“The politics of the November election showed us the increasingly divided and polarized state of our country and perhaps the world. If the news is any indication, we are more unwilling than ever to connect across our differences, much less imagine that the gifts, thoughts, and desires of “the other” might enrich our lives and communities. Fear too often seems to win over faith. Yet in this overwhelming moment, we offer some ways, small perhaps, faithful communities and people are showing up to claim and build the Gospel’s call to unity. These stories offer tools for building respect across our disagreements, like Christian Churches Together’s recent forum, churches showing courage to become a Union parish, dialogues, remembering history in order to repent and choose another way forward, and celebrating that Nicaean Council which continues to bring us together after 1,700 years. All these are holy steps, small steps that remind us of the ways we can show up for each other despite the pain and grief we all hold. – the Rev. Margaret Rose, presiding bishop’s deputy for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations
A Union Congregation
Since 2017, the Episcopal Church of the Intercession and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, have been worshipping together under the leadership of the Rev. Jane Johnson. Shortly after this new ecumenical community sprang up, a group of worshippers (who identify as neither Episcopalian or Lutheran), joined them, and they became known as “Beloved” members. Due to these new worshippers’ lack of formal denominational affiliation, they were unable to be elected to positions within the church. Special dispensation was offered by the local Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Episcopal bishops.
In October, the entire body voted to unite all three communities, forming a new unionized church, composed of the two parishes and now a third community of congregants; and a new expression of ecumenical partnership was formed for both The Episcopal Church and the ELCA. They are also the first Union congregation in Wisconsin; and celebrated this historic event on October 31.
First Council of Nicaea
2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea; and the year will be ripe not only with events commemorating this Council, but with programming from churches and ecumenical partners around the globe. And while we rightly associate this Council with the Nicene Creed, the initial version of the Creed did not include the filioque; that three-word phrase (and the Son) which asserts that the Holy Spirit proceeded not just from the Father, but also from the Son.
The original version of the Nicene Creed did not include those three words. Or that idea. They were added to the Creed in 589; not at a church-wide Council meeting, but at a local Council in Toledo, Spain; convened to combat the heresy of Arianism –– a heresy which questioned the fullness of Jesus’ divinity. And so local church leaders believed they could bolster Jesus’ divinity by asserting that the Holy Spirit proceeded from him too. But the result of this unilateral decision, and change to the Creed and its underlying Trinitarian theology was so severe, that it became one of the main causes of the East-West Schism in 1054; a schism between the Western and Eastern (Russian and Greek Orthodox, Coptic, and Assyrian and Oriental) Churches which remains to this day. However, in 1994, General Convention stated its intention to remove the filioque at the next revision of the Book of Common Prayer, and begin to heal this rift. (and you may notice that at some liturgies throughout the diocese, it has been omitted).
And in 1998, one of our ecumenical partners, the ELCA (the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) published “A Lutheran – Orthodox Common Statement on Faith in the Holy Trinity,” and has taken steps to restore the original wording of the Nicene Creed in worship as well.
Christian Churches Together Holds Annual Forum
On October 8 – 11, Christians from over 40 U.S. church communions and national organizations gathered in Memphis to discern the Holy Spirit’s word for the churches today as they reflect on how the “third person” of the Trinity works through baptism, Eucharist, and discipleship. In light of this year’s 30th anniversary of the Spirit-filled “Memphis Miracle” and first anniversary of the “Asbury Outpouring,” both of which included a concern for repentance and racial reconciliation, the forum also explored the call to justice in the life of the Spirit and will consider how the Holy Spirit continues to work through creation, revelation, and Pentecost-like movements.
Compiled by:
the Rev. Mike Wernick
Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer
Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes