Our Work
The Glenmary Ecumenical Commission is a ministry of Glenmary Home Missioners that seeks to reduce alienation, enhance understanding and foster reconciliation between
Evangelicals and Catholics through dialogue based in friendship.
This work is typically understood as ecumenism, the work of deepening Christian unity.
Ecumenism was highlighted as “one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council” (Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, no. 1) and has played an important role throughout various Evangelical renewal and mission movements. Recognizing that Christ has founded one Church, the work of ecumenism seeks to establish deeper unity between Christians through dialogue and friendship.
It is this dual commitment of dialogue and friendship that has led Glenmary to establish the Glenmary Ecumenical Commission.
Who is Glenmary
Glenmary Home Missioners is a Catholic missionary society focused on doing mission work in rural regions of the US in both Appalachia and the South. Although ecumenism has always played an important role in the work of Glenmary since its founding in 1939, the trajectory of the work of Christian unity came to a more definitive shape in the 1960’s when, in harmony with movements taking place in the Catholic Church during that period,
Glenmary increased its ecumenical efforts,
especially with Southern Baptists.
Glenmary Ecumenical Commission
Years later the Glenmary Ecumenical Commission, made up of both Catholics and Evangelicals, carries on this desire for Christian unity by offering friendship, engaging in dialogue, praying with other Christians and working to create avenues of understanding and convergence in order to join in Christ’s own prayer that his Church may be one (Jn. 17:21). They also hire, and collaborate with the Director of Ecumenism, whose ministry is one of national ecumenical leadership, on behalf of Glenmary, the Commission, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Current GEC Members:
Rev. Alvin Edwards, PhD (Baptist)
Doug Foster, PhD (Church of Christ)
Fr. Ken Wandera (Glenmary Home Missioners)
Nathan Smith (Director of Ecumenism, Glenmary Home Missioners)
Fr. Aaron Wessman, PhD (Glenmary Home Missioners)