May 28, 2003

The assumption that the report of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the World Council of Churches (WCC) forbids Christians from different ecclesial traditions from worshiping together is simply not valid.

An effort to clarify that potential misunderstanding, and reaffirm the vision of common prayer as a way of enabling WCC member churches to stay and to pray together within the fellowship of the Council, was one of the main outcomes of a 4-7 June 2003 meeting of the Steering Committee of the Special Commission.

Held in Thessaloniki, Greece - where Orthodox challenges to the Council first came to light five years ago - it was the Steering Committee's first meeting since reception of the Special Commission report by the WCC Central Committee last August. The Committee evaluated how the report has been received in various countries and churches, and focussed on follow-up of its main issues: common prayer, ecclesiology, the methodology of consensus, and membership conditions.

Regarding common prayer, which became one of the Special Commission report's most contentious subjects, Committee members reaffirmed the report's emphasis on continued prayer as the heart of efforts towards Christian unity. But, at the same time, they recognized a failure to communicate the vision.

The report's vision of common prayer encompassed: the possibility of banishing fears of the other; of treating every church tradition and every person's conscience with respect; of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead people to recognize the richness of other ecclesial traditions; as well as of allowing everyone to feel welcome and accepted, while everything pertaining to any particular service is transparent and understandable to all.

The Special Commission tried to shape this vision by distinguishing between "confessional" common prayer - with a clear ecclesial identity - and "interconfessional" common prayer - which combines elements from different ecclesial traditions -, and by establishing a framework for preparation of these services in WCC gatherings.

Thus, the intention was not to stifle ecumenical spiritual life, but to clarify common prayer in order to build up confidence and trust in one another. "Unfortunately there were some misunderstandings," said Bishop Dr Rolf Koppe, head of the department of Ecumenical Relations and Ministries Abroad of the Evangelical Church in Germany, who is one of the two co-moderators of the Special Commission and its Steering Committee.

"Those misunderstandings arose because of some of the wording and language," Koppe said. "In particular 'common prayer' does not have an appropriate translation in German and other languages, since 'prayer' also means 'worship/service' in English, and not only a prayer without liturgy," he added.

The hard fact, sometimes overlooked, is that the common prayer issue reveals that unity in faith, witness and common life does not yet exist, the Steering Committee agreed. However, its members believe that trust can be built to help clear up misunderstandings about the proposed framework for common prayer.

They anticipate that forthcoming WCC gatherings will reveal whether the suggested framework can foster common prayer with sensitivity to differing faith traditions, and sustain the full participation of all. "The framework is not the last word, and theologians and member churches are invited to think about it," Koppe said.

"Since the report was received by the WCC Central Committee, we have experienced some frustrations, disappointment and also fear," said Metropolitan Dr Gennadios of Sassima (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople), who substituted for the Orthodox co-moderator, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Ephesus. "We must encourage mutual understanding and trust, maybe lost during the past few years. Our pastoral and spiritual task is to overcome this fear - which is a kind of anti-ecumenical virus now around us - struggling against it with a lot of discernment and prayer."

Towards a radical shift in WCC culture

The move to a consensus method of taking decisions was another of the main issues addressed by the meeting. It was recognized as a radical shift in the culture of the WCC. As a move to a new ethos based on deliberation and discernment, it requires new qualities from all participants, and a willingness to learn new ways of listening, contributing and discerning the mind of a meeting.

A manual with guidelines for session moderators and a new set of rules of debate embodying the consensus method is being developed. The Committee scheduled the first full implementation and testing of the method during the 2005 Central Committee meeting. In the light of what happens there, a framework for a consensus methodology will be prepared for use at the WCC's ninth assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in February 2006.

The meeting also addressed the ecclesiological challenge to the WCC from the Special Commission report. The Steering Committee agreed that WCC member churches need to engage with the question of how they see the existence of the Church beyond their own boundaries. Further development of the convergence text on "The Nature and Purpose of the Church" by the Faith and Order Commission was seen as the most appropriate way of dealing with this issue.

Faith and Order was also entrusted with the task of developing a succinct statement on ecclesiology for the next WCC assembly. The idea is to invite, and challenge, churches to consider their relations with one other. According to the Committee members, the statement should be spiritual, biblical and ecumenical, allowing church representatives to see themselves in it by speaking the language that people speak. It should emphasize that more than 50 years of dialogue have led to profound changes in attitude and ecclesial relationships, even if differences and obstacles remain.

The Steering Committee also reviewed and discussed a set of amendments to the WCC Constitution and Rules, new procedures to deal with applications for membership, as well as mechanisms of grouping member churches for purposes of representation and participation. Attention was paid to the theological criteria for membership proposed by the Special Commission report, and it was suggested that the consensus method should be applied to membership matters. The question of whether baptism, or recognition of baptism, should be mentioned in the WCC Constitution will be addressed within the ongoing work of Faith and Order.

Finally, the character of the "Permanent (or Standing) Committee on Consensus and Collaboration" set up by the WCC Central Committee was also addressed; the Steering Committee is fulfilling this role until the next WCC assembly. Maintaining parity representation - that is, an equal number of Orthodox representatives and representatives of other churches - the Committee will concentrate on the quality of relationships between the churches. It will offer - with moral and ecumenical authority - advice and counsel to the WCC governing bodies.

"It was good to have clarification about what the Permanent or Standing Committee should be: an advisory but not a ruling commission, where we can think about the future of WCC but not rule it; a strong commission by its arguments and creative ideas, but not in a juridical sense," Koppe said.

For Gennadios, the meeting was characterized by "good spirit, fellowship, love and good participation." "The committee must carry out a specific task for the benefit of all of our churches and also for the worldwide ecumenical family. This is a committed committee, and it is fulfilling its task in a very responsible way."

The Steering Committee's meeting was hosted by the Church of Greece Diocese of Neapolis and Stavrupolis. Committee members enjoyed the hospitality of five local parishes, learning about the spiritual, diaconal, educational and social work they do, and also participating in the liturgical life of the church during the feast of Ascension.

World Council of Churches