By Matt Bridges
For a third year, I attended the National workshop on Christian Unity (NWCU). This year we met in Chicago (last year was in Milwaukee and the year before was in Orange, California).

Each year is gathering is guided by a general theme and this year’s focus was on what’s known as “Receptive Ecumenism.” It’s the idea that views ecumenism and ecumenical dialogue as a way to receive understandings of others as a starting point, perhaps rather than a starting point being what a dialogue partner will be giving or teaching, in the dialogue. It is a type of ecumenism which begins with a spirit of humility, of curiosity, of vulnerability, of seeking to listen and learn. It’s ecumenism which views that we all have gifts to give and receive when we dialogue with one another. John Paul II applied the following expression to ecumenical dialogue: “Dialogue is not simply an exchange of ideas. In some way, it is always an ‘exchange of gifts.’” I’ve truly found this to be the case when I have had opportunities to share and exchange faith across communions.

We began the workshop meeting in our own communions to receive updates and training about ecumenism in our denominational contexts. Our official training branch of the Council of Bishops is called United Methodist Ecumenical & Inter-religious Training (UMEIT). Our session was led by one of our newly appointed Ecumenical Officers, retired Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of the North Carolina Conference. Our other Ecumenical Officer is retired Bishop Rosemarie Wenner in Germany. In addition, on staff and sending greetings is Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst of Kentucky and Dr. David Field of Geneva, Switzerland. We received updates pertaining the proposal for full communion with the Episcopal Church that will be presented to the Episcopal Church and decided on in 2027. While there are still some roadblocks, the UMC remains hopeful to achieve full communion.

The conference began in earnest Monday evening, where we were split into ecumenical partner groups across the communions represented. At my table were clergy from the Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. We spent our days together practicing receptive ecumenism across a variety of topics including the recent work of the Catholic Church’s worldwide “Synod on Synodality” called by the Pope a couple of years ago, the upcoming 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and what it means for us today, Christian Nationalism, and learning practical principles of ecumenism in sessions simply titled “Ecumenism 101.”

I truly appreciated the opportunity to represent the New Mexico Annual Conference at this year’s NWCU and am looking forward to next year in Chicago, September 8th-10th, where the NWCU will celebrate its 60th anniversary. If there is any way I can partner with you throughout our conference to help foster and grow ecumenical and Interfaith opportunities, I welcome that. Also, for more information on the NWCU or to become a part, please feel free to reach out to me at pastormattbridges@gmail.com.