Common understanding and vision of the WCC: preliminary observations

Ecumenical Review, The, April, 1996

1. At the invitation of the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, delegates of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, resource persons, and senior WCC staff met in the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Chambesy, Geneva, from 19 to 24 June 1995. Representatives of the WCC governing bodies, also invited to this meeting in order to ensure a broader dialogical reflection, were not able to attend.

2. This consultation, organized by the WCC's Office on Church and Ecumenical Relations in consultation with the Orthodox Task Force, was convened in relation to the reflection process on the Common Understanding and Vision of the World Council of Churches, with the aim of pointing to the way forward, reviewing the ecumenical commitment of the Orthodox churches and attempting to clarify underlying uncertainties in their relations to the WCC.

3. The following pages constitute the report of this consultation, a "background document" submitted to the attention of our churches in order to facilitate their task in stating their views about the ecumenical movement at the turn of the 21st century and in formulating their expectations of the WCC. Our reflections, suggestions and questions are also submitted to the leadership of the WCC with the hope that they will facilitate the ongoing dialogue and contribute to the ongoing common reflection process.

A brief account of our consultation

4. The quality of relationship that the Orthodox experience with others within the WCC is a matter of continuing concern for the Orthodox. The new circumstances that constantly arise in our world can affect the ecumenical relations between churches in negative or positive ways. So the Orthodox churches, committed to the visible unity of Christians, seek to improve these relations in such a way as to witness to the Tradition of the one undivided church and to foster all activities in favour of the well-being of God's world. It is with this understanding that the Orthodox churches periodically review the role of the WCC in relation to its member churches and to its goal of visible unity.

5. The consultation thus began with a presentation by Marlin VanElderen on the process of common vision and understanding of the WCC now underway. This process of wide reflection was initiated because of the changes in the world situation at the end of the cold war era, changes in the global situation of Christianity, such as the rapid growth of "non-ecumenical" groups, the difficulties with the reception of the WCC agenda in the churches and structural problems in the organization of the WCC.

6. In his presentation, Dr Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the WCC, shared some reflections and proposed some questions for further consideration. He reminded us that, on the ground of earlier discussions about the, future and the programmatic orientation of the WCC, it would appear that there are four areas which require close attention in the ongoing process of reflection on Common Understanding and Vision of the WCC. These include (a) the nature and task of the WCC as a "fellowship of churches"; (b) the role of the WCC in the "one ecumenical movement"; (c) forms of representation, participation and communication within the WCC fellowship, and (d) steps towards an integrating vision of the WCC.

7. Metropolitan John of Pergamon presented the topic of the self-understanding of the Orthodox and their participation in the ecumenical movement. The speaker elaborated this on the basis of the fundamental Orthodox ecclesiological understanding of the church as an historical, eschatological, relational and sacramental entity. He pointed out issues involved in the Orthodox self-consciousness vis-a-vis the WCC and called for a creative transformation of the dialectic between West and East. While he clearly affirmed that the Orthodox churches will not be able to identify the WCC as a church body through the marks of the Una Sancta, he distinguished between "being a church and bearing ecclesiological significance":

Anything that contributes to the building up of the church or to the

reception and fulfilment

of the churches' life and unity bears ecclesiological significance. In this

respect, the

ecumenical movement and the WCC are strongly qualified candidates, for they

have as their

primary object and raison d'etre the restoration of the unity of the church.

This makes it

imperative for the WCC to keep the unity of the church at the centre of its

life and concerns.

It is this that makes it ecclesiologically significant.

The Orthodox self-understanding of the Una Sancta will always continue to be the guiding criterion for the Orthodox participation in the ecumenical movement.

8. Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk made a presentation on the Orthodox expectations from the WCC. In particular he called on the Faith and Order Commission to renew the study of the theme "The Holy Tradition", the understanding of which continues to divide Orthodox churches and the churches of the Reformation. This is the reason WCC positions very often seem to challenge Orthodox identity. The confrontation is painful, and thus it is very difficult to state clearly what we expect from the WCC. In this sense, criticism coming from the Orthodox churches has to be answered first by Orthodox themselves. With regard to the reflection process on Common Understanding and Vision of the WCC, the speaker reminded us that the nature of the WCC should not be understood as an additional stimulus for the ecumenical movement. The Toronto Statement not only facilitated but also broadened Orthodox participation. Theological dialogue should help us to grow together, and this very growth will help us to define our position. It is impossible to raise artificially the level of ecumenical awareness. WCC involvement in challenging competition in mission and in enabling the local churches for the education of the people of God are two areas of priorities particularly appreciated by the Orthodox. "How do we look at the coming century?", the speaker concluded. We have to be theologically and spiritually prepared, and particularly careful with the new contradictions and conflicts which will emerge. We have to consider seriously questions such as "What is the situation of the Orthodox oikoumene?" and "What will be the place of Christianity as such in the coming years?".