Conference of European Churches - Office of Communications Press Release No. 06-08e 6 April 2006
MORE SPACE FOR CREATION IN THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR
More space to honour God as Creator and to reflect on the preservation of the environment is needed within the Christian calendar. This is the message from a consultation on Creation Spirituality which was held in Geneva, 2-6 April 2006 under the auspices of the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) and the International Reformed John Knox Centre.
Twenty-five theologians and liturgists from all over Europe and from all church traditions took part in the event. The speakers were Daniel Buda, Romania; Tamara Grdzelidze, Georgia/Switzerland; Philippe Harnoncourt, Austria; Geiko Müller Fahrenholz, Germany; Michael Northcott, Scotland; Louisa Poole, England; Gary Vachicouras, USA/Switzerland; and Georg Ziselberger, Austria/Philippines.
"We have reaffirmed the proposal to establish a 'Creation Time' within the Christian yearly calendar," said the Swiss theologian Lukas Vischer, who chaired the consultation. "This proposal was initially brought forward by the Second European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA2) in Graz, Austria, 1997. We are determined to re-launch it in view of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) to be held in Sibiu, Romania, in September 2007. This proposal does not ask for formal changes in the church year, but is meant to help Christians rediscover the cosmic character of the Christian liturgy".
The Creation Time initiative is proposed yearly by ECEN in the timeframe of 1 September - 15 October. Already in 1989 the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople had invited all Christians to celebrate 1 September as a day of thanksgiving for the gift of creation and of prayer for its protection. This Orthodox proposal was picked up by the EEA2 and since then it has been accepted by several churches including various Protestant Churches, and the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conferences of the Philippines and Italy.
The consultation also addressed the issue of Eucharist. "As we try to respond together to the ecological crisis", said Professor Vischer, "the division of Christians at the Lord's table becomes increasingly unbearable. The consultation developed perspectives on the Eucharist which might be relevant as we seek a spiritual response to the degradation of the environment".
A report from this consultation will be presented to the forthcoming Sixth ECEN Assembly on the theme, "Living in a New Energy Era", to be held in Flämslatt, Sweden, 27 September to 1 October 2006. For more information: www.ecen.org.
During the consultation an art exhibition on Creation Spirituality was inaugurated. The exhibition will be open until 23 April at the Internation al Reformed John Knox Centre, 27, chemin des Crêts-de-Pregny, Grand-Sacon nex, Genève.
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Established in 1998, the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) has its roots in recommendations made at the EEA2 in 1997. Members come from almost all European countries and churches including Orthodox, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Protestant. ECEN encourages Christians and churches in Europe to develop an awareness and sensitivity to the ecological problems we face today and to accept responsibility for them. ECEN is supported by the Conference of European Churches (CEC).
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.
For information: Office of Communications Luca Negro Conference of European Churches Phone +41 22 791 64 85 or 791 63 25 Fax +41 22 791 62 27 e-mail Luca.Negro@cec-kek.org Website: www.cec-kek.org