The ARK, a publication of the American Association of Interchurch Families (AAIF); Volume 26; Edition 2; April, May & June 2015

The ARK, a publication of the American Association of Interchurch Families (AAIF); Volume 26; Edition 2;  April, May & June 2015 can be found at the following link
http://interchurchfamilies.org/aaif/ARK201504Volume26Edition2.pdf

The ARK, a publication of the the American Association of Interchurch Families (AAIF) Volume 26; Edition 1; January, February & March 2015 can be found at http://interchurchfamilies.org/aaif/ARK201501Volume26Edition1.pdf

In this edition of The ARK, a publication of the American Association of Interchurch Families, we will continue to explore:
Interchurch Families: “Listen with the ear of your heart”

Of note in this edition is the “Response to the 2015 Synod on the Family from the Interchurch Families International Network ”

Other topics that will be covered in this edition of the ARK are:

• Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full? A Book Review of “Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America” with Implications For Interchurch Families and For Those Who Give Us Pastoral Care
• Some questions to be considered and discussed:
  Will the children of Interchurch Families become confused?
  Interchurch Families are often perceived to be a problem rather than a solution to the existing problem. Why?
  The Pastoral Care of Interchurch Families – What is needed?
• Other topics:
  ~ A Link to “Instrumentum Laboris” on the Vatican Website is provided so that all may read what is there directly for themselves.
  ~ Selected Abstracts from Intams – The Synod on the Family: Reports From Around the World from local Roman Catholic Churches with links to the full reports
• Ecumenical Events for 2015 that take place annually with links.
• A discussion of the concept of “Receptive Ecumenism”
• Many thanks to those people who have made this edition of the ARK possible

Please share the link to this edition of the ARK:
With others you may know who are in Interchurch Families,
With couples who are in an Interchurch Marriage,
With couples who may be considering entering into an Interchurch Marriage,

With the extended families of Interchurch Families or Interchurch Couples who wish to discover ways to become supportive and nurturing,

With anyone who may be called upon to give pastoral care to interchurch families,

With anyone who may either teach or who may be doing research about interchurch families and/ or our role on the journey to Christian Unity “That all may be one” (John
17:21),

With anyone who ministers to families so that the possibility and potential that interchurch families hold for Christian Unity can be explored by way of remote preparation, With Sunday school teachers or catechists who may consider the role of interchurch families and the role they play as lived examples of Christian Unity on our greater journey toward Christian Unity “That all may be one” (John 17:21),

With College Campus Ministers so that they may be able to discuss the possibility that 50% of all marriages in the United States have the potential to become “Interchurch Marriages” – Some of these marriages become church drop outs. Some find a neutral church. Some convert; the conversion rate seems to be 50-50 as to which way the couple will move or convert so that they can worship together as a family. The drop out rate seems to be high among potentially interchurch couples; this should be of concern to most denominations. It seems paramount then that some kind of positive input be given to the concept that being Interchurch is also positive for Christian Unity.

Many Blessings are extended to all, especially to those who are sharing this journey with us, moving us all toward Christian Unity.