The textual fruits of ecumenical dialogue over the last decade are presented here in complete documents. The vast yield is here collected in two volumes, incorporating bilateral and multilateral dialogues of the churches across the Christian confessions-Orthodox, Catholic, and Reformation traditions-and evinces not only agreements and disagreements but also the new insights that dialogue itself reveals. Also included are the key documents from the Faith and Order Commission during these years, especially the ecclesiological documents that ultimately have yielded The Church: Towards a Common Vision, the 2013 convergence statement now being responded to by the churches.
The texts are divided into five sections: * Part A, Volume 1 - Eastern and Oriental Orthodox-related texts * Part B, Volume 1 - Dialogues and Declarations with Roman Catholic participation * Part C, Volume 2 - Texts from traditions emerging from the Reformation * Part D, Volume 2 - WCC texts from its Faith and Order Commission * Part E, Volume 2 - Texts from the WCC and from the Joint Working Group between the WCC and the Roman Catholic Church
The 37 documents gathered here reflect new dialogue partners and a wider circle of churches dialogically committed to reconciliation, further dialogue on questions of personal and social ethics, deeper exploration and use of the koinonia concept, stronger use of the insights of the early writers of the church, and new insights into the dialogical process itself, including reception.
Educators, preachers and church leaders have here a rich resource for promoting this work of the Holy Spirit through their ministry.
