Unity?

By Mark Von Dadelszen

At The NCC Chaplain's Reading Party at the end of the first term members of various Christian denominations considered some of the documents of Vatican Council II.

Representatives ranged from Catholics to Brethren, and Anglicans to Quakers.

Perhaps the most interesting point made during the weekend was that in each denomination there is a "hierarchy" of truths. The need to identify these truths is important to the ecumenical movement as Christians of every tradition must clearly differentiate between the essential, the non-essential and the mere externals of their faith.

Other topics discussed included the Mystery of the Church, the structure of the Church, the place of and mission of the Church in the-modern world, and the particular problems facing the world at the moment, such as atheism, war. famine, over-population, and the unique problems of the developing nations.

Weekends such as this are of immense value to those participating. People of various beliefs come into contact with other outlooks and approaches to problems and each individual has the opportunity of testing and clarifying his own point of view. Joint prayer and meditation bring home the common hope that Unity may be achieved.