November 2017
“This [conversation] is what Luther had in mind when he wrote his 95 Theses. It took us 500 years.”
Monday, October 30, one day prior to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Calvinist, Lutheran, and Catholic leaders from across the Midwest gathered at Concordia University Chicago to discuss their separate traditions, the schism half a millennium prior, and their desire for a united future.
To begin the conversation, Manya Brachear Pashman, a religion reporter for the Chicago Tribune, asked the three gentleman a simple question, “what is the importance of this?”
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, the ninth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, began speaking of unity immediately. In reference to John 17, Jesus’ prayer for believers to be united, he directed the conversation saying, “it’s hard to celebrate an event, which divided the church when we are called to unity.”
Rev. Dr. Philip Ryken, President of Wheaton College, a Calvinist college in Chicagoland, responded saying, “in our Protestant circles we call it a celebration, but perhaps “commemoration” is better; not everything was to be celebrated.”
Ryken continued, speaking highly of the movements of the Catholic church toward unity, such as Pope Francis’s summit in Sweden one year prior, an event repeatedly mentioned in Monday’s conversation. At this event, the Pope and members of the Catholic and Lutheran communities gathered to discuss and sign a document saying, “rooted in Christ and witnessing to him, we renew our determination to be faithful heralds of God’s boundless love for all humanity.” The Pope and cosigners spoke of their goals for unity so forwardly, potential for taking the Eucharist together was discussed.
Ryken concluded his point saying, “we need to talk more about disagreements as the Church, as theologians, as friends.”
Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, president of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, agreed, mentioning more growth happens when leaders are “honest about differences than when they sweep them under the rug.”
Throughout the conversation, the men did just that, briefly discussing the “solas” vs. merit, purgatory, and predestination, causing one of the most memorable moments of the night when Harrison and Cupich shared a high-five in response to the archbishop’s comment, “I’m not into predestination.”
Harrison continued the discussion of unity acknowledging the biggest divides are often within denominations not between them.
Pashman grasped this point as an opportunity to ask what reunification between the traditions would look like. She was met with thoughtful pause.
Harrison spoke first, mentioning the difficulty of reunification happening within his lifetime; “we live under the cross of division.”
Ryken responded, “we also live under the hope of unity in Jesus.” He believes there can be unity and is not necessarily looking for it structurally.
Cupich added he hopes and believes the traditions will be united, especially with an upcoming generation of young people he doesn’t believe will “put up with this division in the Church.” Cupich continued the idea on where to start the process: dialogue amongst leaders, which leads to empathy and sympathy, saying, “it takes a lot of courage to sit across a table from someone and listen to them tell you why you’re wrong.’
To conclude, the trio began speaking on the space which would be best for them to begin: social issues. Harrison gave the closing quote of the evening saying, “sin is endemic in individuals and institutions. It’s so enormous, we must work for something better.”
Time for the conversation ran out. As for conversations like this, however, this is only the beginning.
If you haven’t had the chance, watch the full dialogue here.
Note: A variation of this article was submitted as a school homework assignment by writing intern, Sarah Chew, on November 3, 2017.