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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Church leaders call for closer ties

Mary Stamp Special to The Spokesman-Review

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Despite historical tensions with the “mainline” churches that predominate in the World Council of Churches, evangelical and Pentecostal church leaders are among those attending and speaking here, as part of the WCC’s 9th Assembly.

The Rev. Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the World Evangelical Alliance, said the network of about 400,000 Christians identifies with many of the WCC’s concerns, particularly its work on HIV/AIDS, against violence and for ending poverty.

The evangelical alliance is not a member of the WCC, although some evangelical churches are in both. And, he said, the two groups share a commitment in spreading the word of God.

“In a world divided by hatred and struggle, we affirm that the only solution is God’s transforming grace,” Tunnicliffe said.

The Rev. Michael Ntumy, chairman of the Church of Pentecost in Ghana, called for closer ties between the Pentecostal and WCC churches.

“We need to work with the WCC to impact communities for the Lord,” he said.

Ntumy said Pentecostal churches formed in the early 20th century by separating from traditional churches. As a result, “relationships became strained, even destroyed. Distrust began, and churches began castigating each other,” he said.

“Now, 100 years have passed. The child has grown and matured. Pentecostal churches continue to be the fastest-growing churches,” said Ntumy, whose church is the second largest in Ghana with 9,000 congregations that send missionaries to 57 countries.

Ntumy said Pentecostals are developing a sense of the social gospel, which they have downplayed in the past.

“If our churches, WCC churches and the Roman Catholic churches are together, it would be a colossal movement of the (Holy) Spirit,” he said.

“Nothing could hinder what we could accomplish. Our doors are open. Come, let’s talk.”

The Rev. Norberto Saracco, of the Good News Evangelical Church in Argentina, said divisions are weakening in Latin America.

He called for the ecumenical movement to give special attention to the “neo-Pentecostal” movement – a name he doesn’t like – which is drawing millions of people, particularly in Latin America.

Saracco described the region as entering a post-Pentecostal era, which will create better conditions for ecumenical dialogue.

“We may continue to face obstacles, but the energy is moving in the direction of the unity of the churches,” he said. “For evangelicals, unity is not based on recognition of hierarchical authority, dogmas, theological agreements or alliances between institutions.”

In fact, Saracco believes that type of ecumenism has gone as far as it can. Unity should address the social and economic problems of the region and the world.

“The majority of Pentecostal churches have profound commitment to the struggles of our people living in situations of crisis,” he said.

“Many of our churches have revised their attitudes since the 1970s as we realize what churches in the ecumenical movement did for our region. We ask for your pardon.”