Ecumenicism: Seven Devilish Ways To Block Church Union

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∙KEEP PREJUDICES ALIVE. "It is really exhilarating to see how words can keep Christians distrustful of one another's churches. Take the prayer which the Carpenter taught his disciples. Do Presbyterians pray to be forgiven of their 'debts' or their 'trespasses'? Do Baptists pray that the Enemy's kingdom be 'forever and ever' or merely 'forever'? It is over words like these that the silent battles of sullen prejudice are fought. Another favorite prejudice which continues to cause endless bickering in church circles centers around the office of bishop. Most Protestants in America are fully persuaded that a bishop lives in a rich castle and exercises autocratic rule over the hapless serfs who are mere members of the church." It would be most disastrous for the cause of disunity "if it were widely known that bishops in some churches have modest incomes, are limited by constitutional checks, and really devote themselves to their pastoral duties. Nor should people be allowed to perceive that in some non-episcopal denominations the administrative strength of executive officers exceeds by far the power of bishops in other churches."