148 PART TWO: AN EMPIRICAL ACCOUNT theological consensus reached in Taizé. It suffices as a basis for the community’s practice, without overcomplicating or obstructing it. Brother TC analyzes that this consensus is partly based on the convergence reached in ecumenical theology. When it comes to the Eucharist, the work of his fellow brother of Taizé, Max Thurian and others, showed that, in retrospect, the positions at the time of the Reformation did not diverge quite as much as was perceived at the time.360 It was Brother Max who made the most effort to theologically embed the liturgical and Eucharistic practice of the community.361 TC also acknowledges the efforts of the liturgical movement and the Groupe des Dombes to rediscover the centrality of the Eucharist.362 In general, it seems the Taizé community found a consensus during the early years of its existence on which it still relies. Similarly, BE says about the process in Bose: We don’t really discuss the… uh… theological points, uh… inside the community. I think most of us are aware of what is, what is, what are the questions and so on, but to really discuss them, as far as we have our own local solutions and how to solve them, not to solve, but anyway, to go across the difficulties, and living them….363 This is, in a way, the consequence of embracing the idea of the ‘exchange of gifts’: topics of discussion are not easily perceived as divisive. Instead, different views on a subject are regarded as multiple perspectives that may complement each other. Therefore, TB does not think that full consensus is possible or even desirable: And so there is, there is for me certainly that hope that there would be a... I don't think agreement in terms of explanation, that this is possible. ... um... ... because there is multiplicity, if you read the old texts, the old liturgies, it's already so different ways to say things. And that is probably not what is also needed, um... And it's interesting that, that, um... ... ja, no, that would be more dogmatic so you don't {FW laughs} want to talk about that, but I don't think that that is not, but, what, what is important I think is to be able to... to... ja, to agree, today on the way we are called, to be the church, how we are called, to, to... ... to celebrate together, and to welcome each other....364 360 TC-1,6. 361 TB-2,22b. 362 TC-1,18. 363 BE-2,58. 364 TB-1,4f.
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