All Articles For Examining Ecumenicalism

Any organization has a certain purpose or reason for existence, but also it is motivated by, or based upon, certain principles. One can determine the value or worth of an organization by examining its basis and purpose. Such an examination also ought to reveal whether it is proper for a Christian (or a church) to be member of a specific organization. With this in mind, I intend to present a study of the goals as well as the basis of that organization known as the World Council of Churches (hereafter known as: W.C.C.).

Last time we considered the Basis, as stated in its constitution, of the World Council of Churches. The statement of Basis, though amazingly brief, seemed to teach several truths: the divinity of Christ, that He is Savior, that there is the Trinity, and that there is Scripture. Yet on such a basis we felt it impossible to affiliate with other churches. First, this is true because the Basis does not mention several vital Scriptural truths,—including the truth of the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture. Without such an affirmation, the basis can mean anything to anyone.

The fourth report adopted by the World Council of Churches in its meeting at Uppsala in 1968 is given the title which is placed above this article. The title itself suggests again a concern with a “social” gospel—especially in distinction from the gospel of Scripture.

One of the principal goals of the W.C.C. is the attempt to establish one world church organization. It indeed professes that it is not the “Church,” but a council of churches which does not “legislate for the churches.” Nevertheless, the aim of one of its “Commissions” is: “to proclaim the essential oneness of the Church of Christ and to keep prominently before the World Council and the churches the obligation to manifest that unity and its urgency for world mission and evangelism.” (Constitution of W.C.C.).

In examining ecumenism it is beneficial for us to observe also the actions and reactions of other denominations to this trend of the day towards church unity. This column has called attention to the recent concern of the Christian Reformed Church towards the ecumenical movement as embodied in the W.C.C. The Gereformeerde Kerken of the Netherlands had asked member churches of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod to give their reaction to the stand of the Gereformeerde Kerken that it was permissible for Reformed churches to belong to the W;C.C.

This, according to present plan, will be the concluding article on the World Council of Churches. It should be evident that if one is to judge the organization simply from a human viewpoint, that is, from the viewpoint of its outward success in achieving its own goals, a person would have to commend the W.C.C. It has succeeded in establishing a degree of oneness among its 300 million members,—a oneness such as has not been evident since the time of the Reformation. It is a “voice” to reckon with in political organizations of this earth.

The reader is acquainted with the fact that the Reformed Church of America and the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (commonly known as the Southern Presbyterian Church) have been working towards eventual merger. This past summer, at their broadest gatherings, further action was taken in that direction. Through the courtesy of the office of the stated clerk of the P.C.U.S., I received a copy of the minutes of the General Assembly of the P.C.U.S. From this I would like to quote such parts as show the development which is taking place, and what can be expected in the future. 

In the past few years, reports have appeared concerning the possible merger of two denominations of Calvinistic background: the Reformed Church of America and the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (commonly known as the Southern Presbyterian Church). In the March 15th issue of the Standard Bearer, Rev. H. Hanko called attention to the progress made in the discussions. Other religious magazines have also called attention to the developments taking place. For your information, I quote from Christianity Today, February 26, 1965:

It was with considerable surprise and shock that I read the editorial in the Reformed Journal of March 1965; surprise, because I had imagined that my name would never come any closer to the Reformed Journal than the mailing label which directs my personal copy to my door; shock, because of the extremely serious charges leveled against me and my article in the Standard Bearer of February 1, 1965.

The fifth of six reports adopted by the World Council of Churches in its meeting at Uppsala in 1968 is simply called “Worship”. This is an abbreviation of the original title, “The Worship of God in a Secular Age”. There was, evidently, strong objection by the more conservative elements upon undue emphasis on a “secular theology.” The abbreviated title represents the compromise between the liberal and supposedly conservative wings of the W.C.C.