Models of unity

1. What models of unity do we draw from everyday experience? (family, army, country, choir) 10 mins.

Draw on people's experience of unity and disunity in various life contexts. You might suggest the examples given above. What are the strengths and weaknesses of particular models of unity? For example, a family may become inwardly focussed; an army gains power from uniformity; and so forth. Involve people in this discussion and ask for their contributions or suggestions of other models. Do not at this stage allow discussion to focus on the church.

2. What picture of unity do we have for the church? (unity of love, truth, witness - One wind, many flames, p.58) 15 mins.

Each person has different pictures of what Christian unity means. One author has identified three elements to those pictures: the unity of love, the unity of truth, the unity of witness. The first emphasis is primarily about relationships with other Christians, the second stresses agreement in faith and the gospel message, the third focuses on Christian action and proclamation in the world. This exercise invites members of the group to identify which of these emphases is personally most important to them.

Explain these concepts to the group, and make sure they understand the distinctions you are drawing. Identify four corners of the room as "love", "truth", "witness" and a fourth corner for those who cannot relate to any of the others, ("Don't know, don't care, let me out of here"). Ask participants to go the place in the room that they feel most identified with. This could be a corner, or it could be partway between two or three corners expressing a sense of balance. Ask them to do this quickly without thinking too hard about it.

Once everyone is in position, put the question, "How does it feel to be where you are?" It may be best to put this question first to people who are 'out on a limb' or at the extreme corners of the room, and then to people located more towards the centre. Allow people to express their comfort level at being alone or in a cluster. This can be quite a lively process as people relate to each other's positions. Some may wish to move once they hear others' sentiments!

Put a second question, "Ideally, in your personal opinion, where should we be located as a parish [or group] in our ecumenical action?" Some people may move when you ask this question, and you can ask them to explain why.

Put a third question, "Realistically speaking, what can our ecumenical action express in our particular situation?" Likely more people will move as they think about what the parish is prepared to do or about the interests of your potential ecumenical partners. Ask them to explain. After any discussion, invite people to sit down again.

This "human graph" in itself illustrates a model of unity-in-diversity within the parish as foreseen by the Directory on Ecumenism, § 67. If you have time, you may wish to comment on or explore the ramifications of what you have learned about the different approaches to ecumenism within the parish.