wfn.org | Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew meets with NCCCUSA leaders

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.apc.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA

Contact: Carol Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252
Internet: carolf@ncccusa.org

NCC10/24/97     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH CELEBRATES PROGRESS TOWARD 
CHRISTIAN UNITY, CRITICIZES WEST'S PROSELYTISM OF 
ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS ABROAD

	NEW YORK, Oct. 24 ---- His All Holiness 
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, during a worship 
service today hosted by the National Council of 
Churches (NCC), offered his analysis of the 
achievements and ongoing struggles of the Christian 
unity movement, particularly in the area of 
Orthodox-Protestant relations.

	In the "Service of Thanksgiving and Praise," 
which drew more than 250 NCC officials, staff, 
denominational representatives and guests to The 
Interchurch Center Chapel, the NCC's General 
Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Joan B. Campbell, welcomed 
the Ecumenical Patriarch warmly.

Dr. Campbell declared, "The ecumenical movement 
needs the Orthodox Church.  Without your presence we 
would be immeasurably impoverished.  And, with 
humility and in fear and trembling, I dare to 
suggest that the Orthodox Church needs the 
ecumenical movement.  Only together can we be 
responsive to Jesus' prayer that we might be one so 
that the world might believe."

	Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop of 
Constantinople/New Rome, is the spiritual leader of 
300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.  He began 
a one-month visit to the United States on October 
19, 1997.

	In his greetings during worship today, the 
Ecumenical Patriarch was longer on praise than on 
criticism.  He acknowledged that different 
perspectives on the nature of the Church, the 
purpose of ecumenical dialogue, and on moral 
questions have strained U.S.-Protestant relations in 
recent years.

But he spent most of his time celebrating the 
NCC's leadership in bringing together many churches 
for spiritual communion, theological discourse, 
study of the Holy Scriptures, humanitarian outreach, 
and response "to the challenges of this nation's 
complex and diverse society," especially its 
"response to the recent, tragic outbreak of the 
intentional burning of church buildings." 

"The destruction of these churches left 
thousands of faithful Christians without places to 
gather for the worship of God," he said.  "We 
deplore these acts of hatred.  As Orthodox 
Christians, we weep in pain with our sister 
churches, having experienced this bitter pain 
ourselves..Because of the efforts of the Council, 
many of the churches have been rebuilt.  By her 
witness, the NCCC has reaffirmed that 'we are 
members of one another'."

The Ecumenical Patriarch reserved his harshest 
words for "so-called 'missionaries'" from the West 
who proselytize among the Orthodox Christian faithful 
abroad.  

"In lands where the Orthodox Church is 
recovering from decades of persecution," he said in 
a clear reference to the former Soviet Union and 
other areas of Eastern Europe, "a new threat to the 
Orthodox faith has appeared.  Many Protestant 
missionaries from the West whose voices were not 
heard during the decades of oppression have not come 
to lend support, but to convert Orthodox believers.

"Orthodox who had suffered for generations had 
expected the prayers, the support and the 
encouragement of their ecumenical partners," he 
said.  "These so-called 'missionaries' claim to be 
Christians, but they behave as wolves in sheep's 
clothing.  300 million Orthodox Christians seek the 
very guarantees of love and freedom that our sister 
churches have enjoyed in the name of religious 
freedom.  We ask for your love and understanding as 
we seek to rebuild the house that was shattered by 
active governmental persecution."

	Dr. Campbell had delivered her welcome first, 
and did not respond formally to the Ecumenical 
Patriarch's concerns.  But she said later that all 
through the Cold War, the NCC actively maintained 
contact with the historic Orthodox and Protestant 
churches of the Eastern Bloc.  The NCC now is 
helping those churches train new leaders, update 
antiquated Christian education materials and 
otherwise meet the enormous needs for ministry in 
their societies.

	She added, "The Ecumenical Patriarch told me 
after the service that he wasn't aiming at the NCC, 
he was choosing the NCC as the most appropriate 
place to make these remarks."

	The NCC's Director for Faith and Order, the
Rev. Dr. William G. Rusch, also expressed
appreciation for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's
frank remarks.

        "I think it's significant that the Ecumenical
Patriarch felt that there was that level of trust
and maturity in ecumenical relations that he could
speak not only the kind words but also the candid
words that needed to be said among caring partners
in the ecumenical movement," Dr. Rusch said.
"That's true ecumenism."

         Following the exchange of greetings during
today's service, Dr. Campbell presented Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew with a pewter chalice and
paten, symbols of the Holy Eucharist for his
"ministry and leadership and to symbolize all who
hunger for Christ."
 
         The Ecumenical Patriarch in turn presented Dr.
Campbell a censer, a special vessel used in Orthodox
service that is swung to distribute the smoke from
incense.  The assembled congregation applauded
appreciatively when he specified that "it is to be
used in this chapel."

         The service also included selections by the
Interchurch Center Gospel Choir.  Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew was greeted at a reception
following the service.

             -end-