William Temple and the World Council of Churches: Church Unity “Lite”

Loane, Edward

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-40376-2_6

Edward Loane⁴

Part of the book series: Pathways for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue ((PEID))

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Abstract

William Temple was undoubtedly one of the chief architects of the World Council of Churches (WCC). His extensive experience in a broad range of ecumenical activities equipped him well to lead the push for the new organisation. Spencer judged that Temple’s role in the ecumenical movement was crucial, but that it was a role of bringing people together and building bridges between them, rather than creating the ecumenical ideal in the first place. Hastings went so far as describing him as the “Pope in petto” of the ecumenical movement. We should be cautious, however, before assuming that the resulting WCC was exactly what Temple had desired or that it achieved the goals he hoped for it. Clements is right when he stated: “in historical retrospect, a sense of logical inevitability attaches to the formation of institutions” such as the WCC. The reality, however, was far from inevitable. In many ways, the impetus for the WCC was a result of social, political and economic factors rather than being purely theological. Indeed, it will be shown that in his early work, Temple argued against the development of such organisations because he believed that they would undermine his ultimate aim of organic unity. But one of the perpetual difficulties of the ecumenical movement has been the differing ultimate goal that participants were aiming to achieve. This difficulty was apparent in the development of the WCC. It will be demonstrated that, even when it was formed, the WCC was extremely limited under Temple’s leadership in achieving what he hoped it would.

