KEK, WCC

KEK: a consultation on mission in Budapest “Challenges and opportunities for Church mission in contemporary Europe.” This is the theme of a consultation promoted by the “Churches in Dialogue” Commission of the Conference of European Churches (KEK) held in Budapest, Hungary, from August 28 to 31. Card. Péter Erdo, archbishop of Budapest, president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) in his keynote address to KEK members highlighted the repeated appeals of pope Benedict XVI to “the new evangelization of Europe” along with the experience matured by citizen missions in the years 2003-2008, from which emerges – he said – “the world’s need to meet God”. “The mission is also committed to rediscovering the profound unity between and amongst Christian traditions”. The Consultation closed with the adoption of a set of recommendations to European Churches regarding “mission in Europe.” Notably, special emphasis is placed on a deeper commitment regarding existing ecumenical documents on Missions, such as the Charta Oecumenica which should include – states the recommendation – a formal ecumenical education of pastors and priests.” The KEK Commission equally demands an evaluation on the impact of the ecumenical documents at local level.WCC: letter to the Muslims “More than any time before” Muslims and Christians must “be prompted to act in a spirit of oneness based on our common humanity and spotlight our energies on rallying people to form alliances for peace and reconciliation with justice”. The appeal is contained in a letter written by Lutheran Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General secretary of the World Council of Churches, to the heads of Muslim religious communities on the occasion of the end of Ramadan, issued in Geneva. Rev Tveit launched the challenge of joint action for peace. “Historic changes are taking place in several countries and regions of the world where Muslims live. The Middle East and North Africa have particularly experienced momentous events that are shaping new forms of politics”. As people of faith committed to justice, peace and reconciliation, we should be able to work together in order to preserve the dignity of all peoples, their basic human rights and the rule of law that applies equally to all citizens”. The pastor mentioned also the “terrible reality of terror” in the commission of “an evil and individual action related to mistrust and stigmatization of Muslims in European society”. “We need to stand together to prevent all kinds of terrorism, as we work together to build an inclusive future life based on dialogue and cooperation between Christians and Muslims in all continents”. The Creation: a month of prayer and reflection The World Council of Churches (WCC) proposed a period of reflection and prayer on God’s gifts in nature due to be held from September 1st to October 4th to renew individual commitment to safeguard and protect the Creation. The United Nations declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests. The idea of dedicating a thanksgiving prayer for creation dates back to 1989, when the then ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople proclaimed September 1 the Day of Prayer for the Earth and its ecosystems. The date was chosen as September marks the beginning of the Orthodox liturgical year, thus it seemed timely to focus the attention of the faithful on the first verses of the Bible refer to the creation. The idea of a period of prayer to be extended until October 4 was conceived so as to call to prayer and reflection also Roman Catholics and Catholics from other traditions, who on that date celebrate Saint Francis from Assisi, who is also patron saint of ecology. Thus also this year the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I dedicated the message for the beginning of the liturgical year to the environment. “We cannot remain silent – writes the Patriarch – before the fact that man non longer honors as he should this gift of God and that he destroys the environment as a result of his avidity or worse still, for purely egotistic reasons”. “Man – he continues – has the possibility of exploiting nature for his own good, but within certain limits”. Overcoming these limits is sadly a prominent feature of the past two centuries in the history of humankind. This phenomenon destroys the harmony of natural environment systems, it leads to a saturation and to a necrosis of the creation and of the human person who survives within an ecosystem whose balance has been irreparably destroyed”.