For well over 20 years I have had the honor and privilege of serving the Diocese of Camden as director of ecumenical and interreligious affairs. During these years, especially the first five, I had the distinction of being mentored by one of the greats in the field of modern ecumenism. His name was Brother Jeffrey Gros, a De La Salle Christian Brother, who passed away this month after battling pancreatic cancer this past year. Jeff was a friend and adviser to all the diocesan ecumenical officers in our country. His death marks a great loss for all those who desire Christian unity, as he was one of this era’s leading ecumenists.
Brother Jeff was a professed brother for over 58 years. Brother received a bachelor’s and master’s degrees (biology education) from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. He earned a master’s in theology from Marquette University and a doctorate in theology from Fordham University. Brother served 10 years as director of faith and order for the National Council of Churches and then 14 years as associate director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He recently served as Distinguished Professor of Ecumenical and Historical Theology at Memphis Theological Seminary. He was president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and served as dean for the Catholic Institute for Ecumenical Leadership, a program for diocesan ecumenical offers.
Brother Jeffrey has been involved in editing numerous books, including “Deeping Communion” (co edited with William Rusch); “Introduction to Ecumenism” (with Ann Riggs); “The Church as Koinonia of Salvation: Its Structures and Ministries” (co edited with Randall Lee); “Growing Consensus II” (co edited with Lydia Veliko); “The Ecumenical Christian Dialogues and the Catechism of the Catholic Church” (co-edited with Daniel Mulhall).
He had many professional memberships and traveled the world, speaking to a wide range of religious groups.
You can see what a great loss to the field of ecumenism his death brings. Paulist Father Ron Roberson, associate director for the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the U.S. bishops’ conference, described the death of his friend and colleague as “a huge loss to the ecumenical movement.” He remarked that Jeff possessed “an encyclopedic knowledge of ecumenism.”
Another Paulist Father Thomas Stransky, who assisted in drafting the Second Vatican Council documents on ecumenism, said Brother Jeff always approached ecumenical efforts by getting to know people “and what makes them tick.” He praised Jeff for his “immense curiosity” and for all his efforts to form an ecumenical awareness among young people so that this essential work of the church would be carried on by future generations until we are all one.
The World Council of Churches general secretary, Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit conveyed the condolences of the Protestant world following Brother Gros’s death, recalling his significant contributions to Christian unity and ecumenical dialogue as a Catholic theologian.”It is with deep sadness that we have received the news of Brother Jeffrey Gros’s passing away. We remember his profound contributions to Christian unity and his support of the WCC’s Commission on Faith and Order. We thank God for the life and work of Brother Jeffrey Gros.”
May Brother Jeff rest in peace and may he enjoy perfect unity with all Christians in heaven and full communion with his God!
Father Joseph D. Wallace is coordinator, Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs, Diocese of Camden.
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