Penetrating beneath the surface

On July 12, marking one year since the Third European Ecumenical Assembly took place, two CCEE and CEC delegations, (the two bodies promoting the event), met the heads of Romania’s Churches in Sibiu. The Orthodox metropolitan bishop, the bishops of the Lutheran, Evangelical and Reformed Churches, along with the Catholic and Greek-Catholic bishops were present. The delegations – led by the two Secretary- general of CCEE and of CEC Msgr. Aldo Giordano and Rev. Colin William – had meetings also with the members of the local Committee in charge of organising and setting up the Ecumenical Assembly, along with local and central public authorities. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Culture and Worship of the government of Bucarest and by the mayor of Sibiu. “It was an important and symbolic trip”, referred Msgr. Aldo Giordano in this interview with SIR Europe. On our part, it was a token of appreciation, since the Assembly was made possible thanks to this cooperation. Together we also wanted to draw a balance of this Assembly especially with reference to Romania, and see how to proceed from there”. Which evaluations emerged, after a year since the Assembly was held? “I would like to take the Romanian perspective as the point of departure. In Romania the Assembly in Romania received a positive reception. According to the mayor, it was the most outstanding event held in Sibiu, cultural capital of Europe in 2007. Also according to the government’s representative it was Romania’s most important cultural and religious European event in the past 10 years. He linked Sibiu’s Assembly to the trip that John Paul II took in the Country in 1999 when he pronounced the historical call, «Unitate Unitate». Sibiu’s Assembly was granted positive reception also by the Orthodox Church. It helped overcome the contrast that still exists on the part of the Orthodox, according to whom it is unconceivable to be ecumenical and orthodox at the same time. Sibiu’s Assembly has led into perceiving that not only it is possible to reconcile one’s Orthodox identity with dialogue and the encounter with others, but that there is also a typically Orthodox contribution to ecumenism. Indeed, the Orthodox rejoiced at the possibility of offering and enabling other Churches to learn more about the richness of the Orthodox tradition. The other Christian Churches noticed that ecumenism is important for minorities, since when they are engaged in dialogue they realise they have something important to give and that in ecumenism they can live a truly universal form of Christianity. Finally, the Assembly asked Romania’s Churches whether the time has come to act more courageously. Under Communist rule, the Churches and the communities met more often compared to today, since living under difficult situations compelled them to be together and to jointly be testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”. And at a more European level?“On the one side Sibiu was important for the mere fact of having taken place. What happened in that circumstance was that Christians representing all European Countries, all Churches and ecclesial communities convened and showed that it is possible for Christians to come together and debate important issues that are crucial to Europe. On the other hand, Sibiu brought to the fore the typical problems of current ecumenism. These include the problem of identity, the confrontation with modernity, secularisation and the crisis in values (in this framework different approaches emerged). It also shed light on the fact that Churches don’t have a common vision of the unity of the Church. Another important theme is the relationship with Pentecostal, Evangelical and free Churches which were represented in Sibiu, although to a minor degree. Then the problems were addressed. These were never ignored, rather, they were faced with sincerity. This triggered much suffering but it also showed that Christians today are able to confront the problems”. What is the next step?“Sibiu’s Assembly was a serious meeting, this is probably a sign indicating that the time has come to go beneath the surface. In other words, we ought to deepen ecumenical issues, the major themes on the human person, as well as ethical and moral questions. Europe must rediscover the deepness of Christianity. In concrete terms, we are working on the publication of the Minutes of the Assembly. We wish to maintain ongoing contacts with the delegates who attended the Assembly through a maling list, which will enable the exchange of information and the dissemination of knowledge on European projects. We have chosen the underlying theme of all local initiatives, which is, The Word of God in Europe. CCEE and CEC focused on a series of specific topics that will be addressed in the forthcoming years: inter-religious dialogue in 2008 – dialogue with Islam in particular-; the environment for the year 2009; migrations for the year 2010 and peace in 2011”.