain the status quo, and refuse to acknowledge the privilege we maintain, at the cost of the oppressions we perpetuate, in keeping the doors of the Church closed to some sacred children of God.

I believe that the call of the gospel is that the walls that divide us can be broken down, and that each one of us can become who we truly are - with greatest authenticity and integrity. We see this throughout the Biblical narrative, particularly in the story of Pentecost, when people gathered from around the world at Jerusalem overheard the Spirit descend on the Christians gathered together to pray, who suddenly began to speak the good news in such a way that every one of these visitors could understand the message in their own language. To me, this shows the way that, through Christ, any of the barriers that may be between us, such as national origin and language, can be overcome, while our own identities, as a person coming from the traditions of our places of origin, need not be sacrificed. In the same way, the Church can overcome its differences, however great they may be, but need not become one, homogeneous church to do so. We also recall the many Biblical characters whom God called to be who they truly were, sometimes by changing their name to outwardly embody the change God had accomplished within. I believe that the ecumenical movement is a renewal movement that recognizes the Church is not yet what God has called it to be, and responds to the prophetic whisperings of the Spirit, which continues to call the Church into being. I trust that the Spirit can sustain the Church, even through our divisions or momentary disunities, and I hope for the day when the Church cannot conceive of itself barring entry to any of God's precious children. Kyrie elieson.