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Notes

1.
Spencer, Temple. p. 119.
2.
Hastings, History. p. 303.
3.
K. Clements, Faith on the Frontier: A Life of J.H. Oldham (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1999). p. 333.
4.
J.N. Morris, “Edinburgh 1910–2010: A Retrospective Assessment,” Ecclesiology 7(2011). pp. 299–300; G.H. Tavard, Two Centuries of Ecumenism (London: Burns & Oats, 1960). 95; Latourette, “Ecumenical Bearings.” p. 362.
5.
Karlström, 1917, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001:1, f. 1; 1919 WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001:1, f. 2.
6.
N. Karlström, “Movements for International Friendship and Life and Work, 1910–1925,” in A History of the Ecumenical Movement: 1517–1948, ed. R. Rouse and S.C. Neill (London: SPCK, 1954). p. 519.
7.
W. Temple, Challenge Sept 1917.
8.
P. Katz, Nathan Söderblom: A Prophet of Christian Unity (London: James Clarke, 1949). p. 43.
9.
N. Söderblom, Challenge 23 Nov 1917.
10.
Karlström, “Movements, 1910–1925.” p. 525.
11.
COPEC Proceedings. p. 20.
12.
Söderblom to von Harnack, 5 May 1924, in D. Lange, ed. Nathan Söderblom: A Selection from His Correspondence (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2006). p. 343.
13.
Latourette, “Ecumenical Bearings.” p. 361.
14.
Tatlow, “Faith and Order.” p. 409.
15.
Temple to Tatlow, 11 Dec 1918, LPL, Joint Conference on Faith and Order Papers, MS 1794 f. 271.
16.
Temple, Lausanne Report, LPL, A.C. Headlam Papers, MS 2631 f. 193.
17.
H.N. Bate, ed. Faith and Order: Lausanne, 1927 (London: SCM, 1927). p. 459; Tatlow, “Faith and Order.” p. 423.
18.
Temple, Lausanne Report, LPL, A.C. Headlam Papers, MS 2631 f. 193.
19.
Karlström, “Movements, 1910–1925.” p. 540.
20.
Temple to Hodgson, 20 Dec 1932; 16 Feb 1933, WCC Archive, Geneva, L. Hodgson Papers 23.4.007, f. 4.
21.
M.J. Congar, Divided Christendom, trans. M.A. Bousfield (London: G. Bles, 1939). p. 131.
22.
K. Slack, George Bell (London: SCM, 1971). p. 47.
23.
A. Hastings, Oliver Tomkins: The Ecumenical Enterprise, 1908–1992 (London: SPCK, 2001). p. 30.
24.
Ibid. p. 29.
25.
W.A. Visser ’t Hooft, “The Genesis of the World Council of Churches,” in A History of the Ecumenical Movement: 1517–1948, ed. R. Rouse and S.C. Neill (London: SPCK, 1954). p. 699.
26.
Hodgson to Temple, 5 Sept 1933, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001:2, f. 2.
27.
Temple to Hodgson, 6 Aug 1934, WCC Archive, Geneva, L. Hodgson Papers 23.4.007, f. 4.
28.
Minutes: F&O Reference Committee, 5 Dec 1930, WCC Archive, Geneva, Faith and Order: Central Committee Papers 23.1.003, f. 2.
29.
Minutes: British Members of Continuation Committee, 13 Jun 1931, WCC Archive, Geneva, Faith and Order: Central Committee Papers 23.1.001, f. 6.
30.
Minutes: F&O Reference Committee, 15 Jun 1931, WCC Archive, Geneva, Faith and Order: Central Committee Papers 23.1.003, f. 2.
31.
Minutes: British Members of Continuation Committee, 30 Apr 1931, WCC Archive, Geneva, Faith and Order: Central Committee Papers 23.1.001, f. 6.
32.
Tatlow, “Faith and Order.” p. 428.
33.
W.A. Visser ’t Hooft, Memoirs (London: SCM, 1973). p. 76.
34.
Söderblom to Germanos, 14 May 1928, in Lange, Söderblom Correspondence. p. 473.
35.
Tatlow, “Faith and Order.” p. 426.
36.
Coordination Commission between F&O and L&W, WCC Archive, Geneva, Faith and Order: Central Committee Papers 23.1.003, f. 5.
37.
Karlström, “Movements, 1925–1948.” p. 566.
38.
W.A. Visser ’t Hooft, The Genesis and Formation of the World Council of Churches (Geneva: WCC, 1982). p. 28.
39.
Temple to Henriod, 22 May 1933, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077.
40.
Henriod to Temple, 25 Apr 1933, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077.
41.
R. Brown, “The Future of the Oecumenical Movement,” 3–4 May 1933, WCC Archive, Geneva, Faith and Order: Central Committee Papers 23.1.003, f. 6.
42.
Brown, “Future,” WCC Archive, Geneva, Faith and Order: Central Committee Papers 23.1.003, f. 6.
43.
W.A. Brown, “Possible Ways of Co-Operation,” WCC Archive, Geneva, Faith and Order: Central Committee Papers 23.1.003, f. 6.
44.
Bishopsthorpe Resolutions, 3–4 May 1933, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 59, f. 281.
45.
Visser ’t Hooft, “Genesis.” p. 699.
46.
Henriod to Temple, 11 May 1933, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077; Minutes: Second Unofficial Consultative Group of the Oecumenical Movements, 3–4 Aug 1933, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001:2, f. 5.
47.
Minutes: 3–4 Aug 1933, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001:2, f. 5.
48.
Minutes: 3–4 Aug 1933, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001:2, f. 5.
49.
Clements, Oldham. p. 337.
50.
Cited in Visser ’t Hooft, Genesis and Formation. p. 36.
51.
Resolution of American F&O, L&W, World Alliance, International Missionary Council and World Student Federation, 13 Dec 1935, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001:1, f. 7.
52.
