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Published
by the
Conference of European Churches,
December 13, 2004
WCC and CEC
express solidarity with Ecumenical Patriarch |
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Conference of
European Churches - Office of Communications
Press release No. 04-45/e
13 December 2004
Jointly issued by the World Council of Churches
and the Conference of European Churches
WCC AND CEC EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCH IN FACE OF RECENT PRESSURES AND
DIFFICULTIES
In the face of the recent "new pressures and
difficulties being brought upon the Ecumenical
Patriarchate", the World Council of Churches (WCC)
and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) have
expressed their solidarity to the Ecumenical
Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness
Bartholomew I.
Writing on behalf of their respective
organisations in a letter of 10 December, the Rev.
Dr Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of WCC, and the
Rev. Dr Keith Clements, General Secretary of CEC,
expressed their "profound sorrow at the reports we
are receiving of new pressures and difficulties
being brought upon the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We
are pained to read of the public criticisms and
attacks being made upon yourself and upon the
Christian community in Turkey. Such hostility must
be very hard to bear, with the added sense of
isolation that it brings".
"The days in the immediate future are", the letter
states, "beset with many sensitivities in the
political sphere especially as regards the
question of the accession of Turkey to the
European Union. This makes it even more important,
we believe, that your own patient and determined
advocacy of the accession of Turkey to the EU
should be recognised and reaffirmed by all who
have at heart the future of Turkey, and the
peaceful development of Europe and the wider
world. For those of us who have long known you,
this is but one more example of the integrity you
have shown as a leader in the worldwide Orthodox
Church and in the ecumenical movement where you
have unceasingly proclaimed the cause of dialogue,
reconciliation and peace in the world at large no
less than the calling to Christian unity".
"Whatever may be the outcomes of the forthcoming
political negotiations on 17 December", the letter
concludes, "we in the WCC and CEC will follow the
process with the greatest attention, and will seek
to accompany the Ecumenical Patriarchate in
reflection upon our common Christian
responsibility for the future of Europe".
* * * *
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a
fellowship of some 125 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 information:
Office of Communications
Conference of European Churches
Phone +41 22 791 64 85 or 791 63 25
Fax +41 22 791 62 27
e-mail Luca.Negro@cec-kek.org
Letter to His All Holiness Bartholomew I,
Ecumenical Patriarch
Your All Holiness,
At this time of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the light of
the world, we greet you in the name of him who
says, "In the world you face persecution. But take
courage: I have overcome the world" (John 16.33).
On behalf of the World Council of Churches and the
Conference of European Churches, we write to
express our profound sorrow at the reports we are
receiving of new pressures and difficulties being
brought upon the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We are
pained to read of the public criticisms and
attacks being made upon yourself and upon the
Christian community in Turkey. Such hostility must
be very hard to bear, with the added sense of
isolation that it brings. Our own visits to you in
Istanbul in April and May this year vividly
reminded us of the need to sustain with you the
reality of our fellowship in Christ: "When one
member suffers, all suffer together with it."
We wish Your All Holiness, and all our brothers
and sisters under your leadership throughout the
world, to know of our solidarity with you in
thought and prayer at this difficult time. The
days in the immediate future are, we realise,
beset with many sensitivities in the political
sphere especially as regards the question of the
accession of Turkey to the European Union. This
makes it even more important, we believe, that
your own patient and determined advocacy of the
accession of Turkey to the EU should be recognised
and reaffirmed by all who have at heart the future
of Turkey, and the peaceful development of Europe
and the wider world. For those of us who have long
known you, this is but one more example of the
integrity you have shown as a leader in the
worldwide Orthodox Church and in the ecumenical
movement where you have unceasingly proclaimed the
cause of dialogue, reconciliation and peace in the
world at large no less than the calling to
Christian unity. There are many throughout the
world who deeply appreciate your most recent
emphasis on this, in your message recorded for the
first International Day of Prayer for Peace on 21
September this year.
Whatever may be outcomes of the forthcoming
political negotiations on 17 December, we in the
WCC and CEC will follow the process with the
greatest attention, and will seek to accompany the
Ecumenical Patriarchate in reflection upon our
common Christian responsibility for the future of
Europe. Meanwhile, if it would prove helpful we
shall be very glad if a representative each of WCC
and CEC could visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate in
the next few days, both as a further token of our
solidarity with you and in order to gain further
information on your situation and to receive your
insights on the issues before us.
Please accept then, Your All Holiness, the
assurances of our earnest prayers for God's
sustaining grace and guidance in the coming days,
and our hopes for the strengthening of our common
endeavours for peace and reconciliation.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
Rev. Dr Keith Clements
General Secretary
Conference of European Churches
Additional information: Juan Michel,
+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org
The World Council of Churches is a fellowship
of churches, now 342, in more than 120 countries
in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a
member church but works cooperatively with the WCC.
The highest governing body is the assembly, which
meets approximately every seven years.
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