National Workshop on Christian Unity
Equipping Church Leaders in the Quest for Christian Unity
Sponsored by the National Ecumenical Officers Association

Download Texts of Major Presentations

Highlights of the 2011 National Workshop on Christian Unity

May 9-12, 2011 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Monday, May 9th

On Monday, May 9th, attendees began the process of registering for the National Workshop on Christian Unity and for their Denominational Network meeting as appropriate. At the same time, a number of network related meetings and seminars began to take place.

Newcomers gathered after lunch for the Orientation for Newcomers, again led, this year, by Sister Lorelei Fuchs and Canon Daniell Hamby. 

It was quickly evident that the local planning committee, under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Donald Green, Executive Director of Christian Associates of Pittsburgh, had done an outstanding job of preparing to host us for this National workshop, in Pittsburgh.  The registration process went smoothly, and everything was quickly falling into place.

The Opening Prayer Service

The opening worship service was held in the historic Smithfield United Church of Christ.  Taking part in the leadership of the service were Bishops and Governing Body Executives form our major participating denominations, which included a wide representation of eastern rite church leaders. Choirs from the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, St. Georges Orthodox Cathedral, Greater Allen AMC Church and the First Lutheran Church added to the richness of the service (as attendees arrived they were serenaded by the Salivation Army Band on the sidewalk outside the church).

The evening's sermon was delivered by Bishop Donald McCoid.  Bishop McCoid serves as Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is Bishop Emeritus, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod. In the photo on the left,Lutheran Bishop Donald McCoid facing words (in German) to Martin Luther's hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God In his sermon he lifted up the words of Pope Benedict, who reminded us that the search for Christian Unity is not an option to be pursued, but is an imperative what we must together work toward. 

Following the reception, seen in the photo below, worshippers enjoyed an abundant reception that included many regional favorites, including rosemary honey corn bread bits; mashed potato bar with toppings; pulled pork sliders with apple cole slaw; cheese and fruit, artichoke dip with pita chips.  Having indulged in that reception, many attendees welcomed the opportunity to walk off the food by returning to the hotel, on foot.

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Tuesday, May 10

The Graymoor Breakfast

Once again, the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute sponsored a  breakfast for NWCU attendees. The Graymoor order Fathers and Sisters of the Atonement) was represented by Father James Loughran (inset photo on the right).  The breakfast was well attended and it provided for a time of rich table fellowship..

The 2011 NWCU Keynote Address
Sponsored by the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem

The Keynote Address for this year's Workshop was given by the Rev. Dr. Robert Welsh.  Dr. Welsh is the president of the Council on Christian Unity since January 1, 1999.  He is a minister in the Reformed Church of America.  Dr. Welsh has been a frequent participant and presenter at the National Workshop on Christian Unity.

In his address he cited the necessity of our Harvesting the Fruit of our Ecumenical Dialogues, making the Dialogue conclusions real. He asked us how are the thousands of Pages of agreements to be made visible.  He asserted that this can only be done in dialogue with the world religions.

He also addressed the need to discover a common Christian Voice in dialogue with the world religions.  He challenged us to reach out to the Pentecostal and Evangelical brothers and sisters, both globally and in our local communities.

We must also recapture a sense of the Scandal of Divisions and make public confession of our sin.  To download and read the full text of Dr. Robert Welsh's Keynote, click here.

Ecumenical Eucharistic Service, Presbyterian Rite

On Tuesday evening, a Eucharistic Communion Service was held for Episcopal, Lutheran,Presbyterian (and other Reformed Bodies), and United Methodist Workshop attendees.  Each year the rite of a different Communion us used for the service.  This year was the year to observe and participant in the rite of the Presbyterian Church,USA.  The service was held in the sanctuary of Pittsburgh's First Presbyterian Church.

The preacher for the evening was the Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes (photo on right), Pastor and Head of Staff at the Shadyside Presbyterian Church and Robert Mcneilly Professor of Leadership and Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

The Eucharistic celebrants were the Rev. Dr. Sheldon Sorge, Pastor to Presbytery, Pittsburgh Presbytery and the Rev. Dr. Carolyn Jones, Retired executive of Washington Presbytery and former Executive of the Synod of the Covenant, see photo on the right.

