At the heart of the ecumenical fellowship stands a moral imperative, a kind of pledge by the churches to hold themselves and one another accountable in their faithfulness. Olav Fykse Tveit argues that this commitment binds each of the churches in fidelity to the larger communion, to the great Tradition, to scripture and the apostolic faith, as well as to the people they serve in the contemporary world. An underappreciated dimension of the perennial quest for unity, mutual accountability functions as a key criterion for the quality of relations within the Christian fellowship. It defines the attitude of active responsibility and openness that churches bring to their fellowship and to their ecclesial self-understanding and renewal. It is a benchmark of their authenticity as churches in the ecumenical age. Tveit’s rich study of the evolving concept of mutual accountability, especially as it figures in the work of Faith and Order over a fifty-year period, traces the growing conviction that ecumenism entails churches’ not simply being together and working together but also holding each other accountable for their genuineness as members of the body of Christ. “Attitudes of openness, constructive critical and self-critical approaches, repentance, reliability, commitment to the common calling and tasks, faithfulness, sharing, and indeed hope—these are all genuine and necessary attitudes in a fellowship that follows the crucified and risen Christ. The truth we owe one another lies in both our insights and our true life in community. . . .” The Truth We Owe Each Other offers a theological underpinning to the work of church renewal and to the continued relevance for the churches’ work in the world.

Table of Contents:
Prologue Chapter 1. Introduction1 The Scene, Perspective, and Focus of This StudyThe Thesis Mutual Accountability: Toward a Preliminary Definition Summary Chapter 2. Ecumenical Attitudes and Premises for Ecumenical Ecclesiology: From Amsterdam (1948) to Montreal (1963) The Significance of Attitudes in the Premises for the World Council of Churches The Ecumenical Attitude of “The Fully Committed Fellowship”: The Statement on Unity (New Delhi 1961) The Significance of Ecumenical Attitudes in the Preparations and Reports from Montreal (1963) Summary: Ecumenical Attitudes as Premises in the Pioneer Phase of the WCC Chapter 3. Mutual Accountability and Conciliar Fellowship: From Montreal (1963) to Canberra (1991) A Universal Council, Conciliarity, and Conciliar Fellowship Authoritative Teaching in Mutually Accountable Relations Giving Account of Hope—in Accountability to Other Churches The Convergence of the Document Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (BEM): A Result of a Mutually Accountable Process Toward a Manifestation of Mutual Accountability to the One, Apostolic Faith Ecumenical Attitudes and the Unity of Church and Humankind Conclusion: Mutual Accountability—An Intrinsic Element of Conciliar Fellowship Chapter 4. Mutual Accountability and the Church as Koinonia (until 1998) Mutual Accountability and the Coherence of Ecumenism Mutual Accountability and Unity as Koinonia The Role of Mutual Accountability in the Faith and Order “Ecclesiology” Study (1998) The Report from the Faith and Order Study on Hermeneutics (1998) The Common Understanding and Vision of the World Council of Churches Summary: Mutual Accountability as Required Attitude toward Unity as Koinonia Chapter 5. A Systematic-Theological Evaluation A Brief Evaluation of the Outcome of the Analysis Mutual Accountability as Ecumenical Attitude “Relation” as Supplement to “Faith” and “Order” A Definition of Mutual Accountability as Ecumenical Attitude Bibliography