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World Methodist delegation meets with Pope Benedict

Dec. 14, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By United Methodist News Service*

A World Methodist Council delegation discussed ecumenical relations
during a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

The Dec. 9 visit occurred the day following the 40th anniversary of the
Second Vatican Council, during which the Roman Catholic Church
emphasized its commitment to ecumenical dialogue. The World Methodist
Council has been engaged in dialogue with the Catholic Church since
1967.

His Eminence Sunday Mbang of Nigeria, who led the delegation,
congratulated the pope on his election on behalf of World Methodists,
and thanked him for renewing the commitment that his predecessor, Pope
John Paul II, made to ecumenism.

Citing progress that has been made in Methodist/Catholic relations
through the International Dialogue Commission, Mbang spoke of the
"significant theological convergence that has been realized on such
fundamental themes as revelation, faith, scripture and tradition."

Acknowledging that "there are still doctrinal matters to be settled
between Methodists and Catholics," he indicated that each sees gifts in
the other that could strengthen the church's witness.

Mbang, who is chairperson of the council, reminded Pope Benedict that
the World Methodist Council congratulated the Roman Catholic Church and
the Lutheran World Federation in 1999 when they jointly signed the Joint
Declaration on the Document of Justification.

In the intervening years, the World Methodist Council has been working
on a process whereby the council could become associated with this
agreement. This will be on the council's agenda when it meets in Seoul,
South Korea, next July.

The pope indicated that he was encouraged by this initiative, stating
that "it would assist in contributing to the healing and reconciliation
we ardently desire, and would be a significant step towards the stated
goal of full visible unity in faith." He expressed his desire that
Methodists and Catholics "seek to foster a mutual commitment to the
World of God, to witness and to joint prayer."

Besides Mbang, the delegation included the Rev. George Freeman, the
council's chief executive; the Rev. Geoffrey Wainwright, co-chairperson
of the International Dialogue Commission; retired Bishop Walter Klaiber
of Germany, who co-led the United Methodist Church dialogue with the
Catholic Church in the USA; Gillian Kingston, an Irish Methodist and
member of the dialogue commission; and Bishop William Oden, ecumenical
officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops.

Bishop Michael Putney, Catholic bishop of the Townsville Diocese in
Australia and co-chairperson of the dialogue commission, and the Rev.
Don Bolen from the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity were also in the delegation.

*The World Methodist Council provided information for this report.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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