ecumenism" "
Sibiu, a city in the heart of Romania, has been chosen to welcome the third European Ecumenical Assembly in 2007, one of the most important meetings of Christian Churches in Europe. The announcement was made by the central committee of the Conference of European Churches (KEK) which, together with the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE), promoted the two preceding assemblies in Basel (1989) and Graz (1997). “Crossroads of different cultures in the Transylvania region and in the heart of Romania”, says the KEK communiqué, “the city of Sibiu will, together with Luxembourg, be European capital of culture for 2007”. According to the KEK, the period leading up to the Assembly will be marked “by local, national and regional events, especially during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18-25 January) in 2006 and 2007”. The event aims to focus the attention of Churches on the “shared testimony of Christians in Europe”, though the theme and the details of the preparatory process will be decided during the forthcoming meeting of the joint CEC-KEK committee, to be held in France from 3 to 6 February. During their recent meeting in Leeds, the presidents of European Episcopal Conferences discussed the possibility of promoting this “new ecumenical initiative at a European level”, highlighting three points: “that this new event should be rooted at a local level throughout Europe; that it represent a powerful moment of spirituality and communion; that, by involving the Orthodox Churches, it may contribute to a new solidarity between east and west”.
