Conference of European Churches - Office of Communications Press Release No. 06-11/e 2 May 2006
UNITY, CATHOLICITY AND BAPTISM: EUROPEAN CHURCHES IN DIALOGUE
From 27 to 30 April 2006 the third consultation on the question of ecclesiology, jointly organised by the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) - formerly called Leuenberg Church Fellowship - took place at Phanar/Istanbul, the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The participants came from Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, as well as the Lutheran, Reformed and United Churches of the CPCE. All these Churches are CEC members. Observers from the Porvoo Communion and the Commission "Churches in dialogue" of CEC were also present. The meeting was co-chaired by Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima (for CEC) and Prof. Dr Michael Beintker (for CPCE).
The meeting in Istanbul looked at two topics, namely "catholicity and unity of the church" as well as "baptism". First, Prof. Risto Saarinen gave a paper on "Unity and Catholicity of the Church" from a Protestant point of view, followed by a presentation on "Identity as Communion. Building blocks of Orthodox Ecclesiology" by Prof. Konstantinos Delikostant is. In the discussion of both papers it was clarified that "catholicity" cannot be separated from "oneness, apostolicity and holiness" of the church. It turned out as common conviction that the relationship between unity and catholicity has to be found in the local church. Each local church is "catholic", whereby the term "catholic" expresses a dimension that goes beyond the locally visible life of the community. Catholicity is fully manifested through communion in the eucharist with other local churches. "Catholic" does not just mean "universal", but implies a qualitative dimension, which defines Christian identity. There was also agreement that the connection between the local churches is guaranteed by means of synodality. In both traditions catholicity is among other things experienced in the liturgical life, which is celebrated in continuity with the early church. There was agreement that catholicity and nationalism exclude each other while the diversity in culture, language and nation, in which the same faith is being expressed, is not contradictory to the catholicity of the church.
During the second part of the meeting the participants listened to a paper by Dr Hans-Peter Grosshans on "Baptism - A Sacramental Bond of Church Unity" from the Protestant side and Prof. Grigorios Larentzakis on "Baptism and the Unity of the Churches. Orthodox Aspects." In the discussion that followed important points of convergence as well as open questions were further addressed, such as the pastoral challenges in relation to the baptism of children from interconfessional marriages as well as the confessional identity of godparents.
The participants were received by His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who underlined the importance of ecumenical dialogue and theological encounters despite existing obstacles.
"The Istanbul consultation marked a new milestone in the partnership between CEC and CPCE by strengthening the cooperation between the Orthodox churches and the churches of the Reformation in Europe", stated Prof. Viorel Ionita, CEC Study Secretary in Geneva.
For the full text of the final communiqué and the list of participants see: http://www.cec-kek.org/pdf/IstanbulCommuniqueE.pdf
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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: CEC Office of Communications Luca Negro Phone +41 22 791 64 85 or 791 63 25 Fax +41 22 791 62 27 e-mail Luca.Negro@cec-kek.org