he Vatican Council II was a turning point in the understanding of our faith as Christians in the Roman catholic tradition. Looking at it form the missionary perspective, we can say that before Vatican II missionaries were sent with the understanding that they had to convert the pagans. However, after Vatican II we missionaries entered a two-way process of evangelization: a process where respect, dialogue and peace all play essential parts.

In the last decades similar situations have also developed in a number of Churches within the Christian tradition. This has given rise to a more inclusive attitude and a more significant space for dialogue.

Apparently the Holy Spirit, who helped us Christians grow in unity through a process known as Ecumenical Movement, is once again blowing in the Churches, impelling them to Interfaith Dialogue. In fact, before Vatican II we understood Ecumenism as a process of conversion, that is, other Churches coming back to the Church of Rome. Again, after Vatican II we passed to a new understanding: ecumenism is the recognition of the divine gifts each Church possesses.

We come together to share these same gifts for the benefit of society at large.   In the vision of Jesus, this is the start of God’s Kingdom. In the same way the Holy Spirit is leading the Churches to recognize and respect the Semina Verbi, the work God has already done in and through the other faiths.

My vision of Church and community pictures God’s table and banquet, which has room for all people, of all ages.

The goal remains the same: God’s kingdom, a new world. The post Vatican II popes have supported this movement of the Spirit. We only have to remember the two important meetings of John Paul II with the Leaders of other World religions, the first being in Assisi (1986) followed by a gathering in Rome (1999).

From this perspective I wish to recall something genuine that is going on in other Christian churches, this time in the Methodist Church. It is the personal experience of Inderjit Bhogal. He shared part of his faith journey during the 200-2001 Methodist Conference. He was President of the British Methodist conference that year. It is a journey that is contained in a small, yet challenging book that has been recently published.

Inderjit presents us with a very thoughtful and radical vision of life together in Christ. He does this through a brief narration of his own faith story. He begins by saying “My vision of Church and community pictures God’s table and banquet, which has room for all people, of all ages.”

Surely it is a vision we share.   Yet, by the same token, it challenges the institutional church. It is a vision which challenges those areas of the institution which tends to exclude those who have fallen foul of the rules, whose life situations are not in conformity with church norms, whose sexual identity is not honored and those who find themselves in other difficult circumstances.

Inderjit shares with us his pilgrimage from Sikhism to Methodist Christianity. It was not an easy journey. At this point, however, he is able to say “ In my development as a disciple of Christ, far from abandoning my past or my Sikh culture, I have actually learned to affirm it and be proud of it… I have seen a continuity between my upbringing as a Sikh and my Christian discipleship as important.”

We live on the threshold of a different era: the era of inter-faith encounter.   The road to encounter lies through Dialogue, the only way to do Mission. Inderjit’s story teaches us that conversion and growth in faith means to appreciate one’s culture, to love it critically and to gradually take on board the Gospel of Christ who chose us, not we him (john 15:15).

Loyalty to Jesus goes hand in hand with openness to people of other faiths and searching challenges they present to Christians . Inderjit continues by pointing out what he values in Methodism, such as a strong tradition of social and political holiness, of giving priority to the poor, of affirming lay ministry and that of affirming women and black people. He values the Methodist focus on food and points out that, Jesus connects through food. This dovetails neatly with the norm of the Sikh gurus who insist “first we eat, then we meet.”

Bhogal’s witness, as we find it described in his book “A table for All”, is a very simple and direct piece of evangelization in our midst. It has a strong accent on faith, faith which creates and nurtures justice. But do not be fooled by its simplicity. It is also profound, penetrating, prophetic and radical. I urge you to read and pray.

Fr. Emilio Paloschi, s.x.

(From Mission: The Xaverian Way)