Orthodox seek unity in face of dissent
-13/05/05
ìThe church does not close its eyes to the burning issues of our times…that can only be dealt with effectively through coordinated efforts and a united Christian witness,î stated His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and all Greece during a meeting with the World Council of Churchesí general secretary in Athens yesterday.
Archbishop Christodoulos recalled that ìsuch concerns led the Orthodox Church of Greece to become a founding member of the World Council of Churches in 1948.î
Members of the 12-person Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and other hierarchs, presided by the archbishop, met with Rev Dr Samuel Kobia on 12 May 2005 to discuss progress in WCC-Orthodox relations and other common concerns.
The three-day visit to Greece, the first by the WCC general secretary, coincided with the Conference on World Mission and Evangelism, which opened near Athens on 10 May.
Dr Kobia thanked the Church of Greece and other Orthodox churches for opting to be ìactive protagonists and not mere spectatorsî in the life of the ecumenical movement. He affirmed ìradical changes in the life, culture and direction of the WCC, allowing this unique fellowship of Christian churches to face the challenges of the 21st century.î
The WCC general secretary also held talks with the synodal committee on inter-Orthodox and inter-Christian relations, which is the churchís main body responsible for ecumenical relations.
Meetings with the international mission agency of the Church of Greece, Apostoliki Diakonia, which is actively involved in overseas and domestic mission, resulted in a commitment to revive program collaboration with the WCC in the areas of witness and service.
But not all associated with the Church of Greece are happy about the progress of ecumenical relations or with the presence of the historic thirteenth Conference on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) in Athens.
A week before the Conference began nearly 90 Orthodox clergy – university professors, abbots and priests ñ wrote a public ëmemorandumí to the Archbishop and hierarchy of the Church of Greece, Ekklesia has learned.
The letter expressed ìsorrow, bewilderment and indignationî at the Church of Greeceís hosting of CWME.
ìThe Orthodox Church Ö as a unique possessor of the revealed truth about God, cannot participate in inter-Christian activities of such a sort without altering her ecclesiological self-awareness, betraying her faith and scandalizing the multitude of her faithfulî, the authors continued.
Along with Orthodox from many parts of the world, Archbishop Christodoulos has in the past expressed skepticism towards the ecumenical movement. But his words in recent years, and at this world mission gathering, have been positive and affirmative.
The CWME meeting is the first major ecumenical event hosted in a majority Orthodox country, with a reception committee also involving Catholics and Protestants.
The World Council of Churches has sought to respond to the concerns of the Orthodox through a ëspecial commissioní, which has signalled changed to the way the WCC works, makes decisions and handles worship.
Some small breakaway Orthodox groups have held vocal protests outside the Conference. But the Church of Greece does not recognize them.
The WCC has also made efforts to develop closer links with burgeoning Pentecostal and Evangelical churches with no previous history of ecumenical participation. The Commission on World Mission and Evangelism is a particularly important channel for cooperation among a wide range of Christians.
But while the ecumenical table is still extending, strong opposition to unity-in-mission has come from hardliners in many of the worldís confessional traditions.
Orthodox who oppose formal ecumenism see other participants in the WCC as schismatic and heretical. Those in favour wish to build on a common commitment to Christ in spite of continuing disagreements.