Resolution: F&O Continuation Committee 1 Sept 1936, LPL, G.K.A. Bell Papers vol. 20, f. 276. The closeness of the two groups resolved to merge, and the coordination of their leaders is demonstrated in the correspondence between Temple and Bell following this meeting (Temple to Bell, 2 Sept 1936, LPL, G.K.A. Bell Papers vol. 20, f. 275; Bell to Temple, 7 Sept 1936, LPL, G.K.A. Bell Papers vol. 20, f. 277).
53.
Meeting of Oecumenical Consultative Group, 20–21 Oct 1936, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.003:1.
54.
Temple to Visser ’t Hooft, 4 Nov 1936, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001:1, f. 9.
55.
Hastings, Tomkins. p. 30.
56.
M. Boegner, The Long Road to Unity: Memories and Anticipations (London: Collins, 1970). p. 109.
57.
Visser ’t Hooft, Memoirs. pp. 78–79.
58.
Boegner, Long Road. pp. 108–110.
59.
Clements, Oldham. p. 342.
60.
Temple, “Explanatory Notes.” p. 194.
61.
Ibid. p. 195.
62.
Ibid. p. 196.
63.
Tatlow, “Faith and Order.” p. 433.
64.
Visser ’t Hooft, Memoirs. p. 80.
65.
Clements, Oldham. p. 344.
66.
Ibid. p. 344.
67.
Temple to Oldham, 14 Aug 1937, in ibid. p. 344.
68.
Oldham to Visser ’t Hooft, 26 Apr 1938, in ibid. p. 345.
69.
One delegate estimated that over half of the Edinburgh Conference had also attended the Oxford (Morrison, “Quest.” p. 1063).
70.
Geffert, Orthodox and Anglicans. p. 255.
71.
Minutes: Committee of Fourteen, 17 Aug 1937, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001, f. 7.
72.
Minutes: Utrecht Conference, 9 May 1938, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001, f. 7; WCC Constitution, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 60, ff. 320–321.
73.
WCC Proposed Functions: Utrecht Conference, May 1938, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.004, f. 4.
74.
Minutes: Utrecht Conference, 13 May 1938, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001, f. 7.
75.
WCC Invitation, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.004, f. 8.
76.
Visser ’t Hooft, Memorandum: re. WCC Invitations, May 1938, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.005, f. 1.
77.
Minutes: Administrative Committee, 2 Sept 1938, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.005, f. 1.
78.
W. Temple, “WCC Motion,” Church Assembly (11 Jun 1940). pp. 31–34.
79.
Indeed, this debate is still continuing, as Mary Tanner points out, generally by Lutherans on one side and Anglicans on the other (M. Tanner, “The Goal of Visible Unity: Yet Again,” in The Unity We Have and the Unity We Seek: Ecumenical Prospects for the Third Millennium, ed. J.N. Morris and N. Sagovsky (London: T&T Clark, 2003). p. 179).
80.
For example, A.C. Headlam, The Doctrine of the Church and Christian Reunion (London: John Murray, 1920). pp. 287–288; Woods, Weston, and Smith, Lambeth and Reunion. p. 72.
81.
Temple, Relations. p. 3.
82.
Evans, Method. p. 7.
83.
Visser ’t Hooft, “Genesis.” p. 698.
84.
Söderblom to Germanos, 14 May 1928, in Lange, Söderblom Correspondence. p. 473.
85.
G.R. Evans, The Church and the Churches: Toward an Ecumenical Ecclesiology (Cambridge: CUP, 1994). p. 3.
86.
Visser ’t Hooft, “Genesis.” p. 701.
87.
H. Brandreth, “Church of England and the Orthodox Churches in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries,” in Anglican Initiatives in Christian Unity, ed. E.G.W. Bill (London: SPCK, 1967). p. 37.
88.
Kent, Temple. p. 96.
89.
Tatlow, “Faith and Order.” pp. 427–428.
90.
Headlam, Christian Reunion. p. 287.
91.
Ibid. p. 287.
92.
Ibid. p. 288.
93.
Headlam to Temple, 11 Sept 1937, LPL, A.C. Headlam Papers, MS 2636 f. 117. It must be noted that Headlam’s opposition to the WCC was not merely idealistic but also political. He was worried about a close association with L&W, “which has been continually involved in political matters and controversy”. He stated that such a council “may have dangerous tendencies” (Headlam to Temple, 11 Sept 1937, LPL, A.C. Headlam Papers, MS 2636 f. 117). Edwards has pointed out that part of Headlam’s fear was F&O being swallowed up by a merely social gospel and that a WCC would be decidedly anti-Nazi, while in 1937, he was anxious to reach an understanding with Hitler (Edwards, Leaders. p. 319). Headlam was also concerned that the WCC would “proliferate pontifical pronouncements committing all member Churches” (Carpenter, Fisher. p. 169).
94.
WCC Invitation, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.004, f. 8.
95.
WCC Invitation, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.004, f. 8.
96.
Temple F&O Fundraiser, 19 Jan 1935, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 59, ff. 271–272.
97.
Headlam to Temple, 7 Mar 1939, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 60, f. 133.
98.
Headlam to Temple, 7 Mar 1939, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 60, f. 133.
99.
Temple to Headlam, 8 Mar 1939, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 60, f. 135.
100.
Geffert, Orthodox and Anglicans. p. 255.
101.
Kent, Temple. p. 96.
102.
Ibid. p. 96.
103.
Ibid. p. 97.
104.
Bell, Documents (3rd series). pp. 71–101.
