June/July 2025 Update | The Initiative

Thanks so much for reading this month’s news from The Initiative, a community committed to “walking in deeper friendship with Jesus and his followers, so that the love of Christ might exceed all divisions.” We do this primarily through prayer, sharing of our lives, and proactive work for greater unity.

This month, we look back at last week’s National Gathering and the American Society of Missiology. We’re also getting a sneak preview for next year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – and taking some time off for the summer.This month, we’re still holding space for folks to join us in Chicago in mid-June and plant more seeds of unity. We’re also featuring a reflection on Pope Leo from Council member Elizabeth Woodard.

Together in Love, Prayer and Work

My heart is full from the beautiful time we had together last week at our National Gathering just outside Chicago. Our theme was from the Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 4: “make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Here are some of the highlights: We shared stories and conversation over meals, getting to know our geographic, generational, ethnic, and denominational diversity. We worshiped and prayed together. Elizabeth Woodard (from our Leadership Council) led us in a deep dive into the theology and history of disunity (and unity efforts) and pressed us toward a more “cruciform” ecumenism. Israel Chaffin (also from the Council) helped us discern next steps for prayer and action. And we once again signed the covenant of our commitment to “take the initiative.”
For me, the two most powerful times were a moment of lament and one of consolation. Each morning we met for Eucharist and grieved that we as Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians could not share together in the most holy of table fellowship – a meal which is supposed to be the sign of our oneness in Jesus. The moment of consolation happened in the middle of the gathering, when we met in triads for a rich time of spiritual discernment, with the Spirit gifting those little groups with healing, clarity, encouragement and wisdom.
I think all of us who were there left that Wednesday renewed in our calling to missional ecumenism, and strengthened to grow in praying daily, sharing our lives across difference & division, and working for greater unity amongst all of Jesus’ followers. We’ve already reserved the Carmelite Center in Darien for next year’s gathering. Save the dates on your calendar for June 15-18, 2026 (it will be one day longer than this year).

American Society of Missiology

Right after The Initiative gathering, John Armstrong (our founder), Fr. Bob Miller (our Council chair) and I had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the American Missiological Society at St. Mary’s College in South Bend, IN.
The focus of the conference was best summed up in the title of the talk given by William Gregory, this year’s president of the Society: “Reclaiming Christian Unity in the Theology of Mission” (kind of ‘up our alley’, don’t you think?). John gave the Saturday morning keynote talk on relational love, and Fr. Bob & I led a breakout session about the story and work of The Initiative.
Both of the talks were outstanding (as was the other keynote by Bishop Emilio Alvarez, who wrote the IVPress book “Pentecostal Orthodoxy”). All of the talks were recorded and as soon as I get a link to the videos, I will share them here. We also made some new friendships and saw how The Initiative’s way of life and practices of missional unity resonate in a more academic space.

Resource of the Month: It’s not too early to think about next year’s Week of Prayer

The scriptural theme for the celebration of the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been announced by the Joint International Committee of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and The Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. This theme, also from the Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 4, comes from an ecumenical working group of Christians in Armenia: the Armenian Orthodox (Apostolic) Church, the Armenian Catholic Church, and the Armenian Evangelical Churches.
You can read more about the development of the Scriptural theme and the artwork at the Greymoor Institute’s website. This a very important week for our community as we help organize and plan various prayer services all across the country. In 2026, the octave (week) will take place between the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter (Sunday, January 18th) and the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (Sunday, January 25th). Mark it on your calendar as well and look for more information in upcoming newsletters.

You might have noticed this newsletter is labeled “June/July”. I’m looking forward to some family vacation in the midwest starting next Tuesday. And I’ll take some time for a spiritual retreat and long-term planning at the end of the month. So look for the next newsletter at the beginning of August, full of new reflections, resources and encouragement toward “love greater than division” for the second half of the year.

I’ll close like I always close: by expressing my gratitude to each one of you. For the time you invest to read, to pray, to give, and to work proactively for greater missional unity in Jesus’ Church.
May each of you be blessed this summer with rest, encouragement, with love, and with power from the Holy Spirit to “take the initiative…”