The Ecumenical Significance of the Rediscovery of Synodality in the Roman Catholic Church: Conversation in the Spirit and Ecumenical Humility

Join-Lambert, Arnaud
(2025) The Centenary of the Malines Conversations and Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue Today — Location: Malines / Mechelen, Belgium (18.September.2025)

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Contemporary ecumenism faces a troubling paradox: while theological foundations for Christian unity have never been stronger, practical advances remain limited. This presentation examines how the Catholic Church’s rediscovery of synodality, particularly through the methodological innovation of “spiritual conversation”, offers new pathways for ecumenical renewal. The central hypothesis argues that the most significant contribution lies in the “how” rather than the “why” of ecumenical dialogue. Drawing on ARCIC III’s adoption of receptive ecumenism and the pneumatological foundations of synodal discernment, this presentation demonstrates how spiritual conversation transforms ecumenical methodology by privileging shared experience over doctrinal argumentation. The presentation applies this approach to concrete issues, particularly the advancement of communicatio in sacris in Anglican-Catholic relations, showing how methodological renewal can break through institutional stagnation. By introducing the concept of “ecumenical humility” inspired by social sciences research on cultural humility, the presentation proposes five criteria for implementing authentic spiritual conversation in interconfessional dialogue. The conclusion suggests that this synodal approach to ecumenism could revitalize the quest for Christian unity by enabling communities to anticipate the promised unity while maintaining theological integrity.
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Join-Lambert, A. (2025). The Ecumenical Significance of the Rediscovery of Synodality in the Roman Catholic Church: Conversation in the Spirit and Ecumenical Humility. The Centenary of the Malines Conversations and Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue Today, Malines / Mechelen, Belgium. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/256192