Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityThe term ecumenical is not a new word. It comes to us from two Greek words which, combined, mean "of one world, "united," or "world-wide." But in modern usage, the word "ecumenical" has assumed new implications. It is the word that has been peculiarly adopted by the movement to unite Christians the world over, the movement which has manifested itself in conferences in Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and other places, too numerous to mention.
The goal of the ecumenical movement is unity, but unity of a special kind--unity of spirit. This goal has been determined by the leaders of the movement through years of study and work. The readiness of the Church now to accept and comprehend a concept of spiritual unity is apparent because of the movements within the Church and the outside movements affecting the Church throughout all the years of its history.
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Today the entire world, Christians or not, is "one-world" conscious. We have reached the realization that the only way we will have unity is to achieve it in the minds and hearts of the people themselves. As Christians we believe that the Church has a task, a task which will require the efforts of all of us, a task whose goal is unity, whose aim through this goal is salvation, and whose only alternative is destruction.
The Church of Christ has always been a singing church, expressing in time of joy and in time of need its deepest emotions in its songs of prayer and praise. This music of the Church has been a powerfUl uniting force in the past and is capable of expanding power to help meet the needs of the future
