The classic ecumenical vision, ‘that they may all be one, so that the world may believe', has inspired heroic efforts to overcome historical divisions and to bring the separated churches together. But in what sense should Christians be ‘one’? At a time of uncertainty in the churches’ quest for greater unity, this question is being asked with increasing insistency.

After nearly a century, the ecumenical movement is now faltering. All major churches are committed to Christian unity and huge gains have been made, but now progress has slowed and ecumenism is only inching forward. Theologians are being forced to take a critical look at the goals, motives and methods of theological dialogue between different Christian traditions and to ask some searching questions.

Is ‘spiritual’ unity enough, or is it essential for unity to be visible? Is there more than one ‘path’ to unity? Has ecumenical theology used the Bible responsibly? Have we taken the diverse identities of Christian communities seriously enough? What happens to unity when we link it to God’s mission in the world? Are churches that have bishops right to insist that episcopacy is important to unity? Does the structural dimension of unity really matter?

In this book members of the Church of England’s Faith and Order Advisory Group set out to rethink ecumenical theology for our times. They examine critically the legacy of theological dialogue, pose particular challenges to Anglican ecumenical method, and chart a hopeful course for the future.

Contributors: Paul Avis, Martin Davie, Peter Fisher, Paula Gooder, Christopher Hill, John Hind, Joy Tetley and John Webster.