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Roman Catholic Church and WCC assess 40 years of collaboration and look ahead to a renewed ecumenical movement

November 18, 2005

The Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches (WCC) could address issues of common concern together with a united voice to meet the expectations of people in a world of uncertainties and tensions.

WCC central committee moderator Catholicos Aram I made this statement at the opening event of a 17-19 November consultation on the renewal of the ecumenical movement in the 21st century and the future role of a joint consultative group between the two bodies.

"In a world of uncertainties and tensions," Aram I said, "people are increasingly expecting the churches' united voice." In response, the Joint Working Group (JWG) between the Roman Catholic Church and the WCC could provide a "framework" for the two bodies to "address issues of common concern together". "Such joint action would make a difference in many respects," he added.

Founded in 1965 following the Second Vatican Council, the JWG has just turned 40. It is a consultative body entrusted with initiating, evaluating and sustaining the many forms of collaboration between its two parent bodies.

Speaking at the same event, the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper, affirmed that "without danger of betraying our faith or our conscience, we could already today do much more together than we actually do".

Sharing of biblical, spiritual and liturgical resources, as well as cooperation in theology, mission, ecumenical formation, cultural and social witness, development and environmental protection figured in Kasper's agenda for joint action. "Above all, there is a need for spiritual ecumenism," he said.

According to Kasper, renewed ecumenical enthusiasm needs to clarify "the [theological] foundations, the vision, the ways and the practice of the ecumenical movement". "There is no ecumenism without conversion," he said, and affirmed that "institutional reform" is "an essential presupposition and condition for ecumenical progress".

"We need to renew and reaffirm our ecumenical vision in language which is convincing and compelling for the churches - and for Christians! - in the 21st century," affirmed WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia as he welcomed participants to the event.

Since churches "need one another in order for each of them to be fully what Christ intends them to be," "ecumenical institutions and structures which can respond to this situation" are also needed, Kobia said.

The two co-moderators of the JWG, Archbishop Mario Conti (Catholic) and Bishop Jonas Jonson (Lutheran) participated in a public event of celebration and thanksgiving that opened the consultation.

Off the shelves

Making a critical assessment of four decades of work, Aram I emphasized that the "comprehensive and solid studies" undertaken by the JWG on issues like the understanding of the church or the doctrine of the Holy Spirit "retain their theological validity and ecumenical relevance".

But, he affirmed, they are sitting "on the shelves of the WCC and Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity". Instead, they "must be related to the life of the church on the local level, and must be appropriated by the churches through a process of ecumenical education". A movement "from reflection to reception" is needed, he said.

In his address, Kasper highlighted that "sober self-critical theological reflection and discernment of the Spirit will be needed for healthy development of the ecumenical movement in the 21st century".

For Aram I, the PCPCU and the WCC have largely "avoided touching issues or areas of an explosive or divisive nature" for 40 years. However, he suggested, their common journey had surely created the conditions to enable them now to "wrestle pro-actively with controversial issues". "This requires not only a change of agenda priorities, but also a change of approach and methodology," he added.

What exactly should be the future agenda, role and the content of a renewed mandate of the JWG is the topic of a consultation being held until 19 November at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, near Geneva.