Where Now Is for Unity?

Where Now for Unity? A Disciples Reflection on Nicaea 2025, Creeds, and Unity

By Kristine A. Culp

As the global church prepares for the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025, Dr. Kristine A. Culp offers this timely and thoughtful reflection on the meaning of creeds, unity, and the ecumenical journey through the lens of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Originally presented at the Disciples–ELCA Ecumenical Dialogue in February 2025, this paper explores the rich and complex history of the Nicene Creed, the ecumenical movement’s ongoing pursuit of visible unity, and the particular contributions and challenges faced by Disciples in these conversations.

As Dr. Culp writes:

“The invitation to Nicaea 2025 is an invitation to start—and to continue—to read the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed in relation to the Council of Nicaea, in relation to the Bible, in relation to its reception over the centuries… and so forth. As Christians and specifically as Disciples, we might count among our ABCDs of reading the Nicene Creed to read it in relation to the Bible, to history and tradition, to gathering at the Table, to lived experience and wisdom both mystical and practical.”

This paper invites readers to engage deeply with questions that continue to shape our ecumenical commitments today:

• What does it mean for Christians to seek visible unity?
• How do creeds function in the life of a church that has often resisted formal confessions?
• What might Nicaea 2025 mean for the future of Christian witness and unity?

We invite you to read and reflect on Dr. Culp’s essay as part of your own journey in the pursuit of unity in Christ.