World peace meeting proves timely for religious leaders
9/14/1998 News media contact: Linda Bloom · (646) 369-3759 · New York by United Methodist News Service In a period of bombings and terrorist threats, an international peace meeting bringing together leaders of various religions "seemed especially timely," according to the president of the World Methodist Council.
Frances Alguire of New Buffalo, Mich., was among the participants of the 12th International Meeting of People and Religions, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, in Bucharest, Romania. With the theme, "Peace is the Name of God: God, Mankind and Peoples," the event was organized by the Community of St. Egidio, with assistance from the Orthodox and Catholic communities in Romania.
The event offers an opportunity for dialogue among Muslims, Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and other religious groups, said Alguire, who also attended the 1996 and 1997 meetings. In Bucharest, she added, "it was historic from the standpoint that Catholic and Orthodox had never in the history of Romania worshipped together before."
The laywoman noted that her participation in the meetings has demonstrated to leaders from the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, which do not ordain women, that "Methodists believe in women assuming leadership roles."
"At least I'm paving the way so that future ordained women will be accepted," Alguire said. "They'll know that women can participate and women can lead."
In a panel discussion, "The Ecumenical Movement in the Third Millennium," Alguire told participants that "ecumenical dialogues are an ongoing outreach of world Methodists."
She noted that bilateral dialogues between Methodists and Roman Catholics, Lutherans, the Reformed Churches, Anglicans and the Orthodox either have recently occurred or are scheduled to take place.
"Bilateral and multilateral dialogues are important," Alguire said. "Deep gratitude is due theological scholars who share a oneness of faith in Jesus Christ and a willingness to spend countless hours studying doctrinal differences."
Besides Christian unity and cooperation, ecumenism "can also mean restoration of the whole inhabited earth," she added.
"The kingdom of God is in our midst: our neighbors are all of humankind," Alguire said. "Our measure of success is when the ecumenical spirit of unity becomes universal and each human being is provided an opportunity to participate in life to the fullest."
The meeting's participants issued an appeal for peace. "In these days, God has made us more conscious of the sacred value of peace…The Almighty is, by his own nature, the God of peace; therefore religions never justify hatred, violence and war."
While the religious leaders admitted they have "neither material power nor instruments of force… we are convinced that, from the depth of our religious traditions, a 'weak strength' which can change the world wells up. This is the strength of religion - faith and love."
Alguire was called on for a more somber duty during the conference. Someone came to the meeting seeking a Methodist who could conduct a memorial service for a young United Methodist man from Texas who had been killed in a car accident in Romania.
Alguire said she found two Romanian clergy members, one Anglican and one Catholic, who agreed to help her. "Through an interpreter, we put a service together."
# # #
|
Back : News Archives 1998 Main
|
|
“We believe in God and in each other.”The people of The United Methodist Church
Still Have Questions?
If you have any questions Ask
InfoServ
Purchase a $20 buzzkill t-shirt and help save a life
Buy a t-shirt
|
Korean News