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Ecumenical Relations: International

An illustration shows the last of food in hands of some in the Horn of Africa

| Economic and ecological justice work |

Ecumenical agencies prioritize immediate food needs in Horn of Africa

ACT Alliance members in the Horn of Africa region have never seen a crisis like the current one in their lives. In the face of monumental drought, skyrocketing food prices, and food shortages, ten million people are at risk of starvation. The immediate priorities are to provide food, clean water, shelter, and medicine while joining forces with other aid agencies, UN bodies, and governments in order to reach as many of those in need as possible. A later priority will be rehabilitation. The World Council of Churches-related ecumenical alliance is made up of over 100 development and humanitarian assistance organizations. PC(USA)'s Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is a member as well as Church World Service (CWS). CWS's Donna Derr (pictured) is an executive committee member.

Worldwide bilateral and multilateral relationships

Information on some of the dialogues now underway

The definitive print collection of reports and agreements from international bilateral and multilateral dialogues adopted from 1971 to 2005 is available in three volumes of Growth in Agreement, published by the World Council of Churches.

Catholic relations with other churches move forward

Catholics in relationship and dialogue

The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith touched an ecumenical sore spot when it released "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church" in 2007. MORE Listen to John Radano speak on "Ecumenical Dialogue in the 2lst Century, Some Steps Forward and Some Continuing Concerns: A Catholic Perspective." See links to a wide variety of dialogue reports and a 2009 bibliography on theological dialogues, the latter for detailed information only.

The Joint working group

A joint working group advises the Vatican and the World Council of Churches (WCC) on their mutual relations. It is pursuing study on the "reception process," by which churches appropriate the results of dialogue into their life, and on the "spiritual roots of ecumenism." When it met on October 12-19, 2009 in Spain, it also examined global migration and the role of youth. It will next meet in the Middle East in September 2010.

Catholics and Anglicans: Promoting relationships on the ground
The Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (now ARCIC III) began work in 2011 and studied its mandate to explore how previous dialogues can be received, to discuss the Church as communion, local and universal, and to consider how in communion the local and universal Church discern right ethical teaching. ARCIC published Growing Together in Unity and Mission: Building on 40 Years of Anglican and Roman Catholic Dialogue in early 2007. Arthur Kennedy and Janet Smith of the U.S. (pictured) are members of the new Catholic delegation. See its communique of the May 2011 meeting.

Catholics, Lutherans, and United Methodists: Justification

In a 2006 theological statement, the World Methodist’s (WMC) governing body associated itself with the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) made originallly by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Catholic Church ten years ago in 1999. LWF general secretary Ishmael Noko said the WMC acceptance made JDDJ no longer an ecumenical specialty of two churches alone. Cardinal Kasper of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has denied the criticism that "the Joint Declaration has had no consequences for the teaching and practice of the church," saying that the joint Lutheran-Catholic document on the apostolicity of the church adopted in 2007 was built on the Joint Declaration. In the U.S., conversation on "Hope for Eternal Life" has stemmed from principles in the Joint Declaratiion. Michael Root of the U.S. (pictured) is a LWF member for the next round of Catholic-Lutheran dialogue, on "Baptism and Growth in Communion." The Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission is preparing a “Text on the Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017."

Catholics and Baptists: the sacraments and more

December 2007 talks between the World Baptist Alliance (BWA) and the Catholic Church centered on "Baptism and Lord's Supper/Eucharist as Visible Word of God in the Koinonia of the Church." Pope Benedict XVI told the group that other "historically controverted issues" to be faced together include Scripture and tradition, the place of Mary, and oversight in the church's ministerial structure. The dialogue's Catholic co-chair is Arthur Serratelli, bishop in Patterson, N.J. (pictured).

Catholics and Pentecostals: on becoming a Christian: insights from Scriptures and Patristic writings

A study document that has no authoritative status for either set of dialogue partners concluded the work from 1998 to 2006 for Catholics and leaders of "some classic Pentecostal churches," many from the U.S.
Co-chairs were Kilian McDonnell and Cecil Robeck, both of the U.S.

