wfn.org | Georgian Orthodox Church Withdraws from WCC

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

26-June-1997 
97256 
 
    Georgian Orthodox Church Withdraws from WCC 
 
    by John Newbury 
    WCC News and Information Office 
 
GENEVA--The Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church has left the World 
Council of Churches (WCC). 
 
    In a June 9 to His Holiness Elia II, catholicos patriarch of all 
Georgia. letter, Konrad Raiser, WCC general secretary, said the decision is 
"a very serious development but it does not represent an exceptional 
situation. Similar conflicts have arisen in many other churches 
representing the whole spectrum of Christian traditions."  Raiser added, 
"We consider this as an almost natural consequence of the fact that the 
ecumenical movement raises questions and poses challenges for the 
churches." 
 
    The Georgian patriarch informed Raiser in a May 22 letter of the 
synod's  decision, explaining that  a "negative attitude towards the 
ecumenical movement" had grown up in the Georgian Orthodox Church and 
threatened to divide it. 
 
    The patriarch said the Holy Synod felt the WCC did not consider 
Orthodox interests enough.  He said it was also critical of what it saw as 
attempts "to confer the WCC with an ecclesiological character." 
 
    In his reply, Raiser acknowledged the WCC "must be prepared to listen 
to the critical questions which member churches address to it."  However, 
he added, the WCC sincerely regrets "that in some situations -- and the 
Georgian Orthodox Church may not constitute an exception -- legitimate 
differences of assessment regarding the ecumenical movement are being so 
linked with other internal conflicts that the impression is created as if 
the ecumenical movement was a cause of division in the church." 
 
    Raiser assured the patriarch there is no intention to turn the WCC into 
any kind of church -- i.e., give it an ecclesiological character.  He 
further stressed that the WCC is also willing to discuss the Georgian 
anxiety that Orthodox concerns are not properly considered by the WCC, 
although he believes the WCC already tries to listen to what Orthodox 
churches have to say. 
 
    The WCC general secretary told the patriarch that the WCC officers at 
their recent meeting considered the Georgian decision to leave the WCC 
"with deep sorrow and regret." 
 
    Raiser concluded with a word of gratitude that the patriarch and other 
leaders in his church are "widely appreciated partners in the ecumenical 
movement and co-workers in the search for Christian unity" and this 
"sustains us in our hope for the future." 
 
    Raiser also told the patriarch: "In this very unfortunate situation we 
want, above all, to assure you of our continuing solidarity. It is our 
prayer that we may be led by the Holy Spirit to find the ways which permit 
us to reaffirm our ecumenical fellowship." 

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