wfn.org | Orthodox Recommit to NCC, Recommend Changes

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the 
U.S.A.
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2252
Internet: news@ncccusa.org; Web: http://www.ncccusa.org

NCC11/13/98                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORTHODOX RECOMMIT THEMSELVES TO NCC, RECOMMEND CHANGES

	CHICAGO, Nov. 13, 1998 ---- In a report to the 
National Council of Churches (NCC) annual General 
Assembly about a special consultation held in October, 
the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox members of the NCC 
recommitted themselves to the NCC and recommended 
several changes to increase and improve their 
involvement.

	"Many of you know that among the Eastern and 
Oriental Orthodox, there have been some questions about 
our participation in the ecumenical movement and in the 
NCC," said Bishop Dimitrios of the Greek Orthodox 
Archdiocese of America, who presented the report from 
the Inter-Orthodox Consultation to the NCC General 
Assembly.  The consultation was held October 5-6 and 
brought 32 participants from the nine Eastern and 
Oriental Orthodox member communions to discuss Orthodox 
concerns and to deliberately investigate solutions for 
them.

	The consultation and its outcome are particularly 
important on the eve of the World Council of Churches 
Assembly in Harare, to which some Orthodox churches, 
including the Russian Orthodox, have deliberately 
chosen to reduce or possibly even not send their 
delegations.

	Bishop Dimitrios said that thanks to the 
consultation, initiated by the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown 
Campbell, NCC General Secretary and the Rev. Gabriel 
Habib, NCC Consultant in International Affairs, the 
Orthodox recommitted themselves to the NCC and the 
ecumenical movement.  "We realized that our 
participation in the ecumenical movement is a divine 
imperative," Bishop Dimitrios said.  "We cannot choose 
to not be a part of this movement."

	As part of that recommitment, the participants 
"affirmed our need to be more responsible," he said.  
"We benefit morally, spiritually and materially" from 
the ecumenical movement, but "our churches do not 
contribute as much as we receive."

	"We cannot continue to talk as if we are not 
participants," Bishop Dimitrios said, using "us" and 
"them" language.  "'They' are `us'!" he said.  "We must 
become more and more familiar with the NCC" to be 
better involved, he added.

	"This consultation was needed not only because the 
Orthodox Churches have been raising questions about 
their involvement in the ecumenical movement for 
several years, but because there is an ecumenical 
crisis worldwide," said Rev. Habib.  "This crisis is 
not due to the `Orthodox attitude,' as is sometimes 
suggested, but to a decrease in confidence of all 
churches in the ecumenical ideal.  We thought it was 
appropriate that the Orthodox churches in America come 
together to reflect on this."

	"The most important thing to come out is their 
commitment to continue more effectively in the NCC and 
the ecumenical movement," said Dr. Campbell.  "Through 
this kind of participation and their common witness in 
America and `Western culture', the American Orthodox 
have a unique contribution to make toward Orthodoxy 
worldwide," he explained.

	These points were made in the "affirmations" 
section of the document, which is followed by two sets 
of specific recommendations.  One set of 
recommendations is addressed to the Orthodox Churches 
and the other to the NCC.

	Among the recommendations made to the NCC are:
  The NCC should encourage its member Churches to 
participate fully in the week of prayer for 
Christian Unity.
  An annual meeting, similar to the Inter-
Orthodox Consultation, should be facilitated by 
the NCC.
  The Orthodox member churches should be given 
the opportunity to participate actively in 
setting the agenda of the General Assembly and 
other important NCC events.
  More emphasis should be placed upon ecumenical 
training.
  Meetings between the Eastern and Oriental 
Orthodox churches should be encouraged and, if 
need be, facilitated to help foster Orthodox 
unity as an important stage towards Christian 
unity.
  The hiring of Orthodox staff in various Council 
programs.
  A liaison committee of representatives of the 
Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches should 
be created to help address the following 
concerns:
1. Secure a constructive style of 
relationships between the Orthodox Churches 
and NCC.
2. Secure Orthodox participation in the 
formulation of the ecumenical agenda.
3. Secure Orthodox churches 
representation on NCC committees.
4. Interpret the issue of 
"minority/majority" style of decision making 
and seek new ways of ecumenical discernment.
5. Facilitate regular contributions by 
Orthodox member churches to the NCC budget.

"I hope the consultation will be followed up on 
properly from both sides and not be only a one-time 
event," Rev. Habib cautioned.  "There has already been 
an encouraging sign.  I was told that the leadership of 
the Oriental Orthodox churches visited the chair of the 
Eastern Orthodox Standing Committee, Archbishop 
Spyridon, to promote unity."

"I don't know if you realize how much you have 
promoted unity among the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox 
church bodies," Bishop Dimitrios told the NCC.

One year away from the NCC's 50th anniversary, the 
recommitment was welcomed by vigorous applause from the 
delegates, who voted to receive the recommendations 
"with gratitude."

-end-