Marty, Forbes confirmed speakers
for Faith & Order 50th anniversary

Washington, D.C., April 26, 2006—The Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches USA has approved an exciting program for its 50th anniversary celebration, which will be held in Oberlin, Ohio, July 19-23, 2007. Dr. Martin Marty (right), a distinguished theologian, church scholar and Lutheran pastor; and, Rev. Dr. James Forbes (below), renowned preacher, theologian and Senior Minister of The Riverside Church in New York; have both been confirmed to speak at the celebratory event.  

Focused on the theme, “On Being Christian Together: The Faith and Order Experience in the United States,” the Commission will mark a half century of Christian communities working to strengthen the unity of the Church by engaging one another through dialogue and research on the theological differences that divide our churches. Since its first meeting in Oberlin in 1957, the Commission has worked tirelessly to advance ecumenism and to discover new ways to state the core truths of Christian faith together. 

One session entitled, “Voices of Christian Communities Not Now at the Faith and Order Table,” has been planned to address how to continue broadening participation from Evangelical, Pentecostal and Holiness churches as well as other Christian communities who do not regularly participate in the Commission’s work.  

Other sessions during the four-day conference will include: “Faith and Order in a Post-modern World,” “Issues Facing Ecumenism,” and “Faith and Order in the Context of Religious Plurality.” 

As many as 500 participants, observers and members of the press are expected to attend this significant milestone in the ecumenical movement. As speakers, workshops and other plans for the 50th anniversary conference on Faith and Order are being finalized, organizers are soliciting the prayers of the entire Christian community for this important celebration.  

For more information on the 50th anniversary celebration, click here www.ncccusa.org/news/060106faocelebration.html. 

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Contact: Keelan Downton at kdownton@ncccusa.org for more information.

Media should contact: Leslie Tune at ltune@ncccusa.org or (202) 481-6927. 

Faith and Order Commission’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Program At-a-Glance* 

Overall Theme: “Being Christian Together: The Faith and Order Experience in the United States” 

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Focus: Journeying Together for Fifty Years

• Anniversary Banquet 

Friday, July 20, 2007

Focus: The Nature of Our Journey 

• Morning Prayer
• Oberlin: Many Streams at One Place
• Noonday Prayer
• Visions of Christian Unity
• Voices of Christian Communities Not Now at the Faith and Order Table
• Evening Prayer
• Social Space and Oikumene Film Festival

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Focus: The Context of Our Journey 

• Morning Prayer
• Evaluating Our Work
• Noonday Prayer
• Faith and Order in a Post-modern World
• Catholic Vigil Mass
• Faith and Order in the Context of Religious Plurality
• Evening Prayer
• Social Space and Oikumene Film Festival

 Sunday, July 22, 2007

Focus: The Future of Our Journey 

• Opportunities for Confessional Eucharistic Worship or Prayer (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Churches Uniting in Christ, Unprogrammed (silence-based) Quaker Meeting, and Emergent)
• Issues Facing Ecumenism
• Hearing from Participants, Observers and Auditors
• Evening Service: Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Senior Minister, The Riverside Church, New York, NY

Monday, July 23, 2007 

• Morning Prayer
• Leave-taking and Departure

*Visit www.ncccusa.org for periodic updates of the conference program agenda