thomas contemp commitment cath substance 1

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Contess

for Esvraenical Concezas
Tite! Chueh. of Christ

ceukenioal achievements af the sonmer of 1997, which édewified the mujor vaananical
wark before the United © rar i she coming twa veer nl which nie 19

We hove, F

late wha we are al parinéry sn varius relationship

suntsizetly eneosrage us ra be more ericalate =né confident ia our
weofhaving wo tteolegy aly the unformed
hie lasire thut we neemce mire bold ane

© our pesspect.ves and offer ow gifts in ways

Ecamenica’
This ts corto aay th tes ee
‘squid make chat eluien, Bet | heas over &
systematic ie our expression and thet ve arent
lhat are ascoserzbie i Ibe Gest Ueaait-an of the Creret eathal, thereby avoiding hecoming
soctatiaa in our wimess, Even seumenisal pantess who disagree itt us on Zmporsact issues
seera 22 be prepared (bo in onanrvonian with us su len as hey perceive ia Us tae integrity af
the Gaspat aa we seek ta mee we histaric faith eur own ir wack gereratioa. What does it mean
fer us to ground contet: a the cathotie scbsteree of Dee Cleésciam faith? 1
‘soule salt by affiaming he coslowirg:

We ace ners chet cha: anda ens and lesbians Yee are, esther,» cured hak
1 hocoe fally tae gilts and callings af
7 sexta orieaation,

ly thai sve seele
1 ofl

person sanory We uplies reyurl

2: we ceuvented with isuee of justice ant nese,
fhe Praphets, <9 sempausive tn {brig:© amnaumeer
emunot fail 1 partie in chs: ceign crough wores

‘Wee ure nal a sae

4 sleepin
appreuing Resim af Ged, al v
fa deeds of j

We ure cola church Gat orcmotes ‘elusive langeage, ‘Me ane a surch sp aveare af
(oa tat every Henzing se wecledng
radgmenl and draws sewurd seoentanee

corign tHe ol Gow! encenrpassing alo

havior acd spoect

Se ame ge # chur: “hes warts the cle
of bpaccuns where 2 :
buchatist Crist’s oresense avacebie te all and eat reergnies tat whee: we stand at
the Table ia monocheeette :2on0:inguai. ar mopaculaural condigursions, we deny the

ad

seh vision sl Gou's Fusure shiv ths Zacher st

We are not a shurch that prowe:s lnea, autonome, We area chusch so eomeineed of the
Holy Spleit’s aekvity that we refese to limit che capactsy er she Teepecsibilty ofthe
hered coramaulty in any setting t0 distern the sly Spicl’s vail fr ds particular time

and its paiculir ples

Weare aot an evamenica, church, Se ae a chmmch thar secks eo porteay' in its ife nd
wsiteess the uniey and koinonia oF che aly Trinity, the Trinily whose diverse persons
esome an icon lor the amity and diversity he eoumcenical movemeat hopes to cxubody

fim ways that

‘Our partness pessisiontly euccurage usa articulate our theology and stu oar:
rineet the tanuies and convictions for which we ate known ta tie Great Seory ef the ciurch
shrough the ages, and so hevarte calhoite gilts rather than soctorias udventares. May we listen

well

/Mataber 38, 1997