wfn.org | 'Ecumenism is not optional but essential to the Church'

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Statement by LWF General Secretary, Dr. Ishmael Noko, on the Vatican
document "Dominus Iesus"

GENEVA, 8 September 2000, (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has
reaffirmed its commitment to ecumenical dialogue, saying ecumenism is not
optional but essential to the Church.

In a statement issued today, LWF general secretary, Dr. Ishmael Noko,
responding to the Vatican document, "Dominus Iesus" - On the Unicity and
Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church, published by the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on September 5, and a "Note" on
the expression of "Sister Churches" issued on June 30, recalls that the
signing by the Vatican and the LWF of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine
of Justification on 31 October 1999 was an important milestone in the
history of Christian unity.

In his statement, Noko points out that the word "church" in the Joint
Declaration, is used to reflect the self-understanding of the particular
churches, without intending to resolve all the eccelesiological issues
related to them.

The LWF general secretary expresses disappointment that thirty-five years
of ecumenical dialogue between Roman Catholics and Lutherans seem not to
have been considered in the formulation of the letter and documents issued
by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  He adds that the impact
of the recent statements from the Vatican is more painful because they
reflect a different spirit "than that which we encounter in many
Lutheran-Roman Catholic relationships."

Lutheran churches, together with other churches of the Reformation are not
ready to accept the categories now emphasized by the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith nor the definitions and criteria underlying them,
Noko states.

Below is the full text of the statement issued by Dr. Noko:

Statement by Dr Ishmael Noko, General Secretary of the Lutheran World
Federation, on the Vatican document "Dominus Iesus"

The Lutheran World Federation has received news of the document, "Dominus
Iesus" - On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the
Church, published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the
Roman Catholic Church on September 5, 2000.

This document pertains primarily to the inter-faith relations of the Roman
Catholic Church in the wide framework of the world's religions.  The
Lutheran World Federation has seen this document and will want to carefully
study and fully discuss it with our Roman Catholic partners.

The Lutheran World Federation has also seen a letter from the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith sent on June 30, 2000 to the presidents of
the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conferences around the world. This letter and
its accompanying document, "Note" on the Expression "Sister Churches" says,
in effect, that the word "church" should not be used by the Roman Catholic
Church when addressing Protestants.

The fact that the Roman Catholic Church is only ready to speak of Orthodox
churches as "sister churches" is not new to us. According to this
understanding of the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran churches and other
churches of the Reformation are not referred to as churches, but - in line
with the principles now restated - as "ecclesial communities."

The document, "Dominus Iesus", contains the observation that "ecclesial
communities which have not preserved the valid Episcopate and the genuine
and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery, are not Churches in the
proper sense".

Lutheran churches, together with other churches of the Reformation, are not
ready to accept the categories now emphasized by the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith nor the definitions and criteria underlying them. We
are disappointed that thirty-five years of ecumenical dialogue between
Roman Catholics and Lutherans seem not to have been considered in the
formulation of the letter and documents issued by the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith.  The impact of these statements is more painful
because they reflect a different spirit than that which we encounter in
many other Lutheran-Roman Catholic relationships.

On October 31, 1999, the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic
Church took a significant ecumenical step by signing a Joint Declaration
that nullified centuries of conflict between our churches regarding the
Doctrine of Justification. This was an important milestone in the history
of Christian unity. In the Joint Declaration, a clarifying note states that
the word "church" is used in the Declaration "to reflect the
self-understanding of the particular churches, without intending to resolve
all the ecclesiological issues related to them." This approach is also
helpful in the wider ecumenical relationship between churches.  Without it,
problems arise, not only on the world level of churches and communions but
also on the local level where pastors and believers are developing
relationships as genuine ecumenical partners as they seek to faithfully
serve God in their communities.

The Lutheran World Federation remains committed to ecumenical dialogue. We
believe that ecumenism is not optional but essential to the Church.
Temporary setbacks should neither be allowed to cloud or darken our vision
for Christian unity as willed and prayed for by Christ himself.

Geneva, September 8, 2000

(The LWF is a global communion of 131member churches in 72 countries
representing over 59 million of the world's 63 million Lutherans. Its
highest decision making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven
years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council which
meets annually, and its Executive Committee. The LWF secretariat is located
in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF). 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.]

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
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