A Ministry ofthe Franciscan Friars of the Atonement - In Memoriam

Sep 28, 2026

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In memoriam piece mourning the passing of Brother Jeffrey Gros (FSC, 1938-2013) on August 12, 2013, highlighting his long service to ecumenical and interreligious ministries. It recalls his role as educator and writer, his academic formation and decades of teaching, and his leadership positions across major church and council institutions. The document then introduces a final tribute article connected to the World Council of Churches’ Faith and Order document, The Church: Towards a Common Vision, and begins discussion of Catholic affirmations of liberty and pastoral reception needs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

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Pages16

Reading Time40 min

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A Ministry of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement

In Memoriam

Catholic Affirmations of Liberty

Faith and Order Document: The Church - Towards a Common Vision

Vol42 No 9■ Graymoor Ecumenical &Interreligious Institute ■ October 2013 # A Ministry ofthe Franciscan Friars ofthe Atonement IN MEMORIAMBrother Jeffrey Gros,FSC1938-2013 With the sadness that comes from losing a most sincere friend,yet with the sure hope in theResurrection,Ecumenical Trends mourns the passing into eternal life of Brother Jeffrey Gros,FSC on August 12,2013.We are joined by the Society of the Atonement as well as all our readerswho knew of Jeff,in prayers that he be given everlasting life and in consolation for one another. It is truly hard to say goodbye to such a friend and mentor.Jeff was always a keen supporterof Ecumenical Trends and the ecumenical and interfaith ministries of the Franciscan Friars andSisters of the Atonement.He wrote dozens of articles over the years and advised numerous otherecumenists to publish in ourjournal.He was a good friend to all of our editors,associate editorsand other Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement. Above allelse Jeff was an educator.Over the decades of his service,he helped to form a new generation of ecumenists.His writingis part of the canon of ecumenical education,particularly his editing work on the dialogues,the Paulist Press series and the Growth in Agree-ment series,and the first book any ecumenist should read,Introduction to Ecumenism,co-authored with Ann Riggs and Eamon McManus. John Jefferson Gros was born in Memphis,Tennessee,the son of Jeff and Faye(Dickinson)Gros.He graduated from PriceCollege in Amarillo,Texas,and entered the novitiate of the De La Salle Christian Brothers in Glencoe,Missouri in 1955.Jeff professed his final vows in 1963.He served God and the Church as a Christian Brother for 58 years. Jeff received a B.A.and a M.Ed.from St.Mary's University of Minnesota.He then went on to earn an MA in Theology fromMarquette University and a Ph.D.in Theology from Fordham University.During his years as an educator,he taught in Evanstonand Romeoville,Illinois,Glencoe and St.Louis,Missouri,and Memphis,Tennessee. He served ten years as Director of Faith and Order for the National Council of Churches and also for fourteen years as AssociateDirector of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Jeff excelled in and pioneered the conversations between Roman Catholics and Pentecostals,Evangelical Christians and theAnabaptist Peace Churches,as well as assisting those churches and communities to make internal moves into the ecumenical era. More recently,he was the Distinguished Professor of Ecumenical and Historical Theology at Memphis Theological Seminary.In the fall of 2011 he returned to Lewis University in Romeoville,Ilinois,as the Catholic Studies Scholar in Residence. Jeff served as president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies,consultant to the Office of Ecumenical and InterreligiousAffairs of the Archdiocese of Chicago,adjunct professor at Catholic Theological Union,and Dean of the Institute for CatholicEcumenical Leadership and President of the North American Academy of Ecumenists. What follows after this all too brief tribute is exactly what Jeff wanted:one more final article in Ecumenical Trends.It is on the World Council of Churches'Faith and Order document on the Church,The Church:Towards a Conmon Vision. May he rest in peace.He will surely be missed by many. G IN THIS ISSUE G Church:Hope and GraceJEFFREY GROS,FSC……………………………Page 2 JOHN W.CROSSIN,OSF… … …… …………Page 9Spiritual Roots,Practical Fruits:Liberty in the United States:Insights from One StudyNinth ReportMarygrove College LpTaryive from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaHILDS…… ……………………………Page 12DIANE C.KESSLER……8425 West McNichosRoadDetroit,MI 48221 Catholic Affirmations of Liberty In the Western context,the academic community has weighed infrom a variety of perspectives,from the Society for PentecostalStudies,4 through the American Academy of Religions,⁵to theCathol

FAQs

Who is the subject of the In Memoriam section, and when did he pass away?

The In Memoriam honors Brother Jeffrey Gros (FSC), who passed away on August 12, 2013.

What main qualities and contributions are emphasized about Brother Jeffrey Gros?

The text emphasizes his dedication to ecumenical and interfaith ministries, his extensive writing and advisory work, and especially his long-term role as an educator shaping new generations of ecumenists.

Which World Council of Churches Faith and Order document is referenced for the final article?

The article is connected to the Faith and Order document The Church: Towards a Common Vision.

Sep 28, 2026

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