Letter from Ottmaring” “

In this first year of life the Charta Oecumenica “has been widely and effectively used to stimulate and concentrate the efforts of dialogue between the Churches”. Now the European Christians look to the future, and especially to the “specific examples” that may be developed from the text with a view to its “implementation” in local contexts. “We should not consider the Charter as if it were the last word on the ecumenical process, but rather as an important step along this road”. So says the “letter from Ottmaring” that the representatives of the Council of the European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of the Churches of Europe (KEK) sent to their respective local Churches, on the conclusion of a meeting promoted in the German town from 7 to 10 September to review the process of the Charter’s “reception” in Europe. Taking part in the consultation were the representatives of the two European church bodies, coming from 26 countries. “We left Ottmaring on the eve of the first anniversary of 11 September – say the representatives of the European Churches in their joint letter -, and we pray that the Charter may contribute to peace and justice in the world”. The Charta Oecumenica was signed in Strasbourg in April 2001, after a long process of consultation. It contains a series of pledges for the Churches: the participation “in the construction of a just Europe”; the reconciliation “of peoples and cultures”; the safeguard of the creation; the “reinforcement of the links with Judaism, the development of relations with Islam and the promotion of dialogue with other religions and world-views”. The consultation at Ottmaring enabled all the participants to speak, thus providing a wide horizon of the activities that the Churches have promoted in the ecumenical field in this first year of the Charter’s life. But it also took a realistic view of the difficulties that the Charter has aroused in some European regions. “We are conscious – says the letter – that the Holy Spirit is at work also in the difficulties and in the challenges that we will tackle together”. In the light of what emerged from the consultation, the letter to the Churches indicates some prospects for future work. The Churches emphasize “the importance” of commitment to “some key issues” such as “poverty and social exclusion in Europe, the effects of migrations and of the exodus of political refugees, the environment and the integrity of the creation”. In their letter the members of the CCEE and the KEK ask the Churches to “use the Charter as a basis for continuing to develop theological dialogue, especially on the nature and mission of the Church and the sacrament of the Eucharist”. “We ask ourselves – the letter continues – how strong are the links of communion between the Churches in and beyond Europe and how they may influence responses to the troubled regions of Europe, the Middle East and wherever else”. Another field in which the Churches can make a joint commitment is that of the recognition of the witness of “those who died for Christ, especially in the 20th century”. Citing a phrase contained in the Charter, the Churches affirm that the martyrs are signs that tell the world today that “Jesus Christ … is our greatest hope for reconciliation and peace”. In their letter, the Churches also express their gratitude to the Charter for having “encouraged the Churches to step up their dialogue with the representatives of Judaism and Islam”. And they add: “We are also more conscious of the particular contexts of historical and cultural difficulties within which some Churches are trying to pursue this dialogue”. The process of the Charter’s reception has been diversified according to the individual experiences and life of the Churches. “Where there’s a long and stable cooperation between the Churches – sums up the letter – the Charter may act as a stimulus to help us to avoid all complacency and to revitalize our mission and service. In places where relations between the Churches may be more tense and less easy, the Charter may help to restore faith and strengthen friendship”. The invitation made to the Churches is to find “specific examples” of how to implement the Charter in particular local contexts. The letter also recalls that “the more the Charter is looked at as something given, and not imposed, the more it may be at the service of our mission in the time to come”.