Which ecumenism?
Christians seek the unity for which Christ prayed by looking together to the "faith of the church through the ages." This gospel truth embodied in the scripture and Christian history is what is meant by Christian orthodoxy. Competing claims to this core of the Christian message have given rise to tragic divisions, all in the name of defending Christian orthodoxy.
The search for a common orthodoxy is essential to the ecumenical task. The transmission of the Christian faith is the core of evangelization. Says Thomas C. Oden: "Every generation is subject to being reminded when necessary where the center is." In this set of essays, the author attempts to contribute to this search.
Oden is known for his sociopolitical engagement in ecumenical debates through the Institute on Religion and Democracy. However, his substantive contribution has been to the patristic revival, especially among evangelical Christians, and in his earlier work on systematic theology. In this volume he draws on all of these interests to present a very personal, always engaging and sometimes learned argument.
