Foreword

Michael E. Livingston

Welcome, readers, to the first issue of Speaking of Unity, an electronic journal published by the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Speaking of Unity is intended as a journal of reception and engagement focused on ecumenical documents produced in multi-lateral theological settings. Ecumenical texts produced by groups representing a wide variety of Christian voices, considerations of the nature of multi-lateral theological dialogue and on the reception of dialogue results, reflections on the changing landscape of multi-lateral ecumenical theology, a place to find new ecumenical texts for the first time and to chew on their import, in an easily-accessed format: this is what we hope Speaking of Unity will provide for ourselves and others.

The matters addressed, the questions raised, on the goals and means of the ecumenical endeavor in this first issue of Speaking of Unity are central not only to the work of Faith and Order but also to the entirety of our life together as partners in a pilgrimage of mutuality and unity. The deepening of our sense of community for which we long is dependent on our capacity to learn to understand one another and to speak in ways that are meaningful to us all. I am pleased to launch Speaking of Unity as I begin my service as president of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.

Michael E. Livingston
President