Dear BPCWA worshipper, Regular worshippers in BPCWA are probably familiar with the term, “ecumenism”. Today, on Reformation Sunday, it is important for us to revisit this subject and have a better understanding of what it means in Christianity today, and the proper response to it. Living in a war-torn world, many yearn for peace, and the call for unity rings loudly as it is seen as the means to end the strife. In Christendom, many today call for unity and commonness to “heal” the unnecessary “rift” which they believe the Reformation caused.

The Ecumenical Movement’s goal. The World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches work to bring about “a community of churches on the way to visible unity in one faith and one eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and in common life in Christ. The World Council of Churches (WCC) is the broadest and most inclusive among the many organized expressions of the modern ecumenical movement, a movement whose goal is Christian unity.” The United Methodist Church defines the ecumenical movement as, “From the Greek word oikoumene meaning the whole inhabited world. The movement in the church toward the unity of all Christians involving discussions and mutual activities between and among various denominations. The United Methodist Church has a longstanding commitment to and participation in a variety of unifying endeavors and organizations.” An article in the 2025 WCC “An Ecumenical Reader” publication states, “The ecumenical movement has consistently considered the kingdom of God as an essential biblical theme to support its work in the transformation of the world.” Supporting the message of the Social Gospel, they believe, “the goal of the ‘kingdom’ is life in its fullness. Hence, the kingdom has to do with the welfare of the whole person, not excluding the social, political, and economic aspects of life. Since God is interested in the life of the whole person, so must we”.

Ecumenism is a movement. Ecumenism is not an organisation, but a movement. We often talk about the WCC, but it is an organisation. Movements use organisations to spread their values to cause large-scale societal change, and as such can cause much wider damage. What this means is that the danger is not just going to be found merely in the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) or the WCC and its member churches, but in those who have this mindset. While we often pitch Reformation remembrances with a focus against the Roman Catholic Church, we cannot neglect the fact that even if we “avoid” the RCC, we can adopt an ecumenical mindset which will bring us back on the road to unity with the RCC. This is the danger of ecumenism. A pioneer of ecumenism who started dialogues between Anglicans and Catholics in 1921, Roman Catholic (RC) Cardinal Mercier, said, “In order to unite with one another, we must love one another. In order to love one another, we must know one another. In order to know one another, we must go and meet one another.” As such, the ecumenical movement adopts multi-faceted actions such as common Bible studies, exchange of spiritual experiences, joint worship in services of the Word, co-operation in mission, cultural, and social witness, and conservation to spread its beliefs. Cardinal Kasper at the 40th anniversary of the Joint Working Group between the RCC and the WCC in 2005 “gratefully acknowledge the good fruits of the ecumenical dialogue, particularly the rediscovery of Christian brotherhood among the members of the different Christian communities, which no longer consider each other as enemies or competitors but as brothers and sisters in Christ on the common pilgrimage towards full communion”. Just as we frown upon ecumenical efforts, they do likewise across the fence at us, noting, “we cannot overlook the . . . critique of the ecumenical movement, which comes not only from so-called fundamentalist groups but from some venerable old churches and serious theologians as well. . . We also observe the emergence of sometimes enormously growing new communities of an Evangelical . . . character, often only barely or not at all joining the ecumenical movement, if not openly hostile to it.” He continues to note that by advancing in the already given communion, “step by step, we may hope that, with the help of God’s Spirit who is always ready with surprises, we will find the way towards a common future.”

RCC ecumenism. It may come as a surprise to some to know that the RCC has a strong ecumenical agenda. During the 2^nd Vatican Council, a Decree on Ecumenism for “the restoration of unity among all Christians”, was overwhelmingly passed, marking a turning point of the RCC’s relations with Christian churches. This document laments that “many Christian communions” who “differ in mind and go their different ways” are “as if Christ Himself were divided” and “openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature.” If you recall that the RCC are now promoting a mindset, a set of values, then we must view ecumenism with even greater danger because the Decree on Ecumenism now carries the same message as that of those forwarding ecumenism in the Protestant realm – “that they all may be one”. Alluding to the Protestant Reformation, the Vatican claims that despite the split with the RCC, “the fullness of the unity of the Church of Christ has been maintained within the Catholic Church while other Churches and ecclesial Communities, though not in full communion with the Catholic Church, retain in reality a certain communion with it. . . This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time.”  To them, “the Catholic Church” (by dropping the “Roman” to the RCC they are now claiming to be the Universal Church) is one which has “faithful preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles and their successors—the Bishops with Peter’s successor at their head—through their administering the sacraments, and through their governing in love”, with “confession of one faith,… the common celebration of divine worship,… the fraternal harmony of the family of God”. “Full visible communion” of all Christians incorporated into the “apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head” is the ultimate goal of the ecumenical movement. With this, the Vatican allows that churches may “enjoy a proper freedom, in their various forms of spiritual life and discipline, in their different liturgical rites, and even in their theological elaborations of revealed truth”, provided that there is “unity in essentials”. In effect, the end goal of the RCC’s ecumenism is that other churches have communion with them by recognising the Pope as the episcopal head of all churches. In doing so, such churches may even continue with their respective forms of worship, since “diversity in the Church is a dimension of its catholicity”.   

I hope that reading this helps every worshipper understand the dangers of ecumenism. Biblical separation is never a popular doctrine. BPCWA, like any church that practises biblical separation, has been accused of being proud. Some wonder, ‘Why can’t we just be like other Christians who accept all Christians?”.  Eastern Orthodox Churches, Anglicans, Methodists, and many Evangelicals have openly joined the ecumenical bandwagon. Ecumenism is a movement that promotes and spreads its values through dialogue, prayer, joint activities, and even Bible studies. Ecumenists themselves acknowledge that these are very effective means of promoting ecumenism. Biblical separation is God’s wise and perfect solution to protect His children to hold on to the truth, so they won’t imbibe such values through joint spiritual activities with ecumenists. As you have heard from those in the ecumenical camp, their goal is the unity of all Christians. This unity includes the RCC, which has its eyes set on ecumenism to bring all churches back into communion with it. In view of the times, Christians have stopped calling themselves “Protestants”, and the RCC has dropped the “Roman” to make it seem that they are the Catholic (aka Universal) Church. Despite their so-called references to Synods and Councils, the RCC is ultimately episcopal, with one man, the Pope, at the top of the purported Catholic Church. The RCC hasn’t changed, but Christendom has. BPCWA must follow God’s prescription to stay healthy.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2Co 6:17-18)

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor