Ecumenism

Ecumenism is one of the main heresies of our day, perhaps the most central heresy of history. It was described by St. Justin Popovic as the pan-heresy and by Prof. Andreas Theodorou as worse than heresy, indifference to the beliefs of the Church.

Doctrine

Ecumenists believe that all Christians should unite and recognize each other despite their differences. To them, the heresies which cut false confessions off from the Faith should not be a stumbling block to false unity. This often takes the form of mutual recognition rather than official union. Ecumenist clergy may concelebrate with those of other confessions.

Ecumenism is most simply put, straightforward and word-for-word denial of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church professed in the Nicene Creed. To be an ecumenist is to believe that all the various heresies within the broader Christian confessions (and sometimes even unrelated religions) are part of the Church of Christ (whether fully or partially so).

An ecumenist can believe that Protestants, Roman Catholics, Monophysites, and others have received baptism and are being saved outside of the Orthodox Church because his church lacks Oneness, being comprised of disunited heresies. It lacks Holiness because heresies and all uncleanness many not be excluded from the church. It lacks Catholicity, as no one church is universal. Similarly the ecumenical view of the church lacks Apostolicity, seeing how the various traditions do not follow the Faith once delivered to the apostles and often do not even pretend at apostolic succession. If one included the various late-stage Protestants, who have ceased to identify with any creed and exist simply as atomized individuals who may or may not attend any congregations whenever they see fit, or Jewish and pagan religions, then the ecumenists could be said to believe even in a meta-church comprised of non-churches, completing the denial of every word in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Most of World Orthodoxy teaches ecumenism as official doctrine. To objections, it is usual to dress up ecumenism by claiming that Orthodoxy has the fullness of the faith while the other confessions have it in an imperfect form. Also common is to excuse participation in explicitly uncanonical ecumenist gatherings, by claiming that the participants are merely witnessing the Orthodox faith to non-members. (Those who claim to be doing so may be reminded of the fact that they do not at any point share Orthodoxy at the gathering.)

Variations

• Anglican branch theory is a variant of ecumenism, in which it is claimed that the many differently believing and mutually anathematized forms of Christianity together comprise the single body of the Church, like branches of a tree.

• The two lungs expression may be considered another term for branch theory.

• Perennialism is the belief that all religions are working towards the same truth.

Organization

The central authority of the ecumenical movement—at least, the most visible controlling head—is the so-called World Council of Churches.

History

Ecumenism began in Protestantism. The idea was to present a united front so that Christians in the missionary field would not appear divided.