January 30, 2012

How is Christian identity defined today? What is the relationship between Christian identity, spirituality, religious plurality and Christian-self understanding? Rev. Carlos Emilio Ham addressed these and other questions at the International Union of Superiors General's (UISG) Assembly of the Constellation of Rome, on 12 January.

"Our identity is always defined in relation to the other. As human beings we are not individual islands," said Ham, who serves as the programme executive for Diakonia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, at the World Council of Churches (WCC).

"Rather, our identity or ‘sameness,' relates to affinities and affiliations, to forms of belonging, to experiences of commonality, connectedness and cohesion," he added.

Ham was addressing the theme "Who do you say that I am? (Lk 9:20): Our identity in relation to the other" at this assembly of the UISG, an international forum where superiors general of institutes of religious Catholic women share experiences, exchange information and mentor one another in their role as leaders.

Based on the gospel text, Ham said that "Beyond the question of identity is the issue of confession," and added, "We are called not only to confess the Messiah, as Peter did, but also to be faithful disciples, and the nature of our discipleship always reflects our understanding of Jesus' lordship."

Reflecting on the concepts of religious plurality and Christian self-understanding, Ham also emphasized the significance of embracing the "other."

"The work of the Spirit shows that at the heart of the Christian faith lies an attitude of hospitality that embraces the ‘other' in their otherness," he said.

Ham called his participation at the UISG an honour, and thanked Josune Arregui, executive secretary of the UISG, for the kind invitation.

He also appreciated the initiatives of dialogue carried out by the UISG, in collaboration with other religious congregations within the Roman Catholic Church, with other confessions and the larger society.

Read full text of the presentation (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=f3ccd1ce34ff9e87a715)

More information on the International Union of Superiors General (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=a9edde5adb28b81c720d)

Christian self-understanding amid many religions (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=81d696a5c551bb3ab771)

(Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=5a9154fdb58fdefaaf47) Joint Working Group with the Roman Catholic Church (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=c96ae73a403481508994) (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=346f485ddfa10eeecfe1)

World Council of Churches