Christian entrepreneur Philip Ryall has launched a new book which seeks to bring all members of the various Christian denominations to “come into agreement.”
The book, Dear Unity, is a collaborative work in conjunction with faith leaders and believers across the world, to foster positive communication between the Christian churches.
At the launch of the book at The Water Room, Pier One Sydney Harbour on 19 August, Ryall said Christians have an “ice wall” between them which needs to be thawed.
“This book is about turning up the heat, bringing love, and messing with your hearts,” he said.
“I’ve come to believe that the path of unity is a path of healing.”
Ryall, who is also the founder and chair of Catholic tour operator, Harvest Journeys, said the book was a reminder all Christians are family, even though differences between denominations may seem vast.
“We’re trying to get to perfect agreement, but what if that 30 per cent is the most precious part of our journey, where we would hold in awe and in mystery the things that we don’t understand about other churches,” he said.
“We would come to love them because of our disagreements, to me, that’s a moving love, that’s an unconditional love.”
The launch of Dear Unity was attended by several faith leaders and other key representatives, some of whom had contributed to the book, such as Archbishop of Canberra-Goulbourn Christopher Prowse.
Archbishop Prowse said the project expanded beyond the book and was a “grassroots movement of unity.”
He spoke of a woman who was seeking to join the church but was confused over which one was the Christian church, which the archbishop said was a “disunity.”
“We must not get used to disunity; it’s a scandal that this continues,” the archbishop said.
“We have to do all that we can to allow the Holy Spirit to do what the Holy Spirit wants to do, and that’s to bring unity.”
Also in attendance were former prime minister Scott Morrison, Hope Unlimited Church lead pastor Darlene Zschech, representative of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia in the National Council of Churches Bishop Bartholemew, Lutheran Bishop Richard Schwedes, and I4Give co-founders Leila and Danny Abdallah.
Dear Unity is available at the Mustard Seed Bookshop www.mustardseed.org.au, 02 9307 8350.
