Sister Churches 101

Description

What the Person in the Pew Needs to Know about Ecumenical Dialogue

In the first part, 26 clergy and laypersons—e. g. His Beatitude Gregory III, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, His Beatitude Volodymyr Sabodan (of blessed memory), Father Thomas Loya, Dr. Vito Nicastro, Dr. Despina Prassas, Mr. Michael Haldas—answer more general questions like:

• Why is Church unity important?
• What would be the impact of full communion on parish life?
• Why should people care about Church unity?
• How did we get to our current separation?
• What do we agree on—and what remains unresolved?

In the second part, six respected ecumenists—Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, Bishop John Michael Botean, Archimandrite Robert Taft, SJ, Archpriest Thomas FitzGerald, Father John Crossin, and Monsignor Paul McPartlan—help us navigate the deeper history and theological distinctions:

• early Church unity
• the Seven Ecumenical Councils
• the so-called Schism of 1054
• the development of papal authority
• the difference between dogma, doctrine, and discipline
• the term “Primate” as it relates to members of ecclesiastical organizations
• and the major areas where East and West agree or struggle.

Yet the tone of the book stays simple. It’s not an academic textbook. It’s people speaking plainly about what unity means, why it matters, and what those of us in the pews can do to understand each other better.