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Christian Unity Learning about Ecumenism By Chau Thien Phan, web minister & Committee on Ecumenical Relations, Santa Maria del Mar |
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Christian Unity Learning about Ecumenism By Chau Thien Phan, web minister & Committee on Ecumenical Relations, Santa Maria del Mar |
Lutherans--Roman Catholic Dialogue
2010: the status of ELCA Lutheran—Roman Catholic ecumenical dialogue. Obie Holmen, February 16th, 2010
Continuing dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics was a common theme expressed in an exchange of messages here between a delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Pope Benedict XVI. Speaking for the Lutherans, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation, called such dialogues "a sign of hope and commitment," while the pope emphasized hope for the continuing Lutheran-Catholic dialogue.
The world church leaders spoke to each other in a brief, formal private meeting Feb. 10, following Pope Benedict XVI's regular weekly audience.
"The current international LWF-Catholic dialogue focusing on the theme 'Baptism and Growth in Communion' and the very rich U.S. Catholic-Lutheran dialogue now focusing on 'The Hope of Eternal Life' are very important for our relationship and for our hope for unity in Christ," Hanson said.
Hanson is leading an official ELCA delegation of clergy and lay leaders on a "2010 Ecumenical Journey" to visit leaders of three of the world's largest churches — Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Catholic. The Lutherans will conclude their meetings with LWF leaders and other global church partners in Geneva next week.
"Our ecumenical journey that is now bringing us to you is a sign that we bear witness to John's prayer -- that we might be one, as the Father and the Son are one, so that all might believe," Hanson said to Pope Benedict XVI.
Hanson noted that last month, the pope welcomed representatives of the Church of Finland for their 25th annual visit during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Hanson said Lutherans "were deeply moved when you said to them it is your prayer that our efforts at understanding and reconciliation would blossom into perfect, visible unity in Christ Jesus."
The Lutheran leader said last year's celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the signing of The Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification by the LWF and The Vatican were "another sign of commitment and hope." Hanson said he was pleased by comments made at one celebration in Chicago by Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, in which Gregory stated deeper dialogue is needed between Lutherans and Catholics.
Lutherans and Catholics "have great challenges before us as we address concerns in the areas of ethics, morality, theology — and we pray for the Spirit's guidance in our biblical and theological conversations as we grow in faith and life," Hanson said.
Hanson said he hoped Lutherans and Catholics might make "a united witness to the world" as the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation approaches in 2017. He added that Lutherans join Catholics in praying for Middle East peace and greater interfaith understanding.
In his response, Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped "the continuing Lutheran-Catholic dialogue both in the United States of America and at the international level will help to build upon the agreements reached so far."
He said it is important to build on the results of the dialogues started in the 1960s. "To build on what has been achieved together since that time, a spiritual ecumenism should be grounded in ardent prayer and in conversion to Christ, the source of grace and truth," Pope Benedict XVI said.
"May the Lord help us to treasure what has been accomplished so far, to guard it with care, and to foster its development," the pope said to Hanson and the delegation.
Quoting his predecessor John Paul II, who in 1985, received a similar Lutheran delegation, the pope said, "Let us rejoice that an encounter such as this can take place. Let us resolve to be open to the Lord so that He can use this meeting for His purposes, to bring about the unity that He desires. Thank you for the efforts you are making for full unity in faith and charity."
Hanson presented Pope Benedict XVI with a "Savior
of the World" cross made by Sally Stewart, a Johnstown, Pa., artist, which
contains woods from throughout the world. Hanson also presented the pope
an expanded written message (see below),
available on the ELCA Web site.
A
Message from Bishop Mark S. Hanson
President of the Lutheran World
Federation and
Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America
To Pope Benedict XVI
February 2010
Your Holiness:
I greet you in the
name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on behalf of the Lutheran World
Federation – A Communion of Churches and the members of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Our ecumenical journey is testimony
to Jesus’ prayer that we might be one as He and the Father are one so that
the world may believe. We are confident that the Holy Spirit will continue
to inspire us to make visible our unity in Christ and make powerful our
witness to the world. Let us be known for the faith that unites us rather
than the issues that separate us.
