Receptive Ecumenism is the spiritual discipline of receiving gifts the Holy Spirit has entrusted to another part of the Body of Christ in order to become more faithful, more united, and more fully ourselves in Christ.

While traditional ecumenism often seeks baseline agreement, Receptive Ecumenism asks a different question: What gifts has Christ given to other Christian communities that our own church needs to receive? This requires humility and holy curiosity—allowing the wisdom and witness of another tradition to reveal our own needs and open us to transformation.

At Christian Churches Together, leaders from diverse traditions practice this through sustained relationships, faith-sharing, receptive listening, and contextual discernment. We describe this journey in five movements: Ready, Relate, Receive, Repent, and Respond.

The goal is not uniformity or the surrender of theological identity. Rather, by receiving the truth and grace the Spirit reveals through others, Christian unity becomes a lived practice that strengthens our common witness to Christ’s reconciling love.

At Christian Churches Together, every conversation is shaped by the practice of Receptive Ecumenism.

To help prepare participants for ecumenical encounter, CCT offers the following 5-day devotional guide with Scripture, reflection, and prayer prompts.