Towards Free Church Ecumenical Theology: On the Pre-Given Vocation to Listen

In this article the idiosyncratic way of ‘doing’ ecumenical theology of the so-called discerning churches, that is the baptistic type of churches (Free Churches), is explored. In accordance with early church thinkers, such as Cyprian and Augustine, with pivotal reformers, such as Luther and Zwingli, and even more so with the anabaptist ‘father’ Hubmaier, Free Churches manifest their catholic (and thereby authentic) intent by discerning the mind of Christ communally. They assemble, discuss and pray, so as to expect Christ to be present and grant the (sacramental) gift of discernment. Only if the church listens to all the voices does the church demonstrate and affirm its catholic posture. Therefore, the church can no longer ignore the voice of the broken body of Christ, nor for that matter forget to listen, also at conciliar tables, to the voices of Jewish Christians and non-Christian Jews.