Catholics and Disciples: the presence of Christ in the ministry of the church

The International Commission for Dialogue between the Disciples of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church met in late June 2008 to discuss the "priesthood of Christ in church and ministry." This was the final session in a dialogue on the "presence of Christ in the church, with special reference to the eucharist," for which an agreed statement will now be prepared. American William Tabbernee (pictured) is co-chair of the dialogue.

More Anglicans moving into Catholic ordinariate

In the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus ("On groups of Anglicans") given in November 2009, the Vatican offered establishment of a special structure, an ordinariate, for Anglicans who would come into the Catholic Church. The procedure would allow married clergy to make the move and to retain parts of their Anglican identity and tradition. In the U.S. Donald Wuerl, who has been appointed by the Vatican to organize an ordinariate here, admitted in June that it is not clear what the Anglican elements will be or how they will be maintained. His fellow bishops also asked Wuerl about how to respond to members of other denominations that might be attracted to the ordinariate idea.

Wuerl reported to the bishops that as many as 100 Anglican priests and 2000 lay Anglicans could be the first members of the U.S. ordinariate. He outlined procedures for priests that will include sending dossiers to the Vatican, leading their congregations in catechetical preparation to become Catholics, and a nine-month program of priestly formation. Two entire parishes have declared their intention to become part of the ordinariate. One of them, St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bladensburg, Maryland, has already signed an agreement with the Episcopal Diocese of Washington as it prepares to be received into the Catholic Church. The assistant to the bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth, a breakaway from the Episcopal Church, resigned his post effective March 31 with the expectation that he and another long-term priest in the diocese become Catholic priests. The two men were among a quartet of priests who earlier had said, "It is perhaps time for a church of Reformation to die and a new unification among Christ’s people be born: Unification possible only under the Holy Father.” A summer 2011 conference in Texas will address individuals and groups who are interested in an ordinariate and "who are concerned to fulfill the Lord’s will that His Church may be one so that the world may believe."

Three former Church of England (CoE) bishops were ordained as Catholic priests in January 2011. By Easter 2011, it was estimated that as many as 1000 persons had converted to Catholicism from the CoE to become members of the English ordinariate established to receive Anglicans upset by the impending ordination of women as bishops and other developments. Among these were more than 60 priests, leaving divided congregations with no vicar. An Australian ordinariate is being planned.

Leaders of a conservative movement within the Anglican Communion, known by the acronym GAFCON, meeting in late April, acknowledge a de facto schism in their communion and also said that blamed the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and his staff for departure to the ordinariates. "Our own Communion has failed to make adequate provision for those who hold a traditional view of the faith," they said. They held out the hope that they could find ways, within the Provinces they represent, to support those who are alienated.

See the comments of Williams concerning the practical challenges of the ordinariate. Richard McBrien of the University of Notre Dame has commented that the move has ecumenical potential. "If the Catholic church is prepared to foster reunion with a small portion of the Anglican Communion . . ., why couldn't it do the same for other churches. . .?" he wrote. He suggested that there could be "a Presbyterian community in full communion with the Catholic church without sacrificing or jettisoning any of its most cherished traditions."

Events did not derailed a new round of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC III) talks, which began in May 2011. Earlier, a common declaration of the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury listed areas for cooperation: pursuit of peace, promotion of the respect for life and of the family, outreach to the poor and vulnerable, care of the creation, interreligious dialogue. The two churches' dialogue in the U.S. continues.

Meanwhile, the divisive issue of women in ministry continues to be a concern as Williams appointed new so-called "flying bishops" in May to replace the two previous such bishops who were among the three ordained as Catholic priests in January. The flying bishops provide spiritual and pastoral care to Anglicans who are opposed to women clergy.

