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Think ecumenical, save money?

A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom*
June 12, 2009

A tough economy could be a boon to the ecumenical movement.

What one church can no longer afford to do, two or more churches gathered together may be able to keep social and educational programs alive while exploring and strengthening their shared theological roots, says the leader of The United Methodist Church’s ecumenical agency.

 
The Rev. Stephen
J. Sidorak Jr.

As a bonus, no one knows better how to stretch a dollar, said the Rev. Stephen J. Sidorak Jr., top executive of the Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

He told United Methodist News Service that during difficult economic times, the first impulse of many churches is to make cuts to ecumenical programs. He quoted an old adage: “When the denominations catch cold, the councils of churches get pneumonia.”

“I came from the ecumenical world where scarcity is a fact of life,” he said. “We still managed to do the meaningful work of the Lord.”

That meaningful work often occurs at the grassroots level, as local congregations commit to support social programs and explore theological connections together.

During the joint meeting of the denomination’s General Council on Finance and Administration and Connectional Table in May, Sidorak urged consideration of the Lund Principle, which encourages churches to act together in all matters “except those in which deep differences of conviction compel them to act separately.”

“In a period of severe fiscal constraints and predictable budget cutbacks, The United Methodist Church may finally do the right thing for the wrong reason,” he said at the meeting. “Perhaps, at last, we will work together ecumenically…because, denominationally speaking, we can no longer afford to do so separately.”

Working together in Arizona

First United Methodist Church in Tempe, Ariz., located on the campus of Arizona State University, has been involved in an extensive homeless ministry with other local religious congregations, according to the Rev. David Summers, pastor.

The church is part of a rotating shelter system, providing sleeping quarters on Sunday nights, a drop-in center for meals and services three days a week and showers, breakfasts and services on Mondays and Fridays. That translates annually to about 1,200 people taking 7,000 showers and consuming 25,000 meals, Summers said.

“Perhaps, at last, we will work together ecumenically…because, denominationally speaking, we can no longer afford to do so separately.”
–The Rev. Steve Sidorak
Recently, Tempe First joined a community organizing project through the Valley Interfaith Project in Phoenix. “What they urged us to do as a first step was to hold these meetings to listen to the cries of people’s hearts in our own congregation,” he explained.

The result was a series of “house meetings” during Lent and Easter with more than a third of the church’s 700 members, who answered the questions: “What are the pressure points in your lives?” and “What keeps you awake at night?”

The concerns that emerged centered around health and health care, financial stress and education – all issues that will be addressed together on a community and state level. For example, United Methodists have joined with members of other churches to lobby the Arizona state legislature regarding cuts related to social services.

“I think the church absolutely has to take a leadership role on these issues,” said Summers, whose congregation held a Palm Sunday forum on the role of faith in the economic recovery. “This is a time to look carefully at how we live and what a good society looks like.”

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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Resources

Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns

First UMC, Tempe


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