Recent events have highlighted the need for dialogue within the church and structures and processes to bring differing groups of people together. The need for this has precedence in Scripture when disagreements among the Christian community in Corinth concerned Paul: “I am for Paul, I am for Apollos” (1 Cor 1:12).
The Lantern Set is a 12 part series on evangelisation published by the Columban Mission Institute to assist parishes and schools prepare for World Youth Day in Sydney. At that time, we recognised the divisions in the Church - in Australia as elsewhere. Number 4 in The Lantern Set called Dialogue Within the Church addresses this awareness. Much progress has been made in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. But what of intra-church dialogue?
At this time of the celebration of the Resurrection of the One who greets us with “Peace be with you”, we must lead by example. Situations of disagreement can be a catalyst for the beginning of processes of dialogue between differing groups within our church.
For some stories and practical discussion topics, see Lantern #4 “Dialogue Within the Church”.
The other 11 topics in the series are equally relevant for evangelisation.
- Who do you say I am
- Dialogue with Australian Culture
- The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Dialogue within the Church
- The Marginalised
- Interreligious Dialogue
- Immigration & Refugees
- Environmental Dialogue
- Live Simply, Justly and at Peace
- Reconciliation
- Mission Spirituality
- Local inculturated church
To obtain The Lantern Set in an attractive folder Order Online Now or contact:
Anne Lanyon
Co-ordinator of the Centre for Peace Ecology and Justice,
Locked Bag 2002
Strathfield NSW 2135
Phone: 02 9352 8021
Email: pej.cmi@columban.org.au