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Parakles (Ukrainian Rite Vespers) Service (Updated)

While the above Ecumenical Eucharistic Service was occurring, many of the Workshop participants participated in an Eastern Rite ParaKles service at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church .  Since your Webmaster could not be in two places at the same time, I am including an article, and photos, by the Rev. Dr. Arthur C. Repp (Chris Repp) – Lutheran Ecumenical Representative for the Central/Southern Illinois Synod.  This article appears in the June 2011 issue of LERNing, which is edited by Pastor Kim Rapczak.  To read Pastor Repp's commentary on the Ukranian Rite Vespers Service, click here.

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Wednesday, May 11

National Council of Churches Breakfast

Once more, our day began with a breakfast, this one hosted by the National Council of Churches.  As the attendees enjoyed breakfast and shared in fellowship around the tables, Dr. Clare Chapman, Deputy General Secretary of the NCCC, introduced several officers and staff members who shared with the group information related to their areas of ministry.

Interactive Plenary on Racism

Before lunch, attendees took part in the third of what is to be four annual opportunities to address the issue of Racism and its impact upon Ecumenism  Our plenary speaker was The Rev. Harold T. Lewis has been the Rev. Canon Harold T. Lewis, rector of Calvary Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since 1996. Since his ordination in 1971, he has served congregations in Honduras,England,

Washington, DC, New Haven, CT and his native Brooklyn, NY. From 1983 until 1994, he served on the staff of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church as Director of the Office of Black Ministries.

After presenting his address on Racism and Ecumenism, Cannon Lewis responded to question from attendees.

The attendees then moved from the plenary room to the dining room where they reflected upon the words of Canon Lewis.  They then heard responses to the presentation of Racism, by three other black leaders.

Wednesday Afternoon - Network Seminars

Monday after noon was a time for the major networks to conduct seminars that were not only open to their own members, but where members of other networks (and persons not part of any network) were free to attend.  So, a member of LERN (the Lutheran network) might choose to attend a CADEIO (the Catholic network) workshop, because the topic is of interest to that person.  Or a member of the American Baptist Church might be interested in a workshop topic being explored by EDEIO (the Episcopal Network)

Gateway Clipper Dinner Cruise

Wednesday evening the workshop took time to relax, have fun, and to build relationships with one another.  We had a riverboat chartered just for our group.  The two and one half our cruise, included a buffet dinner of traditional Pittsburgh ethnic dishes, and a feature unique to the Pittsburgh region, a Wedding Cookie Table.  At most Pittsburgh weddings, tables are stacked with home made cookies, and guests take home a dozen or more cookies from the wedding.  Such a table was set up for the dinner cruise participants.  They had been made by church members in the Pittsburgh host city.

Cookies for Cruise	Welcome Aboard	Allegheny River View	Sister Riverboat

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Thursday, May 12

NWCU Bible Study Plenary Session

Sponsored by the American Bible Society

This years NWCU Bible Study was led by Dr. Mark Allan Powell, professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary.  Dr. Powell explored the meaning of the theme text for the Workshop (Acts 2:46 - Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts) .  Dr. Powell's presentation engaged the participants, and resulted in an interactive process that was highly effective.

Participants Adopt Statement: Christian Unity is Our Calling

In response to the Challenge presented by Keynoter, Robert Welsh, the gathered participants adopted a statement entitled, Christian Unity is Our Calling.  That statement had been drafted by a team made up of representatives of the Denominational Networks and several members of the National Planning Committee.  Download: Christian Unity is Our Calling

Closing Address by Br. Jeffrey Gros, FSC

The final Workshop plenary session took place prior to the Closing Luncheon. For this event, the workshop had the opportunity to hear an address by Brother Jeffrey Gros.  Jeff Gros has a distinguished career and an Ecumenist and as an educator.  For a decade, he served as Director of Faith and Order for the National Council of Churches.    Then for  14 years he served as Associate Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Brother Gros is currently distinguished professor of Ecumenism and Historical Theology at Memphis Theological Seminary, and
Academic Dean on the Institute for Catholic Ecumenical Leadership.

Dr. Gros challenged us, using the theme text, "One in the Apostles’ Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer.”   The full text of his address can be downloaded from our site.

To download, click here