Prayer for Christian Unity brings together Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal faithful
by Anne Marie Cox | January 26, 2026
A core value linking various Christian faith traditions is the belief that all people have inherent dignity because they were created by God.
“Every human being is inherently deserving of dignity,” said Bishop Betsey Monnot, Bishop of the episcopal Diocese of Iowa.
She spoke at a prayer service Jan. 25 at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, concluding the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a movement begun more than 110 years ago in a small Episcopal chapel near New York City.
Joining her were Des Moines Bishop William Joensen, of the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, and Bishop Amy Current, of the Lutheran Southeastern Iowa Synod. From the Catholic tradition, also joining them with the service were Father John Ludwig and Deacon David Schmidt and Rick McConville, both of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Des Moines. Also participating were: St. Timothy's Episcopal Rev. Jeanie Smith, Rev. Kyle Carswell, and Luke Luft; and Windsor Heights Lutheran Rev. Christopher Olkiewicz.
“God wants us to see very person through eyes that have been opened by Jesus and are seeing with the light of Christ,” Bishop Monnot said.
“Jesus calls us, you and me, right now, to believe in the light so that we may become children of light. It’s about asking Christ to show us, with his light shining, the path he lays out clearly for each one of us,” she said.
The prophet Isaiah said the Lord would guide us, she said.
“The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail,” according to Isaiah (58:6-11).
In the spirit of Christian unity, she said: “My siblings in Christ, let us join together across our differences, and answer the call of Jesus. Let us believe in the Light so that we may become children of the Light.”