wfn.org | A Day of Spiritual Renewal as Slovak Lutherans and Catholics

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

A Day of Spiritual Renewal as Slovak Lutherans and Catholics Celebrate
Ecumenical Agreement
Slovak Bishop Filo Cites Positive Impact of JDDJ, Calls for Intensified
Effort on Practical Aspects 

BRATISLAVA, Slovak Republic/GENEVA, 8 November 2004 (LWI) * "A Day of
Spiritual Renewal," was the theme of ecumenical celebrations to mark the
fifth anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine
Justification (JDDJ) in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. 

The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Slovak Republic
(ECAC-SR) and Roman Catholic Church jointly organized the October 22
festivities that included a symposium and liturgical celebration.
Representatives from various churches including ecumenical partners,
educational and other institutions, political and civic leaders and members
of the general public attended both events.

Signed by representatives of the LWF and Roman Catholic Church on 31 October
1999 in Ausgburg, Germany, the JDDJ affirms that Lutherans and Catholics have
reached a consensus on the basic truths regarding justification, and that the
condemnations of the 16th century Reformation do not apply to the teaching
presented in the JDDJ.

"God's justifying grace continues to reconcile people and bring peace to the
world. We want to discover and receive the renewing gifts of God's mercy and
join our hands in service to the world." With these words ECAC-SR General
Bishop, Dr Julius Filo and Bishop Frantisek Tondra, chairperson of the Roman
Catholic Bishops' Conference in the Slovak Republic welcomed guests to the
symposium. Participants included the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General
Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko; Monsignor Aldo Giordano, General Secretary
of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences; representatives of Lutheran
churches from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland; as well as key
political leaders including Mr Pavol Hrusovsky, chairperson of the National
Council (Parliament) of the Slovak Republic.

Delivering his opening address during the symposium held at the National
Council's congress center in Bratislava, Hrusovsky noted that the agreement
between the Roman Catholics and Lutherans on basic truths of the doctrine of
justification has implications for the general public today. In a society
that constantly creates and glorifies "dividing lines" among its different
sectors, he said, the JDDJ responds to this trend by overcoming divisions. 

Noko focused his presentation on the power of justification in bringing down
walls that separate people. In view of the wider context of Christian
responsibility globally, he asked: "How can churches overcome their own
divisions so that religious tensions can be overcome?"

Giordano, who also represented the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity (PCPCU) pointed out the difference between liberty that has its origin
in powers that separate people from God thus resulting in destructive
divisions, and the liberty brought by the Son of God. The JDDJ, he stressed,
"is directing us to the path opened for us by Jesus Christ."

In his concluding remarks at the symposium, Filo named some of the positive
effects of the JDDJ for relations between Lutherans and Roman Catholics in
the Slovak Republic. He cited the agreement on mutual recognition of baptism
signed on 4 June 2001, and also spoke of a new atmosphere and mechanisms of
mutual accountability on how the JDDJ can be expressed in the daily lives of
Christians. Future tasks include the need for mutual recognition of the
churches' ministry, and giving more attention to the issue of confessionally
mixed marriages. In agreement with the LWF general secretary, the ECAC-SR
bishop also emphasized the need for patience in letting "the fruits of the
JDDJ grow before we can enjoy their full strength among ourselves."

The day concluded with a liturgical celebration in the Evangelical Church in
Bratislava, which was attended by Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic. Noko and
Giordano delivered homilies during the service which followed the order
proposed jointly by the LWF and PCPCU. 

Roman Catholics comprise around 60 percent of the Slovak Republic's 5.4
million people while Protestants make up 8.4 percent. The ECAC-SR has 372,858
members, and joined the LWF in 1947. (653 words)

(A contribution by Rev. Ondrej Prostrednik, Evangelical Church of the
Augsburg Confession in the Slovak Republic.)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138 member
churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of nearly 65
million Lutherans. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of
common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless
specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or
opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.]

*    *	   *

LWI online at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.EN.html 

LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION
PO Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: (41.22) 791.63.54
Fax: (41.22) 791.66.30 
Editor's e-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org