CUIC Institute for Ecumenism

 
 
 

Participants:

Two (young adult) participants from each CUIC communion and one ecumenical leader from each communion, for a total of thirty persons.

Format:

Nine online training sessions, each taught by a different leader (from among the CUIC Ecumenical leaders), and one in-person gathering at a place determined by the full group.

The objectives of The US Academy of Ecumenism would be to:

  1. Understand the history of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Movements and how the participants’ communions own histories and theology intersect with them.

  2. Connect young adults from the CUIC communions in a network of fellowship and ministry.

  3. Develop leadership skills and apply them.

  4. Analyze the divisions and reunions of the universal church, as lived out in the United States.

  5. Articulate theologically what unity means to the participant and a vision of moving together toward visible unity in the church.

  6. Engage practically with others within the participants’ contexts as ministry projects are conducted.

The methods of formation would include:

  1. Nine two-hour group gatherings on zoom.

  2. Participant creation of a group covenant

  3. Required reading of 3 books (for example: The Ecumenical Movement: An Anthology of Key Voices and Texts by Cope and Kinnamon, Words to Live By edited by Rose, Ziad and Hessler, Lessons in Leadership by Jonathan Sacks, etc.)

  4. Brief times of devotion led by participants.

  5. Brief lectures led by the different ecumenical leaders with corresponding times of group reflection and discussion (a video could be sent instead of live teaching if necessary)

  6. Group work, or work in pairs

  7. Creation of MAPs to organize new ministries

  8. An in-person pilgrimage gathering for participants at a location in the US where strong glimpses of the US ecumenical landscape could be experienced (for example 475 Riverside Drive and Episcopal House in NY, or the UM Building and the USCCB building in DC, or the Center for Interfaith Relations and Presbyterian House in KY, etc.). During the pilgrimage places would be visited, leaders engaged, and a curriculum participated in, for example One in Spirit.

The criteria for participation would be:

  1. Being a young adult, aged 24 to 35.

  2. Being a member in good standing of one of the CUIC member churches.

  3. Having approval from the communion judicator head.

  4. Completing an excellent application, including responses to questions, a valid form of identification, and three letters of reference.

  5. Being willing and able to commit to ten months of regular online meetings and an in-person gathering of up to 5 days.

The nine sessions would include set themes:

Each of the sessions is structured in a parallel format, including time for “loving,” “learning,” and “leading.” Each session would begin with a time of devotion led by a participant, a reading of the group covenant, and checking in with each other. This first section is “loving,” and lasts about thirty minutes. The bulk of the session is then given to “learning.” This includes lectures, discussions, book reviews, etc. and lasts about an hour. The next part of the session is “leading.” This is a check-in on how the ministry action plans are going, working together to make decisions about the in-person location, and making other necessary decisions together. It lasts about twenty minutes. Then, the final ten minutes is given to last minute questions and a closing time of prayer, also led by a participant.

The learning part of the sessions include the following:

  1. Introductions and faith stories, the process, creating a covenant and owning leadership (discuss leadership training book)

  2. What is ecumenism? Scriptural and theological foundations (also the introduction of ministry action plans)

  3. The history of the Ecumenical Movement (discussion of book)

  4. The CUIC churches and how they engage in ecumenical/interreligious relationships

  5. The history of the Interreligious Movement (discussion of book)

  6. Bi-lateral and Multi-lateral dialogue

  7. Issues in the contemporary ecumenical/interreligious landscape and new ways of engaging (receptive ecumenism, lived ecumenism, etc.)

  8. Ministry Action Plans reviewed.

  9. Ministry Action Plans reviewed.

  10. Summaries, conclusions and thankfulness.

(Note: At some point in the midst of the online schedule a 4 or 5-day pilgrimage retreat would be held. During the retreat there would be visits to ecumenical/interreligious sites, conversations with local leadership, engagement in an ecumenical curriculum, and discussions about how the ministry action plans are progressing.)