Meaning of Ecumenism - What it is, Definition and Concept

Ecumenism is a movement or tendency within Christianity that aspires to the unity of the churches , in order to overcome divisions.Of the Latin oecumenicus or «inhabited land », The term was used in the Roman Empire to refer to the territories dominated by Rome where Christians were based, expressing the world as a totality that exceeded geographical boundaries, in reference to conquered lands.

Ecumenism indicates a idea of ​​union , as a whole, on the basis of love, companerism and fellowship seeking to unify or at least bring churches together to work together, understanding that they are all part of the body of Christ.

Ecumenism officially begins at the beginning of the 20th century in Scotland, in a missionary context and a Protestant environment, when a group of Christian church leaders agreed to carry forward the unity of the churches of the world.

Delayed by the world war, just in 1948 representatives from more than 145 churches meet in Amsterdan to form the world council of churches.

In the construction of new bridges over old chasms that separated Christians, the goal of ecumenism is the brotherhood of Christian communities and not the creation of a super church.

The majority of orthodox churches on the planet are part of the world council of churches, as are most of the traditional ones that emerged from the Protestant reform such as the Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran and Reformed, as well as other independent churches.

The Roman Catholic Apostolic Church, the world's largest ecclesial body, is not part of the world council of churches, since it considers that the split between Orthodox and Protestants is a deep wound to the church of Christ .

Catholicism began a parallel movement aimed at the unity of Christians, at the same time as the Protestants movement.

Ecumenism aspires to high ideals as the union of old traditions prior to Christianity as the Jewish religion, and those born a posteriori, such as Islamic; difficult and complex objective but necessary for a global coexistence in harmony.

Synonyms of ecumenism

universal, international, global, general

Antonimos of ecumenism

national, local