Responding to the divisions in American society and the biblical call to Christian unity, leaders from over 20 Christian denominations and organizations released December 9 a joint prayer as part of their “leading action” coming out of the annual Forum of Christian Churches Together (CCT).
The prayer calls upon the Holy Spirit to “remove the divisions and historical inequities between Christians and in society.”
Representatives from CCT’s five “families” of churches—Catholic, Orthodox, Historic Black, Evangelical/Pentecostal, and Mainline Protestant—met in Indianapolis (called the “crossroads of America” in Indiana), in October for the CCT Forum, where they engaged in shared worship, a prayer pilgrimage, spiritual reflection, and theological learning from leading voices in Christianity, including Gloria Gaither, Adam Taylor from Sojourners, and Adelle Banks from Religion New Service. The theme of this year’s Forum was ‘Who does Jesus call our Christian churches to be in a polarized society?’
Faith leaders adopted by consensus a prayer, which represents the “leading action” that comes out of this Forum. The prayer conveys some of the wisdom, lamentations, and hopes raised during the Forum, with the closing of the prayer left open for each community to end in its own way, according to a press release by Religion News Service.
Concerns around racial inequities and divisions of all kinds prompted vigorous, and sometimes contentious, dialogue as the CCT leaders crafted the document. It was out of this difficult conversation that the participants discerned the need for supplication, asking God to help them ensure that “each voice in our churches be heard, that we might be a balm for suffering, a bridge from brokenness to life abundant, a shining beacon of hope, and a sign raised high among the nations and the world.”
Formed in 2001, CCT’s primary focus is on relationship-building and mutual understanding rather than theological agreement. This feature has created the ideal context for Christians from very diverse communities and often with very different convictions to come together in a unique and holy manner.
In a letter accompanying the prayer released from this year’s Forum, the Presidents of CCT expressed their hope “that it will be shared widely among the body of Christ and that you will add your own laments and hopes to ours through the act of speaking aloud and knotting together written prayers,” as participants did during the pilgrimage of prayer.
For the full text of the prayer, please visit christianchurchestogether.org/annual-forum.
