The Synod expresses its vision through a series of affirmations. These are not fixed in stone, but form a moving (and capable of being updated) vision statement. I am exploring these in turn in a series of brief articles. This piece reflects on the fourth aspiration, which focusses on our ecumenical commitment and journey.

As a Synod we are committed to the ecumenical journey and to continuing ecumenical co-operation. From its formation in 1972 the United Reformed Church has been committed to JOURNEY to ecumenism and is a member of the World Council of Churches and other ecumenical bodies. The Synod of Scotland works closely with ecumenical partners through the Scottish Church Leaders Forum, the Ecumenical Officers’ Meeting and the Scottish Churches Committee. We maintain links with the world church by engaging with global partners, mainly other member denominations of the Council for World Mission.

Jesus prayed for his followers, those whom we would now call the Church, asking ‘that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me’ (John 17:21). Diversity is of immense value, but should never lead to disunity. What we hold in common with other Christians is far more valuable than anything that divides us.

The ecumenical journey is a complex one and the path to organic unity on which many of the mainline denominations seemed to be embarked during the 1970s, 1980s, and even into the 1990s has, for the most part, not borne the expected fruit. But, as William Countryman (writing in 1992 in The Language of Ordination) pointed out: “The unity of the church does not have to take one particular form. In the twentieth century, schemes of church union have usually stressed the consolidation of overlapping administrative units and the merging of church bureaucracies. This is perhaps not exactly what Jesus had in mind when he prayed that his followers might all be one.” Similarly, Christopher Ellis (in Together on the Way) comments that “Ecumenism is not about throwing all our treasures into a melting pot so that we end up with a uniform church.”

Working together organically is one form of unity, and entirely valid, but not the only possible way for ecumenism. Models of co-operation, particularly in practical matters such as foodbanks and street pastors, and in what is often termed ‘receptive ecumenism’ which describes our recognising and valuing the gifts and contributions of others. Learning to appreciate what we can receive from each other as different church traditions has much to commend it.

It is also worth exploring what we can gain from contact with the global church. We have a strong tradition of engagement with partners in world mission mainly, though not exclusively, discovered through our participation as a member denomination of the Council for World Mission.

Thus, we value our contacts with other denominations in and beyond Scotland, recognising that such engagement demonstrates our unity in Christ, but also carries many benefits as we work with and pray for such partners.