105.
Temple Sermon, Fellowship of Union Unity Service, All Saints’ Cathedral, Cairo, 28 Apr 1938, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 23, f. 26.
106.
Cairo Sermon, 28 Apr 1938, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 23, f. 27.
107.
English Churchman feared that the WCC would adopt a similar policy of comprehensiveness as was the case in the Church of England. “Christian Unity,” 19 Aug 1937, p. 409.
108.
Cairo Sermon, 28 Apr 1938, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 23, f. 27.
109.
Cairo Sermon, 28 Apr 1938, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 23, f. 28.
110.
Cairo Sermon, 28 Apr 1938, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 23, f. 28.
111.
Boegner, Long Road. pp. 113–115; cf. Karlström, “Movements, 1925–1948.” p. 589.
112.
Cairo Sermon, 28 Apr 1938, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 23, f. 28.
113.
Appendices of Minutes: WCC 21–22 Jul 1939, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001, f. 7. Suggate has suggested that the adoption of this statement was “an indication of the collapse of modernist liberalism” (A.M. Suggate, “The Christian Churches in England Since 1945: Ecumenism and Social Concern,” in A History of Religion in Britain: Practice and Belief from pre-Roman Times to the Present, ed. S. Gilley and W.J. Sheils (Oxford: Blackwell, 1994). p. 468).
114.
The Church, the Churches, and the World Council of Churches, ed. British Council of Churches (London1950). pp. 2–4.
115.
Temple, “WCC Motion.” p. 34.
116.
Kent, Temple. p. 6.
117.
Temple F&O Fundraiser, 19 Jan 1935, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 59, ff. 271–272.
118.
W.A. Visser ’t Hooft, Has the Ecumenical Movement a Future? (Belfast: Christian Journals, 1974). p. 18.
119.
W. Temple, “President’s Address,” The York Journal of Convocation (2–3 Jun 1938). p. 19.
120.
Ibid. p. 19.
121.
J.H. Oldham, The Churches Survey Their Task (Oxford 1937) (London: Allen & Unwin, 1937). p. 59.
122.
Visser ’t Hooft, Memoirs. 73; cf. Temple “The Church as an Ecumenical Society in the Face of War,” Apr 1939, WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.001, f. 7.
123.
Visser ’t Hooft to Temple, 15 Apr 1939, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077.
124.
Temple to Visser ’t Hooft, 21 Apr 1939, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077.
125.
Provisional Committee Declaration. May 1939, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077.
126.
Visser ’t Hooft, “Genesis.” pp. 707–708.
127.
Ibid. pp. 707–708.
128.
Temple to Visser ’t Hooft, 20 May 1940, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077; cf. Visser ’t Hooft to Temple, 1 May 1939, Memoirs. p. 123.
129.
Paton to Temple, cited in E.M. Jackson, Red Tape and The Gospel: A Study of the Significance of the Ecumenical Missionary Struggle of William Paton (1886–1943) (Birmingham: Phlogiston, 1980). p. 261. More recently, Kent has criticised the WCC for not living up to Temple’s hope of ecumenism to speak to the world, saying it did not even make a statement during the war or do anything to stop it happening (Kent, Temple. p. 113).
130.
Temple to Visser ’t Hooft, 20 May 1940, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077; cf. Temple to Visser ’t Hooft, 1 May 1939.
131.
Temple to Visser ’t Hooft, 13 Oct 1939, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077.
132.
Temple to Visser ’t Hooft, 13 Oct 1939, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077.
133.
Visser ’t Hooft, Memoirs. p. 129.
134.
“Genesis.” p. 709.
135.
“The Ecumenical Task: The Church as an Ecumenical Society in Time of War” (SPCK, London) in LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 60, ff. 158–159; cf. “The post-war task of the World Council of Churches,” WCC Archive, Geneva, WCC in Process of Formation Papers 301.008, f. 3.
136.
Temple to Provisional Committee, May 1942, WCC Archive, Geneva, Tempe Correspondence 42.0077.
137.
Temple to Mott, 4 Sept 1942, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 61, f. 70.
138.
Temple to Mott, 4 Sept 1942, LPL, William Temple Papers vol. 61, f. 70.
139.
Hastings, History. p. 305.
140.
Kent, Temple. p. 31.
141.
Ibid. p. 38.
142.
Temple, “Christ Divided?.” p. 7.
143.
Ibid. p. 7; “Enthronement Sermon (1942).” p. 2.
144.
Kent, Temple. p. 113.
145.
Hudson, Ecumenical Movement. p. 203.
146.
Lowry, “William Temple.” p. 39.
147.
G.K.A. Bell, “Memoir,” in William Temple and His Message, ed. A.E. Baker (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1946). p. 28.
148.
Lloyd, 1900–1965. p. 440.
149.
Hudson, Ecumenical Movement. p. 203.
150.
Ibid. p. 202.
151.
Neill, “Plans of Union.” p. 448.
152.
Boegner, Long Road. p. 137.

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Loane, E. (2016). William Temple and the World Council of Churches: Church Unity “Lite”. In: William Temple and Church Unity. Pathways for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40376-2_6

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