As a member of the US Bishops committee on Ecumenism, I was recently appointed as Catholic co-chair for the dialogue between the US Bishops and the Pentecostal AND Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA). PCCNA represents about 40 million believers and numerous denominations. There were five Catholics and nine Pentecostals present. The Pentecostals came from the Church of God, Assemblies of God, Foursquare Gospel, Pentecostal Holiness, and Church of God in Christ denominations.
The theme for the next five years is “Waters that Divide: Waters that Unite”. The focus of this meeting, which was held at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary at the Church of God headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, was on foot washing. We looked at John 13 and Jesus actions with the Apostles at the Last Supper. In Catholic practice, we have liturgical foot washing at the Mass on Holy Thursday, but it is also used in other non-liturgical settings such as retreats, weddings, and charismatic gatherings.
Being able to share from a Catholic charismatic perspective was very helpful to the discussion and in our common prayer. On one of the evenings, we participated in a foot washing service. Being charismatic allowed me to connect closely to the Pentecostals present and to participate in worship and prayer in ways they were very familiar with. Our charismatic spirituality is a great bridge builder in the work of Christian Unity.
Bishop Peter Smith (Portland, Oregon, USA)