In living out Jesus’ prayer in
John 17, the ELCA’s ecumenical statement, Ecumenism: The Vision of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, affirms that we seek in our faith
and life “to manifest the unity given to the people of God by living together
in the love of Christ and by joining with other Christians in prayer and
action to express and preserve the unity which the Spirit gives.”
As Catholics and Lutherans,
we have a renewed commitment to unity in Christ. We are thankful for the
signs of unity between us that reflect this renewed commitment. The celebrations
we shared for the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration
on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) have been joyful occasions of hope.
The JDDJ gives us a very strong foundation for moving toward one another
in future dialogue.
Our current dialogues, “Baptism
and Growth in Communion” and “The Hope of Eternal Life,” are important
for our relationships and the hope for unity in Christ. We realize with
you that we have challenges before us as we address concerns in the areas
of ethics, morality, and theology. We pray for the Spirit’s guidance in
our biblical and theological conversations and as we grow in faith and
life.
Together we mourn
the loss of life and the destruction that has fallen upon God’s people
in Haiti. We extend our sympathy on the death of Haitian Archbishop Joseph
Serge Miot, a servant leader who was known for his closeness to the poor.
As we are deeply moved by the cries and testimony coming from the Haitian
people, we know that God calls us to accompany those living in poverty
so that together we may work to eliminate poverty wherever it exits.
In our weekly liturgy, Lutherans
pray in the Kyrie “for the peace of the whole world, for the well-being
of the church of God, and for the unity of all.” Your words for peace in
God’s world have provided guidance for all Christians. As Lutherans, we
welcome your spiritual counsel linking peace and justice, poverty, and
the environment. We are grateful that you and Pope John Paul II have so
powerfully challenged Christians to confront poverty in order to build
peace.
We received with gratitude your
2010 New Year’s greeting of peace. Your theme, “If You Want to Cultivate
Peace, Protect Creation,” is a priority for the Lutheran World Federation
and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. As stewards of God’s creation,
we have a shared responsibility to protect earth, water, and air as gifts
that God the Creator intends for everyone.
It is our fervent
hope that we will find ways to join Catholics in responding more fully
to address poverty and human need. We join in your prayer that in order
to cultivate peace, we must protect creation. As stewards of God’s creation,
it is essential that we work to preserve life and creation for future generations.
With you, we pray
for peace. In your leadership you have called for peace throughout the
world and particularly in the Middle East. As Lutherans, we share this
call and commitment with you and the leaders of the Abrahamic faiths. This
time calls for Jews, Christians, and Muslims to deepen our understanding
of one another and our resolve to work together to build a world of peace
with justice.
The Lutheran World
Federation’s Eleventh Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany in July 2010 is under
the theme, “Give Us Today Our Daily Bread.” We affirm the need to care
for creation and to serve all God’s people, especially those with greatest
need. This theme reflects our conviction that God sends us to respond to
the hungry, those who hunger for the Bread of Life, for daily bread, and
for justice and peace.
As we continue on
the journey toward unity in Christ, it is our hope and prayer that we may
make a united witness to the world as we approach 2017. Dr. Ishmael Noko,
General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, shared with members
of the ELCA that the “yearning for unity has made it possible for the Lutheran
World Federation to speak and act on behalf of the majority of world Lutherans
in the areas of international diakonia and advocacy. It has urged us toward
deeper relationships with other Christians, including the landmark ecumenical
accomplishment of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.”
Dr. Noko further noted,
“We cannot choose the challenges which are presented to faithful Christian
witness in our own lifetimes. But in the Lutheran World Federation, we
look to the future with hope that we will continue to grow in communion
with one another and in unity with the whole Church of Jesus Christ.”
We look forward to opportunities
for greater sharing and serving in the name of our Triune God: Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. With profound respect and admiration for you and
your ministry of oversight, we pray for the well-being of the Catholic
Church. We also ask that you remember in your prayers the Lutheran World
Federation and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, even as we promise
to remember you in our petitions to our gracious God.
Lutheranism 101: Culture or confession? The Lutheran, June 2006 http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article_buy.cfm?article_id=5895Lutheranism: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Updated December 6, 2007 (more to come)