wfn.org | Current Phase of Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

Current Phase of Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity Ends
Publication of Report Expected in 2006

BARI, Italy/GENEVA, 5 November 2005 (LWI) - Members of the Lutheran -
Roman Catholic Commission on Unity gathered in Bari, Italy, 23-29
September, to discuss "The Apostolicity of the Church" in the last meeting
of the current phase of the international Lutheran-Roman Catholic
dialogue.

The dialogue, begun in 1967, is conducted under the auspices of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity (PCPCU). The phase now being concluded began in 1995.

Hosted this year by the PCPCU, the commission deliberated on the four main
parts of its report: Apostolicity of the Church - New Testament Foundations; The Apostolic Gospel and the Church as Apostolic; Apostolic Succession
and Ordained Ministry; and, Church Teaching that Remains in the Truth.

They especially identified and assessed the "elements" of apostolicity in
the church and their configuration, and sought ways to clarify agreements
and differences pertaining to the issues of apostolic succession, the
question of defectus sacramenti ordinis (holy orders of the priesthood)
and a universal teaching ministry. A special feature of the report will be
the foundational historical and theological background material.

For both sides, the ecumenical movement is a historical process whereby
the partners involved seek to prepare the ground for increased ecclesial
rapprochement through deepening common reflection and mutual respect. The
report will stand as a contribution to the sponsoring churches for further
processing and reception. Publication is expected in 2006.

As this was the last meeting in the fourth phase of the dialogue, PCPCU
President Walter Cardinal Kasper and LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael
Noko visited the commission and thanked its members for their indefatigable efforts during the past decade of dialogue.

The commission was co-chaired by Bishop Dr Béla Harmati, Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Hungary, and Roman Catholic Archbishop Alfons Nossol of
Opole, Poland, who succeeded the then Bishop Walter Kasper in 2002.

Already published reports of the dialogue include: The Gospel and the
Church (1972) The Eucharist (1978); Ways to Community (1980); The Ministry
in the Church (1981); Facing Unity (1984); and Church and Justification
(1994).

The theme and timing of the next phase will be considered by the regular
LWF-PCPCU Joint Staff Meeting, co-chaired by the PCPCU President and LWF
General Secretary. (386 words)

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(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140
member churches in 78 countries all over the world, with a total membership of nearly 66 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in
areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations,
theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the
various aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is
located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

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