Despite efforts and pronouncements by church leaders in public for church unity, ecumenism seems to be a mirage, writes EJIKEME OMENAZU (ejike _Omenazu@ yahoo.com

One issue which churches and Bible Scholars usually refer to but find it difficult or uneasy to discuss is Ecumenism. Ecumenism, according to theologians, seeks to unify the churches as one body of Christ.

Thus it could be said that this high sounding word seeks to bring about the much talked about church unity.

In the real sense of the word, Ecumenism is expected to bring all churches under one umbrella, for the unity of the churches, in fulfillment of Christ’s prayer in John 17:11 before his ascension.

In this verse, Christ says, "and now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world and I come to thee Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou has given me, that they may be one, as we are" (KJV).

In other to forge Christian unity and to discuss vital issues that tended to divide rather than unity the church, a Pope once summoned the Ecumenical Council. The ideals of ecumenism has made Bible Scholars to talk of the Universal Church which has Christ as the Head.

In some parts of the world, especially America and Europe, those are in existence few ecumenical bodies or groups made up of top clergymen, in their dire need to forge Christian unity in line with the Lord’s prayer in John 17:11.

The unification Movement of Rev Sung Myung Moon of South Korea was formed in this direction although some Christian groups have tried to write it off as occultic for trying to carry along all world religious including traditionalists in its programmes.

Its seeming protection and encouragement of derelict priests, especially of Catholic and Anglican fold has continued to distance the moonies from hardline Christian groups even though it commands fellowship and recognition all over the world due to its people-oriented and family-related programmes.

However, despite all effort, it has become an uphill task to have a universal ecumenical body in control of the churches worldwide.

Infact, the successes of the existing ecumenical groups cannot easily be measured. Yet Christendom has continued to talk on the possibility of the unity of the body of Christ.

In Nigeria, for instance, there are several groups and associations that have been formed by church leaders in other to promote the idea of church unity. Yet, or cannot say that the church in Nigeria is united.

Groups like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Untied Christian global Association of Nigeria, (UCGAN) , Christian Council of Churches and Organisation of African Indigenous Churches (OAIC) for the white garment or Aladura Churches) have tended to divide the churches along doctrinal lines rather than unifying them despite efforts of the likes of Archbishop Dr. Abraham Oyeniran and other church fathers.

Although all the churches use one Holy Bible, believe in God the father, the son and the Holy spirit, there are some churches that do not regard God the father as co-equal to the son and the Holy spirit. Thus such churches do not abide by the doctrine of the Trinity.

Issues like Christmas and Easter have tended to make some Christian sects to disagree with the others as the accuracy of dates set aside in Christian calendar for the observation of the significant dates of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection.

Also, a lot of Christian groups do not believe that a sect like the Jehova witnesses are real Christians even though they are deeply involved in house to house evangelism by sending their people out in twos as Christ taught His disciples.

Speaking on the issue, Rev Dr. Felix Nwosu, General Overseer of Christ Foundation Sabbath Mission said that God intended the church to be one but that problem started during the construction of the Tower of Babel when mankind wanted to attain the height of God instead of making the structure a place of worship.

Rev. Nwosu maintained that ecumenism cannot be achieved if there is no oneness in the body of Christ.

"But with God, all things are possible. If we see ourselves as people serving the same God, then we can achieve ecumenism. But when people do not see everyone as serving one God, how can we achieve it?", he wondered.

He continued: "Until we see ourselves as one and not as Catholics, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Evangelicals, Orthodox, Christ Army, White Government, etc, there will not be unity in the body of Christ.

"Until people agree, they cannot work together. Until then, ecumenism will only be in theory not in practice," he added.

Explaining further he said the problem is only doctrinal. According to him, all churches use the same Bible, use the same praise songs, do deliverance, but some do not see the old and New Testaments as one.

He also cited the construction of the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja which was so delayed for years when Muslims finished theirs without a hitch.

He maintained that some churches had enough fund to construct the National Ecumenical Centre on their own but could not bring such money out as it does not belong to anyone of them.

