“I can affirm that it has been a blessing to see how much we have in common on the role of the Holy Spirit in our own churches.”
-Bishop David Ricken, Dialog Catholic Co-Chair
ROME, Italy (June 2026) — Members of the International Commission for Dialogue between the Disciples of Christ and the Catholic Church gathered in Rome from June 12–15, 2026, to conclude the Sixth Phase of their dialogue and approve the final report, The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Ministries of the Church. The report represents six years of theological, biblical and liturgical reflection, common prayer, worship, and friendship as the commission explored together the work of the Holy Spirit in relation to the unity of the Church, particularly in connection with lay and ordained ministries.
Inspired by St. Paul’s description of “the ministry of the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:8), the Commission reflected on the Spirit as both giver and gift, the ministry of the Spirit among all the baptized, the distinctive ministry of the ordained, and the gift of the Spirit in ordination. The dialogue affirmed that the same Holy Spirit empowers the Church’s ministry, guides discernment, sustains worship, and calls Christians toward the visible unity for which Christ prayed.
Looking back on six years of study, prayer, and friendship, the Dialogue’s co-chairs reflected on what this journey has meant for both communions and the continuing call to visible unity.
Bishop David Ricken, Catholic co-chair of the Dialogue, said:
“Serving as Catholic co-chair of the Disciples of Christ–Catholic International Dialogue has been a unique opportunity to learn from and to walk together with brothers and sisters from different countries. At the end of this phase, I can affirm that it has been a blessing to see how much we have in common on the role of the Holy Spirit in our own churches. The Disciples of Christ have great love for the Lord’s Supper, which they celebrate every Sunday. Studying together biblical passages and liturgies, praying and discerning together, allowed us to enjoy the beauty of the Ministry of the Spirit in each other. I hope the fraternal experience we have shared can be replicated locally: Catholics and Disciples discerning and recognizing together the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.”
Read the full release online on the Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry (CUIM) website.