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Orthodox dialogues yield common statements

Orthodox difficulties in ecumenical dialogue

Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople say there is difficulty for the Orthodox engaged in ecumenical dialogue. The Orthodox churches' "thought forms and terms of reference are different from those of the West" yet the ecumenical movement works mainly with western thought patterns. "Orthodox participants were, from the very beginning, forced to express their positions and points of view within a theological framework alien" to their Tradition.
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Orthodox and Lutherans: the Eucharist

After 30 years' work, the Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission plans to publish the 12 statements it has developed. The commission has most recently the commission completed work on The Mystery of the Church: The Nature, Attributes and Mission of the Church. In 2006 it finished The Mystery of the Church: The Holy Eucharist in the Life of the Church. A 2012 meeting will be preparatory for "The Understanding of the Ministry / Priesthood in the light of the Holy Scriptures and the Early Church." The Orthodox have conveyed concern about Lutheran decisions on same-gender relations and practices of ordaining women. American Lutheran bishop Donald McCoid (pictured) is currently co-chairs the group.

Orthodox and Anglicans: the ordained ministry

The Church of the Triune God: the Cyprus Agreed Statement, a document released by the International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue, examines the ordained ministry and the question of who may be ordained. The main topic for current stage of the dialogue, begun at a September 2009 meeting, is theological anthropology, that is, the Christian understanding of the human person as being in the image and likeness of God, and the implications of this for church life and contemporary ethical issues. The dialogue will next convene on August 31-September 6, 2010, in Oxford, England.

Orthodox and Catholics: focus on the role of the pope

The international theological dialogue commission of the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church met in Cyprus on October 16-23, 2009. They focused on the key factor of the role of the pope as the bishop of Rome, an issue that has been an obstacle. In spite of Orthodox protests, Metropolitan Ioannis, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate and co-president of the dialogue, has defended its continuation, saying, "All of us who participate in dialogue with the Catholic Church are giving testimony to Orthodoxy with frankness in this difficult task." (ENI #09-0921) A recent meeting of the pope and the president of Russia led to expectation of warming in relations between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox. Ecclesiology and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church: Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority (the "Ravenna document") was issued earlier by the commission.

A second international commission handles dialogue of the Oriental Orthodox churches with Catholics. "The Nature, Constitution, and Mission of the Church," the first substantial paper to come from this dialogue, was published in early 2009. The dialogue will next meet in January 2010.

Orthodox and Reformed: the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed

See below.

Lutherans hear a call to dialogue with renewed energy

Lutheran World Federation council. The 140 participants at the LWF council meeting in Geneva in June 2011 heard from a spectrum of ecumenical partners who spoke of ecumenical accomplishments and challenges.

Lutherans and Mennonites: condemnations of Anabaptists in confessional writings
The Lutheran-Mennonite International Study Commission in 2007 considered what it means for Lutherans to have within their confessional writings condemnations that contributed to persecutions and killing of Anabaptists during the Reformation. As an outcome, in October 2009 the council of the Lutheran World Federation adopted a statement seeking forgiveness and praying that "God may grant to our communities a healing of our memories and reconciliation." (Significantly, the general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches has reported to the WCRC executive committee that, in the context of a Lutheran meeting, he had talked with the Mennonites about what Reformed might do to build relationships. #71)

Lutherans, Catholics, and Mennonites: a proposed Trilateral Dialogue Commission

In June 2011 the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) approved plans for three-way talks with four representatives each from LWF, the Vatican, and the Mennonite World Conference.

Lutherans and other Protestants: divergent views of the church

Lutherans have a growing understanding that the main obstacle to church unity is divergent views of the church. An international group of Lutherans, joined by an ecumenical group of other Christians, looked at the Protestant understandings recently.

Lutherans and Catholics: preparation for the anniversary of the Reformation

Anticipating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has told the pope that Lutherans intend to be ecumenically accountable in its celebration: "to recognize both damaging aspects of the Reformation and ecumenical progress." Therefore, LWF has invited the pontiff to work together toward the celebration since Lutherans cannot achieve be accountability alone. The pope has said that 2017 will be an "opportunity to celebrate worldwide a common ecumenical commemoration and to fight on a global level for fundamental issues," joined by a common profession of faith. He has also cautioned that fundamental differences (over issues such as human sexuality) should not be ignored. Munib Younan, LWF president, indicates that it wants a common Roman Catholic-Lutheran declaration on eucharistic hospitality by 2017.

