Comments for Presbyterian church ecumenical relations since its 1983 reunion at http://pres-outlook.com , comment 1 to 2 out of 2 comments http://pres-outlook.com Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:46:40 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://pres-outlook.com/opinion/guest-commentary/7184.html#comment-3880 Dear Mr. Turner: It has been pointed out to me that my first Reader Response may have been overstated and therefore may have generated more confusion than help. Let me try again. It strikes me as odd, peculiar, incongruous, and perhaps even ironic that on the one hand the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a proud history of leadership in the ecumenical movement, which you have so helpfully reviewed for us, while on the other hand no small effort is being made in the denomination today to plead with, if not to berate, belittle, and reprimand, any ministers, members, or congregations who make even the slightest indication that they might be interested in considering joining some other denomination. If we are genuinely ecumenical, it would seem that we would have to rejoice over the freedom of people to move among various Christian denominations. If we distressed by seeing people move among the various denominations, especially when they move away from the one in which we live and serve, perhaps we are not so ecumenical as we have thought. I realize this goes beyond what you wrote about. But isn't it strange? - James Goodloe Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:00:00 +0100 http://pres-outlook.com/opinion/guest-commentary/7184.html#comment-3877 Dear Mr. Turner: If the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is as ecumenical as you say, how is it that certain voices in the Presbyterian Church condemn as having left the one true church those members who go to other churches or denominations? It would seem that the presumption behind such intolerance could only be that the PC(USA) is the whole of the true church. Conversely, it would seem that ecumenism would facilitate if not actually foster and encourage movement among various branches of the church. Perhaps our ecumenism is not as vital as you suggest. - James Goodloe Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:00:00 +0100