A milestone

On October 31 2009 recurs the 10th anniversary of the joint Statement of the World Lutheran Federation and of the Catholic Church on the doctrine of justification. The declaration signed in Ausburg was the result of lengthy dialogue between the Lutheran Church and the Catholic Church in Rome and represents a significant ecumenical milestone. In the document the parties solemnly reaffirmed that the reciprocal century-long condemnations regarding justification would be purged from the current doctrine. The Member Churches of the world Council of Methodist Churches endorsed the statement in 2006. On September 14, to celebrate the anniversary of the statement’s endorsement, an ecumenical compendium was presented called “Unter dem Horizont der Gnade” (“The horizon of grace”). The 48-page-long document was jointly published by the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany (Velkd) and by the Johann-Adam-Möhler Institute for Ecumenism, upon assignment by the Secretariat of the German Bishops’ Conference and of the Commission for Ecumenical relations of the Evangelical Methodist Church in Germany (Emk). The document illustrates the situation of ecumenism in different areas and envisions the developments in the relation between Christian religions. Follow some salient parts of the text. Separate but with common roots. The declaration represents “the founded hope that separation did not affect the roots and that there exists a principle of unity in the understanding of Biblical Gospel, whereby, according to the Lutheran position, the doctrine of justification is of central importance. This principle of unity is highly significant since the outcomes of ecumenical dialogue are grounded on this shared foundation. If they were still to be viewed as controversial issues by the Churches, these foundations would repose on sand”. Not only Lutherans and Catholics. “The fact that this statement was endorsed by the World Council of Methodist Churches (and that it may be endorsed also by many more Christian Churches…) is particularly important, especially for us German Christians, since it makes us aware of the broad horizon of ecumenism. Ecumenism doesn’t merely consist in meetings and debates between Evangelical and Roman-Catholic Christians at all ecclesial levels. Ecumenism includes also the so-called free Churches and the Churches of Orthodoxy. These Churches are the legitimate and recognized interlocutors of ecumenism. The Methodist stand on the declaration highlights the heterogeneousness of Christian witness, as it is conveyed on the basis of the jointly recognized Gospel. Christian Churches are called to bear this in mind, since this very heterogeneousness corresponds to our understanding of Christian faith. Only this trait can enrich our own faith while promoting the Churches’ mutual understanding, identifying and uprooting limitations and obstacles that hamper the fulfilment of our religious life. Thus, the local communities are called to seek the encounter with all Christian local Churches and delve into the scope of the many souls of ecumenism”.Differentiated consensus. The document refers to “the method of differentiated consensus” capable of “combining unity on fundamental themes through different forms of expression”. It is a “kind of agreement” which “is already practised in a natural manner within the Christian Churches”. “The novelty lies in the reception given by the different Churches, thus providing a model that legitimizes the ways in which this faith can be expressed in words and accomplished in everyday life on the basis of unity on substantial matters”. “As relates to the prosecution of the ecumenical journey a basic – albeit conspicuous – position is reaffirmed, which must always be kept in mind, namely: having faith in our ecumenical interlocutor”. Appointment in Munich 2010. “In May 2010 the second Ecumenical Churches’ Day will take place”. “It will be a major opportunity for the development of our common ecumenical path. Significantly, smaller Churches in Germany will play a greater role in the coming event”, as compared to the first Ecumenical Churches’ Day. “We hope that close communities marked by the presence of different confessions will profit from this opportunity to prepare the Ecumenical Day together, thus stepping up cooperation at local level”.