wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Witnesses of faith show the way towards visible unity

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

>For immediate release - 04/12/2008 08:02:00

WITNESSES OF FAITH SHOW THE WAY TOWARDS VISIBLE UNITY

Rediscovering the testimonies of Christian faith men and women
of different Christian traditions gave over the centuries was the
goal that brought some eighty participants from a variety of
traditions and countries to the Italian monastery of Bose this
autumn. It would be "an important step toward the visible unity
of the church" if different denominations were to recognize each
other's "heroes of the faith" who witnessed to the truth of the
gospel "throughout their lives", and found ways of commemorating
them together, said participants of the symposium "A Cloud of
Witnesses" in a message to their churches.

The 29 October to 2 November symposium was part of a joint
project by the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council
of Churches (WCC) and the monastery of Bose.

The effort aims to celebrate the heritage left to Christianity
by men and women who exemplified the gospel in their lives –
whether they are referred to as saints or martyrs or witnesses of
the faith. 

Among the symposium's participants were internationally
recognized theologians and church leaders from Orthodox, Roman
Catholic, Protestant and Pentecostal backgrounds. 

The message to the churches highlights the compelling example of
reconciliation given by some of those who died at the hands of
fellow Christians: "Repentance and forgiveness for past acts of
inter-confessional violence are more likely to occur when we
reflect together on those who in dying forgave their
persecutors."

The message also includes a list of follow-up ideas such as an
annual commemoration of faith witnesses from different traditions
during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, or on All Saints'
Day, for instance. An inclusion of stories about faith witnesses,
saints and martyrs in the ecumenical prayer cycle (
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle )is also a
possibility. 

Other suggestions include local dialogues on stories of women
and men from the different churches who led exemplary lives as
well as the publication of printed and online resources to share
the knowledge about these faith witnesses. 

While differences exist on questions concerning the intercession
of the saints, canonization, veneration of saintly relics, and
the practice of indulgences, the message recognizes the need for
"a growing consensus that emphasis needs to be placed on the
commemoration of witnesses as a source of inspiration, for all
ecclesial communities."

>Full text of the message:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=6443

WCC Commission on Faith and Order:

http://www.oikoumene.org/en/who-are-we/organization-structure/consultative-bodies/faith-and-order.html

More information on the monastery of Bose's website:
http://www.monasterodibose.it/index.php/content/blogcategory/223/461/lang,en

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith,
witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical
fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings
together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches
representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110
countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic
Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from
the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.