HOW DID SOME NON-CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN PASTORS ARE INVITED BY CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT?

PART OF SERIES, "ECUMENISM: ADDRESSING ISSUES TOWARDS POSITIVE DIALOGUE"

Author: Ken Klark L. Flores

Photo: Feast Conference / Facebook

Introduction

In the post of "Feast Conference" Facebook Page on November 17, 2025 for FeastCon 2025 Together, i've noticed that there's featuring the 2 Non-Catholic Christian Pastors from Anchor Church and Hillsong Church Manila, which i comment in their post. I've received a replied comment, replied 1 said, "the church is universal", "as more of an invitation for other denominations to join and experience our faith rather than the other way around." the replied 1 added. Replied 2 said, "Different walls, One cornerstone." So, what's going on this Christian circle?

Behind the invitation

The event organizers described this initiative as an effort to "build bridges, not walls" in a divided world. The specific "circle" or movement that i observing is part of a broader push towards ecumenism within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement has long carried implications for advancing ecumenism, and it is not uncommon for speakers from other Christian denominations (Anglican, Evangelical, etc.) to be invited to lecture at Catholic charismatic conferences (Barney, 2017).

The Feast Conference (FeastCon), which is a program of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement in the Philippines founded by Bo Sanchez, explicitly invited non-Catholic church leaders for a plenary panel discussion centered on unity. 

Recognition

Since the formation, Popes have also acknowledged and encouraged the participation of representatives from other Churches and Ecclesial Communities in these gatherings. One of them is Pope John Paul II, he was supportive and promulgated the decree that formally inaugurated the "Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships" in 1990, granting it canonical recognition. He also stated that the charismatic and institutional dimensions are "co-essential" to the Church's constitution (Charismatic Renewal -General, n.d.).

Variations

Local church hierarchies sometimes implement specific guidelines. In some instances in the past, non-Catholic ministers shared pulpits with Catholic priests, but later, some local directives banned such practices, requiring conformity to Catholic orthodoxy within the church building itself. Also, participants must remain in full communion with the local bishop and the Pope, avoiding any sense of being a "Church-within-the-Church". Charismatic practices should lead to a deeper commitment to the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and Reconciliation, rather than being seen as a substitute for them.

Reference

Barney. (2017, July 14). Visiting a Charismatic Catholic Conference. Everyday Theology. http://everydaytheology.net/2017/07/visiting-a-charismatic-catholic-conference/

To the participants in the World Meeting of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (2000, April 24). Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/2000/apr-jun/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20000424_catholic-charismatic-renewal.html

Charismatic Renewal -General. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2025, from https://www.dsj.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/charismaticrenewal.pdf

Social Media Reference

Feast Conference (November 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM): https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1293605816142053&set=a.492772286225414