What if churches focused less on wanting other Christian traditions to become more like theirs, and more on exploring what they might learn from them? Might this not only help churches to deepen faith, mission, and service, but also revitalize the ecumenical landscape with new possibilities? This is the provocative and inspiring vision presented by Receptive Ecumenism, a movement which has crossed denominations and continents, engaging church leaders, ecumenists, scholars, and Christians in their everyday lives. Spirit Flowing Like Water presents the latest conversations in this field. It not only engages leading scholars and practitioners of Receptive Ecumenism between churches but also explores the possibility of learning from difference within a church community--"Internal Receptive Ecumenism"--and adapting the approach to a wider ecumenism beyond the visible church.Church leaders, ecumenists, and theologians from five continents have contributed chapters on transforming ecumenism, practicing mission in context, and broadening the horizon. They write not only for those already engaged in ecumenical work but with an invitation to all communities, leaders, and individuals to take a fresh look at what walking together in Christ means in our polarized world.

What if churches focused less on wanting other Christian traditions to become more like theirs, and more on exploring what they might learn from them? Might this not only help churches to deepen faith, mission, and service, but also revitalize the ecumenical landscape with new possibilities? This is the provocative and inspiring vision presented by Receptive Ecumenism, a movement which has crossed denominations and continents, engaging church leaders, ecumenists, scholars, and Christians in their everyday lives. Spirit Flowing Like Water presents the latest conversations in this field. It not only engages leading scholars and practitioners of Receptive Ecumenism between churches but also explores the possibility of learning from difference within a church community--"Internal Receptive Ecumenism"--and adapting the approach to a wider ecumenism beyond the visible church.Church leaders, ecumenists, and theologians from five continents have contributed chapters on transforming ecumenism, practicing mission in context, and broadening the horizon. They write not only for those already engaged in ecumenical work but with an invitation to all communities, leaders, and individuals to take a fresh look at what walking together in Christ means in our polarized world.

What if churches focused less on wanting other Christian traditions to become more like theirs, and more on exploring what they might learn from them? Might this not only help churches to deepen faith, mission, and service, but also revitalize the ecumenical landscape with new possibilities? This is the provocative and inspiring vision presented by Receptive Ecumenism, a movement which has crossed denominations and continents, engaging church leaders, ecumenists, scholars, and Christians in their everyday lives. Spirit Flowing Like Water presents the latest conversations in this field. It not only engages leading scholars and practitioners of Receptive Ecumenism between churches but also explores the possibility of learning from difference within a church community--"Internal Receptive Ecumenism"--and adapting the approach to a wider ecumenism beyond the visible church.Church leaders, ecumenists, and theologians from five continents have contributed chapters on transforming ecumenism, practicing mission in context, and broadening the horizon. They write not only for those already engaged in ecumenical work but with an invitation to all communities, leaders, and individuals to take a fresh look at what walking together in Christ means in our polarized world.