By Angela E. Pometto
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/27/05)

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity started last week at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Arlington where Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, Lutheran Bishop Theodore Schneider and Episcopal Bishop Collin Jones gathered together to pray for unity among Christians. The theme for this year’s week of prayer was "Christ, the One Foundation of the Church."

The prayer service, with nearly 100 in attendance, included readings from the Bible, hymns and prayers for forgiveness and unity. The Rev. Christopher Agnew delivered the sermon.

"We don’t proclaim the Lutherans, Methodists, Evangelicals or Catholics," Rev. Agnew said. "We proclaim the Lamb of God."

Rev. Agnew encouraged participants not to take each denomination too seriously. "But always take seriously the One who we serve," he said.

"Far too often Christians have not been known by their love … but for their division rather than unity," he said. "The Lamb of God calls us to lay aside division so that the world can believe."

He continued by pointing out that all Christians have two common authorities. It is a Christian’s duty to be faithful to the teachings of Christ, as handed down by the apostles, and to be faithful to the kingdom of heaven.

"This understanding raises the conversation to a level we can all embrace," said Bishop Jones.

"It’s always uplifting to be joined with other Christians," said Bishop Loverde. "The Holy Father reminds us at all times of the importance of Christian unity."

Bishop Loverde referred to the pope’s angelus address on Jan. 16.

"I invite every community to organize significant gestures of ecumenical encounter and dialogue and to implore from God the gift of the full unity of Christ’s disciples," the pope said. He also entrusted the ecumenical movement into the hands of the Blessed Mother.

"Unity has got to be founded on trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," said Bishop Jones, adding that there is a deep sense of unity with Christian leaders in Virgina.

"We all have issues beyond us in our own churches," he said. "Those shouldn’t distract us from the work of mission. We’ll be together one day in Christ."

Bishop Schneider is impressed that ecumenism has become so highly valued.

"When three bishops stand side by side, it’s a different day," he said, adding that the three bishops are now on a first name basis with each other and have established a level of comfort.

"The sharing is genuine and mutual," Bishop Schneider said. "We respect one another’s uniqueness."

The sight of the three bishops was inspiring to many who attended the prayer service.

"Everything they were saying was taken with a different ear," said Lee Hanson, a member of Resurrection Lutheran.

"No one is trying to change us," she said. "There is an opening up instead of a giving up."

Franciscan Father Bob Menard from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle was a little disappointed that there weren’t more people in attendance, especially young people and children.

"(Ecumenism) is the most important thing for the Church," he said. "It’s rooted in the heart and mind of Christ and is a priority of John Paul II."