Ecumenical Movement

Presented to: Mr. Iven Jeba Singh

Presented by: David Blah and Stephen Vetharaj

Introduction:

The rise of Student Movement and inter denominational institutions which permeated
confessional self. Enclosed identity. Tremendously contributed to the development of
modern Ecumenical Movement. This paper presentation attempts to introduce some of
this movements and organizations.

The World Christian Lay Movements

There are three movements have played such a role in the history of the world. Council as
to justify those who call them its major Allies. These are the Young men’s Christian
Association, (YMCA), the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the
student Christian movement.
All were in their origin Youth Movements (or) movements on behalf of Youth federation
remains so by virtue of its student objective the Y.M.C.A and the Y.W.C.A have so
extended their services to all closes and ages of community as to make Lay Movement a
more current title. 1
1 YMCA: (The Young Men’s Christian Association)
The YMCA was founded by 22 years old George Williams in London in 1844. this
occurred in the era of industrializing which saw the increasing movements of Young men
from the rural areas of the country into major industrializing cities.
Paris Basis: By 1855 the first world conference of YMCA in Paris. Unstitched the world
Alliance of YMCA and adopted a mission statement hence forth known as “Paris Basis.”2
YMCA: The “Paris Basis” states “The Young Men’s Christian Associations seek to unite
those young men who regarding Jesus Christ as their God and Savior according to the
Holy Scriptures desire to be his disciples.” In 1875 the world YMCA week of prayer was
created. The week of prayer begin on every second Sunday of November and each local
YMCA takes time of pray and recovers the sense of YMCA’s vision and mission.
Rural Reconstruction: Asia YMCA s started as organizations for urban Youth but sow
takes of development predominantly in villages and rural areas stricken by poverty. This
YMCAs started rural services and self help development for whole village. The
development of cooperative banks is one example.
Educational and Literature Ministers: most YMCA’s were involved in the
publication of books, Newspapers and magazines. The first project of the YMCA in
Japan was the establishment of a publishing company for the cosmos on 1880. 1917 with
another publication in the spirit of the intellectual climate of that time Literacy Projects
were common and education programs were started to help Youth who had to work
during the day acquire new skills and knowledge as well as a basis education to prepare
1
Ruth Rose and Stephen Charles Neill, eds, A History of the Ecumenical Movement 1517-1948, 3rded.
(London: SPCK, 1986), 599.
2
Timothy Yates, “Farquhar, John Nicol,” Dictionary of Asian Christianity, edited by Scott W. Sunqnist
(Michigan:William B Eerdmann, 1953), 920.
for a better future programs basis education to prepare for a better future. Programs
arranged from Vocational Skills training such as secretarial training and domestic helpers
programs to business and ministration and foreign languages sports, and physical
education.
Social Programs: The YMCA emphasizes social fellowship and cultural exchanges
among youth from different countries to promote good will and confidence this was the
weekaly condition for direct Christian witness in largely non-Christian Asian setting.
Aggressive evangelism has not been the YMCA’s approach but a rather a gradual process
through social involvement with touches both the educated leadership and the illiterate
masses. In Singapore the YMCA was the first to introduce nonalcoholic and smoke-fire
disco dancing in the 1970 s and the YMCA continues to be a front runner in reaching
youth who have dropped out of school.3
Health and Wellness programs: A firm believer in the value of physical training
and sporting activates to restore health and revitalize the spirit of youth the YMCA has
been ahead of its time in pioneering sporting and campaign programs. The YMCA
interested the game of basketball and annual festivals of sports and sports camps are
regular features of many YMCA ‘s in Asia.
Community development and welfare programs: At the risk of appealing
humanistic and political the YMCA in Asia has been participating in the struggle of the
poor, oppressed eldest and disabled in many centuries. YMCA for the disabled are some
of the familiar programs which have been well received in many Asian countries.
Throughout its history the YMCA has been innovative and farsighted in the development
of community and social service to promote and develop lasting communities.
Ecumenical Cooperation: The YMCA’s in Asia were ecumenical pioneers with Christian
from different denominations participating in wide collaboration in social service and
reform movements and other project to meet the challenges of real needs many
cooperative project carried out by the YMCA were initiated by Christian but executed by
people who did not actually confess Christ as the Lord and Savior.
Spiritual Life and Christian emphasis: In some Asian countries the YMCA
continues to work toward developing the spiritual life of youth and to Nature in them a
greater knowledge of Jesus Christ and in the Kingdom of God.
The YMCA continuous to grow as a voluntary youth movement with International
affiliations and constituent members from all social backgrounds creeds, races and
nationalities. First the YMCA participation in the social and political concern of the
population has served as channel for Asian Christian to express desire for Christian unity
beyond denominational racial and National barriers. With its wide range of programs the
YMCA provides and effective avenue fro Christian participation in the social and
political question of the day. Second the YMCA has penetrated into the non-religious
area where church could not go (e.g.) the social and political area. Asian YMCA have
saved effectively as halfway house between the church and the world providing Christian
leaven in the public opinion and courageous criticism of oppressive traditional ways of
life in Asia. Pointing the society to new possibilities and a new vision of life because it is
not a church but a Christian agency dedicated to community and voluntary welfare
service with rich resources and experience. The YMCA enjoys a unique position of
acceptance and collaboration with governmental agencies even in some restricted access
3
Ibid., 921.
countries. Third the YMCA provided indigenous leadership in area when the church
admissions were largely dominated by foreign experts and missionaries. In this way
many gifted lay Christian leaders found that through the YMCA they were able to use
their gifts and abilities in direct Christian service.4

Student Movement:
The YMCA and YWCA and the student movement were closely interrelated movement.
They shared the same Christian convictions and espoused common evangelistic thinking.
The inter seminary missionary alliance was another offshoot of the intercollegiate student
movement that had its first meeting at New Brunswich. New jersey in 1880.”Robert
Mateer” was among its pioneers. It fostered missionary interests and action among
students in several seminaries in the US. Irrespective denominational afflictions. 5 The
student movement did not confine itself to the US and England live YMCA and the
YWCA it made significant expansion in other European countries and across the world.
Its missionary obligation was summed up in one line definition, “Evangelization with in
this generation”. As the unevangelized portions of the world posed a serious challenges to
Christian studies. It was also a movement of unity. As early as 1884 Luther D.Wishard
strongly underscored that almost important of the unity of Christian student around the
world6.

Conclusion:
The Student Movement and the interdenominational organizations like YMCA, YWCA,
SCM, Bible societies and religions tract society (etc) contributed lot to the society. Even
though they were inter denominational movements they worked for the welfare of the
society. It challenge us to give importance to the “co-operation’ between inter
denominational movement. It evokes the churches to participate in God’s mission.

4
Ibid., 922.
5
O.L Snaitang, Op. cit., 47.
6
Ibid., 48.