Dialogue Group Celebrates 30 Years of Continuous Ecumenical Reflection
GENEVA, 1 July 2011 (LWI) – The Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission marked the completion of 30 years of work since the group met for the first session in 1981 in Espoo, Finland. Evaluations conducted by the commission members during the 15th plenary session held in Wittenberg, Germany, affirmed on both sides the work of this dialogue group and the commitment to work toward church unity.
A publication is planned to bring together the 12 statements produced by the commission over the years.
The Commission brings together The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Orthodox churches from around the world, under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The current group is co-chaired by Bishop Dr Donald J. McCoid (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), and H. E. Metropolitan Dr Gennadios of Sassima (Ecumenical Patriarchate).
At the Wittenberg meeting hosted by the LWF, the commission members “strongly expressed their desire and commitment for the continuation of the dialogue” and their gratitude “for the growth in understanding which has been achieved on many subjects.” They affirmed again the larger mandate agreed in 1981: “to help to lead the two church traditions ‘to convergence and full communion and mutual recognition,’” states the joint communiqué from the 31 May to 7 June meeting.
In addition to observing the anniversary year, the commission completed work on a common statement, “The Mystery of the Church: The Nature, Attributes and Mission of the Church,” which includes the work of two preparatory meetings, in Iceland in 2009 and in Bethlehem in 2010.
Welcoming the group at a festive dinner, LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge thanked the commission for its faithful work over the years, and expressed hope that Orthodox and Lutherans “would continue to come closer to unity.”
During the meeting, a message with blessings and prayers was received from His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who expressed his fervent wishes for “good continuation until we reach the unity in faith for God’s glory.”
As part of their evaluation, the Orthodox asked Lutheran commission members to convey to their churches the Orthodox concern for “the possibly serious implications for the dialogue which arise from the widespread Lutheran practice of ordaining women and, more recently, from decisions taken by some Lutheran churches concerning persons in same-gender relationships.”
The common statement from the Wittenberg meeting focuses on the nature of the Church as “one, holy, catholic and apostolic” and on dimensions of the mission of the Church: mission and the unity of the Church; mission as witness and proclamation; mission and diakonia; and the problems of proselytism and domination.
The statement maintains that proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ implies acts of caring. “Lutherans and Orthodox proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God when they attend to their neighbors’ needs. We are to care for all the needy equally, regardless of their religion, race or culture,” the document states.
The statement calls for concerted effort to proclaim the gospel to the two-thirds of the world who are not Christian, but cautions that this must be done “for Christ and in Christ” and should therefore not be coercive.
Dr Kathryn Johnson, Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs at the LWF, expressed hope that continuing dialogue with Orthodox Christians will bring common opportunities to make visible God’s love for the world.
“Orthodox and Lutheran Christians find we have much in common – we share the most central affirmations of our Christian faith, and our churches face common challenges in many parts of the world. It is essential for both our traditions that we continue to grow in our relations to one another,” said Johnson, co-secretary of the commission.
The topic for the 2012 commission’s preparatory meeting to be hosted by the Orthodox is: “The Understanding of Ministry/Priesthood in the light of the Holy Scriptures and the early Church.” (650 words)
Communiqué | 15th Session Lutheran — Orthodox Joint Commission | The Mystery of the Church
See also:
- Lutheran-Orthodox Commission Members Prepare for 2008 Plenary Meeting
- Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission Begins Discussion on Reformation Anniversary and "Baptism and Growth in Communion"
- The Apostolicity of the Church: Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission Document
- Canada’s Joint Anglican-Lutheran Commission Commends Church Collaboration
- Third Meeting of the Lutheran-Mennonite International Study Commission
- LWF Seeks Further Common Ecumenical Action with Russian Orthodox
- LWF Youth at Orthodox Event Stress Dialogue for Ecumenical Growth
- Anglican-Lutheran Commission Welcomes LWF Statement on Episcopal Ministry
- Lutherans’ commitment to unity needed “more than ever”, WCC General Secretary Says
- Differences in Practice Don’t Threaten Church Unity, Say Lutheran Theologians
