PRESS RELEASE No. 8

European Ecumenical Encounter - an evaluation.

Cardinal Lehmann: the Charta Oecumenica, a real commitment for the Churches

Strasbourg, 22 April 2001 - The Charta Oecumenica, which was signed today in the Lutheran church of St. Thomas, Strasbourg, was discussed yesterday by the participants in the seventh European Ecumenical Encounter, convened by the Conference of European Churches (KEK) and the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE). The discussion, in four groups, focussed on the implementation of the "Charta". The results were then brought to a lively plenary evaluation session on Saturday, presided over by Cardinal Miloslav Vlk (CCEE President) and Metropolitan Jérémie (KEK President).

The reports from the groups - which were at the same time personal witnesses - began the session. Stefan Vesper, a Roman Catholic from Germany, expressed the hope that the Charta will derive its authority from its ability to foster a new culture of dialogue, openness and confidence between the churches. Ecumenism, he said, is a kind of marathon where milestones are not clearly indicated - but where there are refreshment stops: the Charta is one of them. Orthodox Deacon Andrej Elisseev from the Russian Orthodox Church, underlined the importance of the Charta, as "a first document which begins to express what we have in common". The youth participation in the drafting process of the Charta, he said, was insufficient, and he expressed the hope that the experience of encounter between Church leaders and youth which happened in Strasbourg will continue. Sylvia Raulo, a Lutheran from Finland, asked the two organising bodies - CEC and CCEE - how they plan to accompany and support the process of reception of the Charta? She pointed out the need to look at the global responsibilities of European churches, particularly in the face of world problems such as hunger and migration. Margaret Connolly, a Roman Catholic from England, said the Charta will find implementation not in theological discussion, but in an authentic dialogue of life.

Following the group presentations, Cardinal Karl Lehmann (Germany, Vice-President of CCEE) and Lutheran pastor Elfriede Dörr (Romania, a member of CEC Central Committee) held a closing dialogue - similar to that of the opening session of the Encounter. Dörr recalled the words of St. Benedict: "often the Lord reveals a better way to one of the younger members of the community", and asked six young participants from different countries and confessions to sit at the Presidents' table together with the other leaders, involving them in the dialogue. All interventions emphasised the positive experience of sharing and mutual listening between different generations of believers. Cardinal Lehmann said the Charta must be a stimulus and a call to deepen and increase our ecumenical cooperation. He underlined the importance of the words "we commit ourselves", which permeate the text: these must not be understood in a dogmatic or juridical sense, but that doesn't mean they are a simple invitation. "We really commit ourselves: let us not weaken the meaning of the Charta Oecumenica!".

Closing the session, Metropolitan Jeremie presented Cardinal Vlk, Cardinal Lehmann, Archbishop Istvan Seregély from Hungary (the other Vice President of CCEE) and Vlad Namescu, a young Roman Catholic participant from Romania with gifts, as a sign of KEK's gratitude for the ecumenical engagement of CCEE.