Visionaries Meet in Owensboro

Marriages, work places, charities - you name the
part of life, and it's probably a place where today's Christians
need to understand our own faith traditions well enough to explain
them, and where we need to listen while others explain theirs.



This is one of the many insights that emerged as the newly forming
Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs Commission of the Catholic
Diocese of Owensboro met on July 6th. That Diocese has been a
full member of the Kentucky Council of Churches since 1984.



Spearheaded by Father Tony Bickett of Hardinsburg, the group of
lay persons, religious and priests is proposing to engage in some
activities that all 22 judicatories of the Council member communions
will want to watch. For instance, the commission will send a questionnaire
to parishes inquiring about local ministerial associations, prayer
services and vacation Bible schools held jointly with other Christian
denominations, social service organizations that are also jointly
run, and any other ecumenical activities of note. This information
will help them design educational and communications tools that
are supportive of an ecumenical way of life in the parishes and
their communities.



The ecumenical commitment of church judicatory leaders can be
extended and made effective in dozens of ways when there is group
willing and able to carry the work forward on a week-to-week basis.
From my perspective in the KCC offices, it is exciting to have
this new partner with whom to work. Let's all stayed tuned for
updates from this group!