Gudina Tumsa believed in Jesus Chirsts prayer that the Church may be one. But he made it clear that the ecumenical movement was not what Jesus Chirst prayed for in (John 17:11,21). Rather it was the first step towards achieving what the Lord desired for His body. Gudina Tumsa believed that the body of Christ was One, not only that but he also had an open mind to discuss and form ecumneical relationships with believers of different denominations as it can be seen in his attempt to form a relationship between the Evangelical Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Gudina Tumsa presented his own theology and plans to form ecumenical harmony that would last and grow into unity; such as “hibret”, the two stages plan, and The Council for Cooperation of Churches in Ethiopia (CCCE). Gudina Tumsa believed in applying the literal definition of the body and the head, as can be seen when he writes,
Ecumenicity, as demonstrated unity of the household of God, is given in Jesus Christ our high priest.” (Witness and Discipleship Pg.165).
In his conclusion Gudina Tumsa, writes about three schools of thought the first two-spiritualizers and secularizers- are obstacles to ecumenical harmony. On the other hand the third school of thought-the holistic approach- which is what Gudina believed in and applied as can be seen in his writings
“The third school of thought is what I would call the wholistic position. In wholistic theology both the spiritual and physical are taken seriously in an inseparable manner.” (Witness and Discipleship Pg.15).
Through his efforts of creating and maintaining ecumenical relationships Gudina Tumsa along with others was able to establish in 1976 the Council for Cooperation of Churches in Ethiopia which he was elected chairman of. This council incorporated not only Evangelical Churches but also Orthodox and Catholic Churches. Gudina writes this about his attempt at ecumenical harmony
“The majority of the Evangelical Churches, the Catholic Church and a small section of the Orthodox Church (one Orthodox mission headquartered in the Trinity Cathedral) are represented in the Council for Cooperation of Churches in Ethiopia.” (Witness and Discipleship Pg.21)
When we look at ecumenical harmony, it is still something that Churches have been unable to achieve today, on the scale Gudina Tumsa writes about. Gudina’s understanding of ecumenical harmony came from his understanding of the gospel and of human nature. He understood that the perfect example of unity was what Chirst prayed for (like husband and wife), but he also understood the shortcomings of people. Thus, his ideas on ecumenical harmony derived from Ephesians 4:2,
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” of making clear what Christ desired, while working around human weakness.
Gudina understood the only way into unity was bearing with one another in love and he can be seen doing this, when he mediated the controversy that the charismatic movement caused within his own Church. Paul E. Hoffman writes
Should this movement be welcomed, be suppressed, or be forced out of the church? From all I understood, it was Gudina Tumsa who was active in trying to move the Mekane Yesus Church into acceptance of the new movement and to prevent the movement in the Mekane Yesus Church from becoming schismatic.” (Life and Ministry Pg.18)