wfn.org | WCC: Social ethical discussion

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Update Up-03-37
For Immediate Use
13 October 2003

"Honest and open" discussion on social and ethical issues at WCC
seminar 

cf. WCC Press Release PR-03-32 of 3 October 2003

Described as "a promising way forward within an area of
ecumenical life that is often difficult and controversial", an
8-12 October 2003 World Council of Churches (WCC) seminar on
"Methodologies in approaching social and ethical issues" covered
social and political ethics; bioethics and ecology; personal and
public morality; international relations and globalization. 

The final communiqui from the meeting noted that the discussions
"served to deepen mutual understanding among participants of the
particular configurations of Scripture, Tradition, experience and
reason that are used within different ecclesial traditions". In
addition, the participants - from Eastern and Oriental Orthodox,
Protestant and free churches, as well as representatives of
ecumenical organizations - discovered how  different regional and
sociopolitical contexts affect theological understandings and
approaches to moral and ethical issues.  

The communiqui notes that the discussions were "honest about
convergences and mutual resonances, as well as about divergences
and tensions - some of which remain serious and divisive".

The seminar reaffirmed the WCC's role in providing "a 'space'
for such common reflection, where open and honest discussion can
take place without pressure, and where any decisions are taken by
consensus."

The full text of the communiqui, and the list of participants
are available on our website at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/morges03.html 
Seminar presentations are being received and will also be posted
on this page. 

For further information, please contact Juan Michel, WCC  media
relations officer,  tel: +41 22 791 6153, mobile +41 79 507 6363,
media@wcc-coe.org  

**********

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches,
now 342, 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, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general
secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
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