“I urge you to listen.”
That’s how Barry Rowan kicked off our Ecumenical Conference on March 18th.
We gathered at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., with more than 80 attendees—roughly split between Catholics and Protestants. Barry’s first words inspired us all.
He urged us to listen to each other, looking beyond our theological differences. But even more than that, he asked us to listen to the voice of our Lord, and the convictions He puts on all our hearts.
It quickly became clear: Jesus spoke to everyone present.
While our denominations differ, often profoundly, Catholics and Protestants are united in our belief in the Nicene Creed and the Savior it points to. We recited the creed at the start of the day, reminding ourselves of the shared foundations of our faith.
From there, we joined in praise and worship, before moving into small-group discussions about where Catholics and Protestants can collaborate. We identified no shortage of ideas—advocating for Christianity in China, advancing the pro-life cause in America, restoring faith in K-12 education, and defending the Christian foundations of our country.
On that note, Alexei Laushkin from the Kingdom Mission Society said: “Faith shaped American history, and given the challenges to human life, the family, and an increasingly secularized society, our work together is needed to beat back the significant challenges we face today.”
Later in the program, Brandi Swindell—founder of Stanton Healthcare—beautifully spoke about how Catholics and Protestants work together at her organization to protect pregnant women and their unborn children.
Kristen Waggoner, CEO and Chief Counsel of the legal advocacy firm Alliance Defending Freedom, argued that partnership is essential to bearing witness to truth in a secular culture. She put it best: “The silver lining of the darkness we’re living in is that it allows light to shine even more brightly.”
We left the conference with a deeper commitment to not only our respective faith traditions, but also our shared responsibility to stand for what matters most. Religious liberty in the public square. The sanctity of marriage. Parental rights. Our basic identity as children of God.
And we committed as well to put aside our differences so we can make a bigger difference in our culture.
The high point of the day—for me—was the Mass, celebrated by Bishop Steven Lopes of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. It was the first Catholic Mass ever held at the Museum—a powerful statement of our desire to partner in pursuit of truth. And to close the conference, a Catholic and a Protestant jointly led a Scripture reflection, powerfully illustrating the Biblical treasure we share in common.
Ultimately, the Ecumenical Conference was both a time to listen—and a time to lead. The Napa Institute will continue to do exactly that, bringing together Catholics and Protestants to lead America back to God.
Tim Busch
Founder
Napa Institute