Anglicans and others review progress in their relationship

Anglicans and Lutherans: diakonia and communion

The third Anglican-Lutheran International Commission (ALIC) met in June 2011 to write its final report, "To Love and Serve the Lord." While many ecumenical agreements have examined koinonia, the unity of the Church, this report looks at the essential connection of koinonia with diakonia. Kathryn Johnson (pictured), a Louisville Presbyterian Seminary professor and assistant general secretary for ecumenical affairs for the Lutheran World Federation, has been Lutheran co-secretary for the commission. From the U.S., William H. Petersen of the Episcopal Church was also present.

Anglicans and Methodists: sharing in the apostolic communion

In the U.K., the Joint Implementation Commission (JIC) set up under the Anglican-Methodist Covenant of 2003 to enhance unity is recommending the two churches share their mission and ministry more widely.
The Anglican-Methodist International Commission's report on "Sharing in the Apostolic Communion" and, the London Document set a mandate for advancing the full visible communion of Anglicans and Methodists at every level. A document of full communion between the Episcopal Church and the Moravian Church in the U.S., "Finding Our Delight in the Lord," is viewed as setting a precedent. Interim eucharistic sharing between American Episcopalians and United Methodists is occurring. Now in February 2011 the commission held its third meeting and, in its communique, stated that there was a need to identify and tackle some of the issues "at the heart of our present denominational divisions," which are not always named. Work is needed, it said, on interchangeability of ordained ministries and the ministry of oversight (episcope). The next meeting will be in February 2012 in the U.S. Participants in 2011 included, from the U.S., Thomas Hoyt of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (pictured) and Sarah Lancaster of the United Methodist Church.

Anglicans and Catholics, Orthodox, and Lutherans: ordination of women as bishops

A Vatican statement after the July 2008 decision by the Church of England (CoE) to move ahead with allowing women as bishops said it "signifies a break with the apostolic tradition maintained by all of the churches since the first millennium and is, therefore, a further obstacle to reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Church of England." Bishop Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church also reacted negatively, while the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) welcomed the decision. There are now Anglican women bishops in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Next CoE steps will be considered in February 2009.

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Seventh-day Adventists explore possible areas of cooperation

Seventh-day Adventists and the World Evangelical Alliance

The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) see the possibility of cooperating together, they say in a joint statement issued after August 2007 theological conversations. Adventists can subscribe to the WEA statement of faith, though the two bodies disagree on the authority of Ellen White, pre-Advent judgment, and the day of Sabbath observance. Areas of cooperation could include prayer, Bible study and Bible society work, religious liberty, and meeting society's needs.

Seventh-day Adventists and the Salvation Army

Both rooted in the theology of John Wesley and dating from the 1860s, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Salvation Army have had formal dialogue with one another since 2002, most recently in February 2008. In spite of significant differences, the two see that they could cooperate in selected efforts "to meet humanity’s crying spiritual and material needs."

Reformed and Seventh Day Adventists

The general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches attended the general assembly of the SDA in 2010, building on the dialogue which took place ten years earlier.(#70)

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Reformed dialogues are with a wide array of partners

See links to information from official international Reformed dialogues on a web page of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). Find texts of official WARC statements on the ecumenical movement and reports of ecumenical dialogues co-sponsored by WARC.

Reformed and Pentecostals: experience, justice, and koinonia

The international Pentecostal-Reformed dialogue discussed "Experience in Christian Faith and Life" through looking at justice in May 2007. The co-chairs are David Daniels (Pentecostal, pictured) of McCormick Seminary and Joseph Small (Reformed) of the PC(USA). See a report of the dialogue's 2006 session on the ways Pentecostal and Reformed Christians experience koinonia in the local congregation and between churches. See also Spirit's Gifts -- God's Reign (PDS # 70-420-99-008).

Reformed and Lutherans: confessions, ecclesiology

In October 2008, the international Lutheran-Reformed Joint Commission reaffirmed that there are no church-dividing differences between the two traditions. They noted an "ecclesial deficit" in the traditions, "as an unintended consequence of the freedoms claimed in the Reformation." The commission next meets in January 2010. Anna Case-Winters (pictured) of McCormick Seminary is its Reformed co-chair. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has affirmed its cooperation during the transition into the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

Reformed and Catholics: the Church

“The Church as Community of Common Witness to the Kingdom of God” was the theme of the third phase of conversations between the Catholic Church and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in 1998-2005. See the final report. See also a history of the conversations dating back to 1970 and a general review, Catholic and Reformed (PDS #70-420-96-200). PC(USA) scholars David Willis and Lewis Mudge served as co-chairs at earlier stages. Heidi Hadsell (pictured) was a consultant for the third phase.

