Hi, I was wondering if any of you can tell me what the word Ecumenical means? I've looked it up online, but I'm still not quite following.

Is it a good thing? Not a good thing? How does it relate to the GLBT community? The Christian community? How does it affect my church selecting? My going to a church?

HELP!!

Thanks, shy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical

If you haven't already seen this, maybe this will help you shy!!!

quote:

Ecumenical

We have an Ecumenical church near where we live. It's a very old church (150+ years old) that developed during the time of the Gold Rush. Its Ecumenical because they're trying to embrace all the major Christian traditions. It's a nice place, nice people but because they're trying to be 'all things to all people' they don't tend to stand too firmly on anything in particular. But like anything you can't say that all Ecumenical churches are this way or that way. So much depends upon the pastor/ministers who lead the church.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Elaine,

Shy,
I just ran across a reference to "ecumenical" in my denomination's website (United Church of Christ). The word refers to relationships between different churches or denominations, and it can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what they are getting together about. UCC refers to ecumenical relationships as "healing the body of Christ," which is surely a good thing.
Ingrid