He contended that with several churches owning universities and magnificent Cathedrals here and there, the amount to be used to construct the ecumenical centre would have been nothing for them.

Rev. Nwosu lamented that the centre was delayed so much due to disunity in the body of Christ until the Federal Government had to pump in money for its completion.

In his contribution, in Nigerian missionary in Thailand, South East Asia, Apostle Dr. Kanayo Success Uchime told this writer hat denominationalism is the bane of ecumenism not only in Nigeria but worldwide.

He said that although Christians use the same Bible, believe in one God, one Christ and one Holy Spirit, people find it difficult to come together to hold common Christian progmmes to win more souls for Christ.

Hear him: "Catholics find it difficult to go to Pentecostals. Pentecostals find it difficult o worship with Anglicans. Anglicans will not accept Deeper Life Christian Church. The Redeemed Christian church of God (RCCG) will not accept The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

"Churches do not freely borrow benches, chairs or instruments from other churches. When you go out on evangelism, people want to know which denomination you represent. When you invite people for services or programmes, they will first want to know if the pastor is Igbo or Hausa or Yoruba."

Apostle Uchime said the story is the same in mission fields as the same questions keep reoccurring. He said that even when people team up in mission fields, the problem of which church to hand over the souls won usually bring disagreement and crises.

He lamented that Pentecostals and those of Orthodox group find it difficult or even impossible to enter white garment churches to preach.

Apostle Uchime said that full blown ecumenism is impossible to achieve. As he put it: "May be there may be something like spiritual ecumenism but in the physical, it is difficult."

He stressed that in Nigeria, the "Born Again" syndrome and the notion of "Bible Believing Churches" and the act of speaking in Tongues have tended to bring disunity between Pentecostals and Orthodox churches even as the existence of CAN, PFN, UGC AN, OAIC had continued to show the disunity in the body of Christ.

In his view, Deputy Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South West zone, Bishop Dr. George Amu said also that ecumenism is not possible.

Bishop Amu who is also the CAN Secretary General in Lagos state as well as General Overseer of Good News Bible Church stressed that with doctrinal differences all over, the places, there is no way Christendom can achieve ecumenism.

Hear him: "You are running a church and I am running a Church.

Tell me, will you throw away the doctrine of your church and adopt mine?"

However, in one of the booklet explaining its objectives, a non-denominational Christian organization the World Rescue Ministries International, (WORMINL.) stated that the name of Jesus is the name all Christians identify with, be they Catholic, Pentecostals, Aladuras, etc. it says, the name is a unifying force through which all Christians should speak with one voice.

Still citing John 17:11, the group said it intends to promote Christian unity through the unifying force of the name of Jesus.

Thus the ministry, which has a business gum, Prince Ben Ukadike, a long time Deacon with the Assemblies of God church as the Visioner and International Co-ordinator said it intends to achieve church unity through its December 26 Jesus 50 million Man and the United Jesus Easter Rally which holds Easter Monday.

Thus WORMINT mobilizes all churches for full participation in its programmes, especially the crowd-pulling rallies which it had continued to hold in all local governments in Nigeria since 2006.

This year it plans to take the rallies to some African countries in other to demonstrate the universality of its vision.

However, from all indication, ecumenism has remained what it has always been, a mere verbal pronouncements with little or no effort by church leaders to bring it to reality.

How far they can go in doing the will of God without achieving the goal of Jesus Christ as encapsulated in John 17:11 remains to be seen.

But, as Rev. Felix Nwosu canvassed, there is need for change of orientation by church leaders. He said that church fathers in Nigeria and elsewhere should begin to see themselves as one. He gave the example of John Wilson, Founder of The Baptist Church whose orientation changed after he saw a vision of "The saints who are washed by the Blood of the Lamb," which also affected his mode of delivering the word of God.

Nwosu concluded however that what Christ was talking about in John 17:11 is spiritual rather than physical stressing that those who worship God in spirit and truth are one with God, which he noted was the message of Christ to the woman of Samaria.