The John 17 movement, based in Phoenix, was founded by Joe Tosini. It is a movement about forming relationships and friendships among Christians, and does not involve theological dialogue and the examination of doctrinal similarities and differences. Tosini and others in the movement focus on Jesus’ actions and words at the Last Supper and, particularly on his prayer in John 17:21: “That they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.”
“Pope Francis is very supportive of the John 17 Movement and other informal ecumenical initiatives with evangelical and Pentecostal Christians. He called them “walking ecumenism” on October 12 during an ecumenical service in Rome.
“It is important that theologians study, that they find agreement and identify disagreements; this is very important,” the pope said. “But, in the meantime, ecumenism is done by walking and by walking with Jesus – not with ‘my’ Jesus against ‘your’ Jesus, but with our Jesus.”
Tosini was at the Vatican in early October, participating in meetings to plan events for June 4, the Feast of Pentecost. He wants to celebrate with Pope Francis what he calls “relational reconciliation,” a process that “is not about doctrinal alignment” or theological differences among Christians. It’s about affirming that in Christ, Christians are brothers and sisters called to love one another, even when they differ like siblings in any family.
“An important step, Tosini said, is to follow Pope Francis’s example having Catholics and Pentecostals acknowledge each other as Christians and stop treating and speaking of each other as less than Christian.”
“All the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:3. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him…” Revelation 13:8.