Published in the Fiji Times - Off the Wall on Wednesday 3rd December, 2014
The Wesleyan / Methodist Tradition
John Wesley,
the founder of the Methodist movement described religious liberty as the
“liberty to choose one’s one religion, to worship God according to one’s own
conscience.” He insisted that every person living had a right to do this.
Wesley’s Essay, The Character of
a Methodist, attempted to speak for all Methodists, as well as himself: “…from
real Christians of whatsoever denomination they be,” he wrote, “we earnestly
desire not to be distinguished at all… Dost thou love and serve God? It is
enough. I give the right hand of fellowship.”
Wesley also believed in religious liberty for Roman Catholics and was an
ardent campaigner against all forms of straightforward persecution. He included
the hymns of Roman Catholic priest John Austin and the dissenter Isaac Watts in
the Methodist Hymnbook. His ecumenically celebrated, Letter to a Roman Catholic, was written in 1749 in Dublin. In it
Wesley admits that bitterness exists on both sides set out to clarify what “a
true Protestant” believed and what he though both groups were agreed on, those
essentials which correspond with “primitive Christianity.” Hel pleaded that
they “love alike,” even if they could not “as yet think alike in all things.”
Ted Runyon writes that in
the context of the challenges facing the ecumenical movement today, “John
Wesley emerges from the eighteenth century as a surprisingly ecumenical
figure.” Wesley has, therefore, an important contribution to make to the
current ecumenical challenges.
Wesley’s ecumenism was limited to a
broadminded definition of the Church as, “the catholic to church is, all
persons in the universe whom God hath so called out of the world as to entitle
them to the preceding character,” referring the biblical concepts of having one
body, one Spirit, one hope in Jesus, one baptism and one God living in his
people. Wesley was willing to learn from the theology of other traditions,
accepting what he agreed with and rejecting what he disagreed with. In this
regard Wesley was supportive of recognising the visible unity and engagement in
dialogue that the current ecumenical movement seeks.
The Methodist Church in Fiji and Ecumenism
The
Methodist Church in Fiji has historically been an ecumenical church, and was
instrumental in the establishment of the Pacific Theological College (the
Pacific’s first regional Protestant theological institute) and the Pacific
Conference of Churches. It is a member of the World Council of Churches and of
both the Fiji Council of Churches and Assembly of Christian Churches in Fiji.
Ecumenical matters also have a place with the agenda of the church’s annual
conference, although in the recent past this has been ignored as much of the
focus has been internal.
This year, the 50th year of being an independent
conference, the Methodist Church embarked on a reflective and revisioning
process for finding a way forward. Part of this process included the
recognition of the Methodist heritage of ecumenism within the Fijian context.
This means celebrating the traditional Fijian values of relationship,
community, mutuality and reciprocity which are also hallmarks of the Ecclesia Primitiva; while at the same
time opening eyes, ears and hearts to embrace the wider community of faith.
This embrace of the wider community of faith is part
of the new ecumenical paradigm. The challenge of embracing ecumenism more fully
so that the spirit of kononia
permeates all of Fijian society is a necessary challenge. But it is an
encounter with other members of the body of Christ who are also seeking to
manifest just peace in their communities. Such engagement is not only a
reminder that we are not alone, but also an opportunity to struggle together,
from the global to the local level for God’s shalom.
Last year’s 10th World
Council of Churches General Assembly in Busan, South Korea, had for its theme
the cry, “God of life, lead us to justice and peace!” This echoed the
ecumenical call at the 2010 International Ecumenical Peace Convocation for just
peace in the community, with the earth, in the marketplace and among people.
From a Methodist perspective, the unconditional love of God and for God’s
people, if expressed truthfully by the community of faith, should lead to a
just peace in society – social holiness
The process of developing new
Connexional or strategic plan for the Methodist Church has seen ecumenism and
inter-faith dialogue being included as one of the 12 pillars for the Methodist
Church in Fiji:
This is an important aspect of our Nation building. Our
society is pluralistic in nature. Ignorance, misunderstanding or having a
distorted version of your neighbour’s culture and religion are obstacles to
healthy nation building. Cross-cultural and religious communication and studies
of our neighbours culture and religion should help with our mutual love and
trust to guide us along the road of our Nation Building.
The Connexional Plan’s
Key Strategic Area #5 has the component of this pillar as Healing of the
nation through strengthening relationship intra / inter church and inter
religion (as well as civil society and government). The Intent of this Key
Strategic Area is as follows:
·
That the Church encourages its members to have
greater understanding and fellowship with other communities.
·
Acknowledgement of God’s Presence in Advocating
Solidarity through the Whole Nation by ensuring democratic governance.
·
Encourage healing and reconciliation in Fiji
beginning with members of the Church
·
That a more down to earth process of healing and
reconciliation be implemented to foster better understanding, spirit of
goodwill, mutual respect and tolerance
This Sunday, 7th December, leaders and members
of the Christian community in Fiji are expected to gather at Centenary
Methodist Church for a special ecumenical worship service to celebrate the
contributions of the late Archbishop Jabez Bryce,Archbishop Emeritus Petero
Mataca and the late Rev. Dr. Tuikilakila Waqairatu to the Ecumenical Movement
in their ministries.
In an interesting twist, to celebrate the close
relationship of the churches, speakers from the Methodist, Anglican, and Roman
Catholic Churches will each pay tribute to a leader who is not from their own
community of faith.
Religious, political and community leaders have also been
invited to the service which begins at 3pm.
Simplicity, Serenity, Spontaneity
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