My home until December 5th will be Tantur, the Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies. “Tantur” is an Arabic word that means “hilltop”. This “hilltop” is located in Jerusalem, Israel overlooking Bethlehem.

The Institute straddles the border of the West Bank; part of the Palestinian Territories, to which Bethlehem belongs. The checkpoint, the border crossing, so to speak, can be seen from my balcony! From this hilltop, I look to the north and see Israel and the city of Jerusalem and I look to the south and see Palestine and the city of Bethlehem.

To settle for awhile in these magnificent lands, on this specific piece of property that is on the cusp of not only local and national politics, but world politics as well, is a blessing and a challenge!

Tantur was a vision that began to take shape during the Roman Catholic event of the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960’s. It became reality in 1971 and the “vision becoming reality” continues to this moment.

In these days, I, along with 38 others, have the blessing of living within the dream and the reality that is Tantur.

During Vatican II, delegated observers from the other Churches shared with Pope Paul VI the dream of an international ecumenical institute for theological research and pastoral studies.

After the Pope’s 1964 pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he purchased the Tantur terrain, then leased it to an ecumenical board. The board sets up the programs, seeks out faculty and staff, and administers the property.

Tantur opened in 1971. Over 3,500 Orthodox, Protestants, Anglicans and Roman Catholics have participated in the Institute’s programs.

Those who are presently gathered here, Christians of a variety of traditions, have the challenge of hearing the question of Yahweh to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), “Where are you?” and the question of Jesus, the Christ, to his disciples at Caesarea Philippi, (Mark 8: 29), “But who do you say that I am?”

We are 39 people, male and female; clergy and their spouses, religion teachers and religious students; Anglicans, Evangelicals, Lutherans, Methodists, Orthodox and Roman Catholics. We are from Australia, Canada, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and Slovakia.

Together, we search for answers to God’s questions for ourselves and our churches, by living in the spirit of Tantur’s mission:

‘We assist Christian reflection on the Mystery of Salvation as revealed through the Sacred Scriptures and the teachings of the early, undivided Church, and as expressed in the experiences of the diverse Christian Communions throughout the ages.

We continue the search for Christian Unity and interchurch harmony.

We seek a broader and deeper understanding of each other’s faith and tradition, ethics and social witness, liturgies and pieties.

We explore the relationships between Christians and people of other world faiths, especially Jews and Muslims.

We participate in the search for world peace and justice.

We study the commonalities and differences of the Abrahamic and other religious traditions in understanding God and God’s workings in individuals and in societies.

We explore human rights and conflict resolution in different religious social contexts.’

I have, since my arrival at Tantur, found an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. In seminars, at table and around the altar at prayer, there is the desire and effort to enter into dialogue and share gratefully our similarities and acknowledge respectfully our differences.

We live in a divided Christian Church that is a scandal to the world and that diminishes the powerful presence of Christ and His Mission to this world.

Each Christian tradition must take responsibility for these divisions and each must work for harmony and unity!

I believe that in our own humble and simple way, we, sabbatical participants, are ministering to one another to heal our Christian wounds on behalf of our individual traditions! We are doing so, most fundamentally, by accepting each other, as we are, with our similarities and our differences, in the name of our Master whose disciples we are.

We do not see each other as “objects of conversion”, but as fellow members of the Body of Christ. From that foundation, and in our personal relationship with Christ, we dialogue with each other on behalf of the Christian Mission.

Within the Roman Catholic Communion, we still have a long way to go, but we must keep in mind that we have come far in these last 35 years since Vatican II! We must continue to break down the walls that separate and divide us!

Each of us, in our own little corners of the world, is challenged to make a difference. We each have a sacred responsibility to destroy the walls that have been created over the centuries.

In our homes, in our extended families, in our neighborhoods, in our places of employment, in our recreational activities and in our parish community, we have many opportunities to chip away at those barriers of hatred, alienation, ignorance, pointed fingers, accusations, blame and guilt.

In all the places of our lives, we can practice, if we so choose, fundamental acceptance and love of one another and, then, from that Christ-like place, enter into respectful dialogue with each other.

What will the future hold for us? What will OUR Church look like? Only God knows!

If we live in this ecumenical spirit, in the spirit of Jesus our Master, whatever shape it takes, I believe, it will be awesome!

And it all begins by saying, “WE, Christians” in all the circumstances of our lives!

Below are three pictures of the sabbatical participants, as well as a view of Bethlehem from the Tantur campus. It is in this place, for a few sacred moments, that we are living, studying and praying together in the Name of Jesus on behalf of His Mission to and for the world.

E-mail Fr Mike at: michaelr@stmoside.org