wfn.org | Mixed Theological Commission

[Libby VISINAND <lvf@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
17 June 1998

Mixed Theological Commission

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has decided to delay the
preparatory meeting for a Mixed Theological Commission, which had
been provisionally scheduled for 22-24 June, 1998.

An Inter-Orthodox meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, at the beginning of
May, which brought together the Eastern Orthodox Churches and
discussed matters of concern for Eastern Orthodox within the
ecumenical movement, called for the formation of a Mixed Theological
Commission and for it to begin its work after the WCC Eighth Assembly,
due to be held in December of this year.

Following the Thessaloniki meeting, WCC General Secretary, Rev. Dr
Konrad Raiser, and the Moderator of the WCC's Central Committee, His
Holiness Aram I, suggested a preparatory meeting be convened as soon
as possible to set the agenda, timetable and process of the Commission. 
Invitations to attend the meeting were then issued.

It is now clear that not all those invited feel able to attend the June
meeting and the Moderator and General Secretary have therefore
cancelled it.

In a letter to invitees giving this news, Mr Georges Lemopoulos of the
WCC's Office of Church and Ecumenical Relations, and Deputy General
Secretary-elect, says His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew had particularly requested a postponement saying that,
because of the complexity of the issue and its constitutional and
ecclesiological character, more time is needed for Orthodox churches to
prepare a proposed framework within which the Commission could
work.  The Ecumenical Patriarch however does not rule out a first
meeting of the Mixed Theological Commission before the Assembly
"should the necessary and required inter-orthodox preparation reach a
satisfactory level".

In his letter, Mr Lemopoulos adds that some of the Eastern Orthodox
Churches directly concerned with the issue have also not confirmed
their participation in the June meeting.

In Geneva, Georges Lemopoulos adds: "The WCC considers the matter
one of extreme importance.  The framework which will be crafted by its
Eastern Orthodox member churches is crucial to the process and they
must have time to develop this properly.

"The Executive Committee, meeting in September, will evaluate the
situation again.  It is certain to reaffirm the WCC's commitment to
encourage dialogue between its Protestant and Orthodox member
churches in order to clarify any underlying uncertainties and to
strengthen our fellowship."

Georges Lemopoulos is available for interview.  He speaks English,
French and Greek.
Phone: +41.22.791.62.48

**********

The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 332, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions.  The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but
works cooperatively with the WCC.  The highest governing body is the
Assembly, which meets approximately every seven years.  The WCC
was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Its staff is
headed by general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church
in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Press and Information Office
Tel:  (41.22) 791.61.52/51
Fax:  (41.22) 798 13 46
E-Mail: jwn@wcc-coe.org
http://www.wcc-coe.org

P.O. Box 2100
CH-1211 Geneva 2