September 28, 2009

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will open the meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Faith and Order, which will take place in Kolympari, Crete, Greece, from 7 to 14 October 2009. At this plenary meeting, the 120 members of the commission, which is seen as Christianity's most representative theological forum, will address the question of Christian unity from new perspectives.

Participants at the Crete gathering will not only address issues that have traditionally divided Christian denominations, but also matters that have become divisive in more recent times even within churches, such as questions of moral discernment.

This new approach will be rooted in a reflection on how churches relate to their sources of theological authority, and developed through case studies illustrating how churches use these references to make moral decisions.

WCC president from Europe Dr Mary Tanner will encourage participants to engage in what she affirms could be the beginning of a new phase in Faith and Order's history.

The main theme of the meeting "Called to be the One Church" will be addressed by:

• Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople;

• Rev. Dr Maake Masango, Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, South Africa;

• Rev. Dr Marianela de la Paz Cot, Episcopal Church in Cuba;

• Dr Minna Hietamäki, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland;

• Sister Ha Fong Maria Ko, Roman Catholic Church, China/Italy.

The discussion on the future of the study "The Nature and Mission of the Church" will be stimulated by contributions from:

• Rev. Dr Paul Collins, Church of England;

• Rev. Dr Hermen Shastri, Methodist Church in Malaysia

• Rev. Dr Viorel Ionita, Romanian Orthodox Church.

More information on the meeting: http://www.oikoumene.org/crete2009.

Biographical information on speakers: http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=7174.

Documents available online for accredited media: http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=6797.

WCC member churches in Greece http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4710.

World Council of Churches