Orthodox and Reformed: the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed

Since its inception in 1988, the Orthodox-Reformed dialogue has studied the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, resulting in agreed statements on the doctrine of the Trinity (1992) and on the doctrine of Christ (1994). Convergences on the doctrine of the Church (dialogue of 1996-2005) were published in The Reformed World, March 2007, pp. 86ff.

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World relationships within communions

A pan-Orthodox council still would require more agreement in advance

The latest attempt to hammer out a consensus that could make a pan-Orthodox council possible came at a February gathering of representatives of the Orthodox churches in Chambesy, Switzerland which ended without further agreements. At stake are jurisdictional issues, procedures for granting independence to autocephalous churches, and clarity about statements being made on behalf of all Orthodox. Non-Orthodox often encounter the issues through complaints that the role of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (the patriarch of Constantinople) (pictured), a symbol of Orthodox unity, should not be viewed as parallel to Catholicism's papacy. In the U.S., the Orthodox Church of America (OCA) has been granted independence by the Russian Orthodox Church but this has not been recognized by Constantinople.

Regional councils/conferences around the globe

See general information on regional ecumenical organizations and national councils of churches.

The All-Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the Program for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) gathered leaders in early June at the UN complex in Nairobi to discuss how climate change will be discussed at the UN's November climate conference in South Africa. They called for a break in the deadlock between competing economic and political interests. Actions to cut emissions are cheaper, they said, than the long-term costs of inaction.

The Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) works to promote ecumenism and social change in obedience to Jesus Christ and in solidarity with the poor. In making a statement concerning the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, it said it viewed "the current situation as a stark indicator to the international community of the urgent need to strengthen its resolve to support Haiti in its quest for authentic development."

The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), in collaboration with the Church of Christ in Thailand, hosted a consultation of some 50 members of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance in March at which they addressed the current "Live the Promise" HIV/AIDS campaign. The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) reported on its participation which included presenting a case study on stigma reduction.

Conference of European Churches (CEC) interim general secretary Viorel Ionita was heartened when he chaired a consultation in Budapest of CEC's Churches in Dialogue Commission in late June. The commission gathered reflections on unity from all of CEC's member communions and identified "eight points of convergence in the conception of the unity of the Church as the main goal of the ecumenical movement."

The Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) co-sponsored a June gathering of Afro-descent and indigenous minorities from the Americas, with the World Council of Churches' Just and Inclusive Communities program. The UCC ecumenical officer said, "The systems that created racism are the same across the Americas. . . . and that informs our present." The program executive for the WCC program wanted attendees to be "agents for discomfort in our churches."

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) executive committee in February heard the archbishop of Cyprus call for all the churches of the region to join forces "toward the solution of the many serious problems that exist." This would require overcoming internal disagreements. The Lutheran bishop of Jerusalem said that churches are monitoring demonstrations in the region, which had not yet been against any religious groups.

The Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches, finding no biblical or theological reason to oppose women's ordination yet recognizing the obstacle of societal traditions, called on its member churches to take steps to support the ordination of the women as pastors.
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The Pacific Conference of Churches will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the end of August 2011. One of its six program areas is Climate Change and Resettlement and Its general secretary has said that climate change needs to be its top issue. See questions used for the UN Advocacy Week's emphasis on climate displaced peoples.

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For international dialogue texts and agreed statements, see the Growth in Agreement series of books.

MORE on Ecumenical Relations: U.S. on the following page

On the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) web site

Committee on Ecumenical Relations: information on this permanent General Assembly committee

The Department of Ecumenical and Agency Relationships, Office of the General Assembly: resources of the office

On this web site

General Assembly: ecumenical and interfaith business

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ecumenical dialogues
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Ecumenical & Interfaith News Network - PCUSA

Ecumenical & Interfaith
News Network - PCUSA