ecumenism" "
“The Charta Oecumenica is an important stimulus to combine reflection and action in the activity of this commission. I approve this decision and am anxious to see its results”. That’s how Keith Clements, general secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), welcomed the adoption of the Charta Oecumenica by the new CEC “Churches in dialogue” Commission as the “basis for its mandate”. The Commission’s members met in Aarhus, in Denmark, in recent days. “The achievement of greater clarity and consensus between Christians says a statement is important to achieve the objectives of dialogue with other religions and between the various ecclesiologies”. Discussing in greater depth the Charta Oecumenica at their next meeting scheduled for 2005, more actively promoting inter-ecclesial dialogue between the member churches, and convening a second consultation on theological education in Europe, are some of the future commitments assumed by the members of the Commission at the end of their meeting. Further priorities: integrating the research project on mission launched by the CEC at the start of 2004 with the work of the Commission; examining the approach to the question of relations between majority and minority Churches; making ecumenical spirituality the focal point of the Commission’s work, and promoting its full role in the joint CEC-CCEE Committee for relations with Muslims in Europe. “At a time of great social, political, ecumenical and ecclesial transformations in Europe, the Commission made a very positive contribution to dialogue”, commented the secretary of the CEC’s studies department, Viorel Ionita.
