wfn.org | JD: Brazilian church leader recalls a significant point in ecumenism

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PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil/GENEVA, 1 November 2000 (LWI) - The signing of the
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JD) undoubtedly remains
a high point in church and ecumenical history, according to Rev. Huberto
Kirchheim, president of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession
in Brazil (IECLB).

Since the historic signing of the JD in Augsburg, Germany by
representatives of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the
Roman-Catholic Church, common elements take on more weight, said Kirchheim
in a statement written for Lutheran World Information (LWI) on the first
anniversary of the signing of the JD.

Kirchheim, an LWF vice-president, who was among Lutheran representatives
who signed the JD in on 31 October 1999, said the declaration offers a new
basis for ecumenical relations. "Divisive elements are no longer seen with
accusing, resentful eyes focussing on the past," he said. "Peace has been
made, so to speak, and that is extremely positive and important for living
together in the modern world."

The Brazilian church leader pointed out that although there is openness
towards co-operation in the local congregations where Lutherans and
Catholics meet, Lutherans, a minority in predominantly Roman-Catholic
Brazil--the IECLB has 700,000 members--"also are largely ignored in
traditional Catholic circles."

Kirchheim also said the Declaration "Dominus Iesus" issued by the Roman
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith last September, elicited much
strong and more radical reactions from the Protestant churches, ecumenical
organisations and some of the progressive Catholic theologians in Brazil
and Latin America. In Brazil a Lutheran/Roman-Catholic dialogue issued a
joint statement expressing perplexity at the document and at the same time
declaring willingness to continue ongoing common initiatives.

The full text of the statement by Rev. Huberto Kirchheim follows:

First Anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine
of Justification (JD) JD offers a new basis for ecumenical relations

Statement by Rev. Huberto Kirchheim
President of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
(IECLB)

1.The signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
(JD) on Reformation Day 1999 will undoubtedly remain a high point in church
and ecumenical history. The Augsburg ceremony was "repeated" in the
Brazilian capital Brasilia on 24 November 1999 at a public signing of the
Joint declaration in Portuguese. The event was under the patronage of the
Brazilian council of churches (CONIC - Conselho Nacional de Igrejas
Cristas). Present were representatives of the Evangelical Church of the
Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) and the Catholic Bishops' Conference,
as well as representatives from other churches and the government. The
Joint Declaration was also celebrated in other cities in ecumenical
encounters between Lutherans and Catholics. In general we were, and are,
happy about this step. But our expectations were realistic from the start.
We are indeed aware that such an act of signature does not mean an
immediate change in the course of history.

2.The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification offers a new basis
for ecumenical relations. Common elements will take on more weight from now
on. Divisive elements are no longer seen with accusing, resentful eyes
focussing on the past. Peace has been made, so to speak, and that is
extremely positive and important for living together in the modern world.
Peace leads us to friendship and fellowship. In the local congregations
where Lutherans and Catholics meet, there is great openness to co-operation
on issues of common responsibility. The same can be said of church
leadership bodies.  However, we are quite aware that we, as a Lutheran
minority in Brazil, also are largely ignored in traditional Catholic
circles.

3.Thanks to the JD, in Brazil the bilateral dialogue between the IECLB and
the Catholic Bishops' Conference has been officially resumed. In my view we
owe this partly to the ecumenical fact that the annual "Fraternity
Campaign" of the Catholic Bishops' Conference this year has been launched
on an ecumenical basis and has also been adopted by the partners of the
Brazilian council of churches. Besides the regular meetings of the dialogue
commission, three extended study seminars have already been held. Topics
were (1) the JD itself, (2) eucharistic hospitality and (3) the ordained
ministry and church ministries. The third seminar took place on 7 and 8
September 2000, shortly after the issuing of the Declaration "Dominus
Iesus". This is why, Brazil to my knowledge, was the only country where
Roman Catholic and Lutheran representatives together issued a statement
expressing their perplexity at this document, at the same time declaring
their willingness to continue on the course embarked upon.  This statement
was signed by Rev. Dr. Gottfried Brakemeier, a former president of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the IECLB and Bishop Ivo Lorscheiter on
behalf of the Catholic Bishops' Conference.  In an extended text I included
the position of the bilateral commission as that of the IECLB. This
statement was also ratified by the 18 synod pastors and presidents (lay) at
their meeting from September 22 to 24 in Curitiba.

4.We in the IECLB regret the document "Dominus Iesus", while not according
it too great an importance. Yet the general reaction of the Protestant
churches, ecumenical organisations and even of some progressive Catholic
theologians in Brazil and Latin America has been much stronger and more
radical. It would be going too far to detail the general indignation,
extending even to calls for an immediate breaking of ecumenical relations
with Rome. It is unavoidable, however, that the signal from the
Vatican-including the beatification of Pope Pius IX-has poured cold water
on the ecumenical spirit and is understood as a serious setback. As
regrettable as the negative statements relating to the non-Catholic
churches is the non-mention of the positive points-the improvement of the
ecumenical climate since Vatican II, the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine
of Justification, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and other common
activities.

5.The Brazilian council of churches has called for an official, public
statement by the Catholic Bishops' Conference on the continuation of
ecumenical co-operation. In the IECLB and LWF we will have to be tougher in
bilateral dialogue and insist on the mutual obligations undertaken in the
JD.

Huberto Kirchheim
IECLB, President

Porto Alegre, 30th October 2000

(The LWF is a global communion of 131 member churches in 72 countries
representing over 59 million of the world's 63 million Lutherans. Its
highest decision making body is the Assembly, normally held every six
years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council which
meets annually, and its Executive Committee. The LWF acts on behalf of its
member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical relations,
theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the
various aspects of mission and development work. Its 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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