A plenary meeting in Wittenberg focused on the role and work of the Holy Spirit
(LWI) - The work of the Holy Spirit in creation, environmental concerns, the Holy Spirit in the world and the role of the Holy Spirit within the Church were among the topics under the spotlight during a recent meeting of Lutherans and Orthodox in the German city of Wittenberg where reformers Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon lived, worked and preached.
The plenary meeting of the International Joint Commission on the Theological Dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Orthodox Church (under the leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarch) took place from 29 April to 6 May. Hosted by the LWF with the support of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany, it included visits to churches and other historic sites connected to the Reformation.
The meeting focused on the theme of ‘The Holy Spirit, the Church and the World: Creation, Humankind and Salvation’, with participants working towards the drafting of a common statement due for publication in 2025, the year that the Christian world will mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. That ecumenical council in 325 CE marked the first effort by church leaders to reach consensus on Christian doctrine and practices.