Some Evangelicals, Catholics and eastern Orthodox are seeking visible expressions of unity centered around core essential teachings of the Christian faith.

In September 1992 a few Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics met in a consultation. They had been led together through prayer, study, and discussion of common convictions about Christian faith and mission. Well known leaders participated such as Mr. Charles Colson and Fr. Richard John Neuhaus.

At that time a statement was published and disseminated widely in the United States. One exerpt from this statment reads: "As the Second Millenium draws to a close, the Christian mission in world history faces a moment of daunting opportunity and responsibility....As Christ is one, so the Christian mission is one. That one mission can be and should be advanced in diverse ways. Legitimate diversity, however, should not be confused with existing divisions between Christians that obscure the one Christ and hinder the one mission.

"There is a necessary connection between the visible unity of Christians and the mission of the one Christ. We together pray for the fulfillment of the prayer of Our Lord: 'May they all be one; as you Father, are in me, and I in you, so also may they be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.'" (John 17).

Sometime after this consultation a periodical appeared, with certain Evangelical Protestants (incl. a few Inter Varsity staff), Roman Catholic and eastern Orthodox leaders contributing: "Touchstone" magazine. See their website: http://www.touchstonemag.com

Among the many other book publications, here are two published by Inter Varsity Press:

RECLAIMING THE GREAT TRADITION
Evangelicals, Catholics & Orthodox in Dialogue
by James S. Cutsinger
Published by IVP: March 1997

CATHOLICS AND EVANGELICALS
Do They Share a Common Future?
by Thomas P. Rausch
Published by IVP: October 2000

Clearly there is a new movement toward unity and fellowship taking place which somewhat by-passes church structures and hierarchies and champions the unity that Christ prayed for among His true followers of all religious backgrounds. We have much to learn from this movement if we "listen" for the voice of God in the midst of it!