When I was eight years old we lived in a rural French village. The public school we went to still had (Catholic) religion class, and I distinctly remember in the first class it was announced that a few of us (myself included) would be going to the computer room during the time. In some cases it was because the parents didnāt want their kids in class. In my case, it was because I was āun protestantā. I didnāt know what that word meant, and didnāt speak French yet anyway, but I was horrified to be singled out and treated differently – I came home that day upset, and told my mom āThey found out Iām a protester!ā
For those of us who make up the minority denomination in our ecumenical environments, there can be a temptation to feel like the āotherā in some way. For me, while it hasnāt usually come to something like the story above, there is a more subtle way I experience this. I am often hyper-aware of how others are making ecumenical arrangements for us (even if they are actually being done willingly), and can feel like weāre a nuisance, an inconvenience; that things would just be easier for the majority if we werenāt here. I need to resist this – ecumenism is so important to me because in our environments (when theyāre working well) our different traditions arenāt just tolerated and accommodated, but valued and cherished. My brothers and sisters from other traditions are just that: brothers and sisters. On that basis, and on the basis of our covenantal call, our life in community isnāt complete without each other.
Itās my joy to say that this really is my lived experience – of course there are mis-steps and unfortunate thoughtless moments, but the predominant experience is that this brotherhood is the primary foundation of our life together. And any adaptations or arrangements being made in support of this way of life are being done gladly, out of a deep, Spirit-inspired brotherly love. This allows me to engage this life – with all of its messiness – in freedom and without reservation.
Iām so grateful for this precious and unique gift. May the Lord sustain our conviction for this way of life, and bless us as we live together for him.
John is a family man, and part of the Word of Life community in Michigan
