Conference of European Churches - Office of Communications

Press release No. 08-53/e

Geneva, 13 October 2008

CEC regrets decision of Moscow Patriarchate to suspend its membership
Central Committee “clearly expressed its wish to favour ecumenical fellowship in Estonia”

On 11 October 2008, towards the end of the meeting of the Central Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in Cyprus, the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, Father Vsevolod Chaplin, announced the decision of his church to suspend its participation in the life of CEC. The reason for the suspension was the Central Committee's inability to vote on a resolution seeking membership of CEC by the Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate.

There are two Orthodox churches in Estonia: the Orthodox Church of Estonia, in fellowship with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate. In 2007, the Central Committee of CEC had accepted into membership the Orthodox Church of Estonia, as part of an agreed resolution which also envisaged a future decision on the application for membership by the Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate.

The President of CEC, Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, commented on the decision of the Russian Orthodox Church as follows:

“The Conference of European Churches deeply regrets the decision of the Moscow Patriarchate to suspend their participation in the life and work of CEC. This decision in no way reflects the work carried out by the Central Committee during its meeting in Cyprus. The Central Committee has clearly expressed its wish to favour the ecumenical fellowship in Estonia and the rapprochement of the two Orthodox Churches, who are already each members of the Estonian Council of Churches. However the Central Committee of CEC was able to go no further than to observe the need for the two Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow to come to an agreement before arriving to a solution acceptable to all parties. The Central Committee had therefore to defer its decision, fervently wishing to be able to give an answer to the request of the Estonian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate before the CEC Assembly in Lyon, July 2009. The Presidium of CEC, meeting next February, should be able to take note of progress in the search for a solution to which the Moscow Patriarchate will be associated”.

The Central Committee of CEC met in Paralimni, Cyprus, from 6-11 October 2008.

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The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 120 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

For more information:
Luca Negro
CEC Secretary for Communications and Information
Mobile +41 78 870 81 17
Phone +41 22 791 64 85 or 791 63 25
Fax +41 22 791 62 27
e-mail: Luca.Negro@cec-kek.org