19.09.2023
European Ecumenical Meeting at CITI
Today, 19 September 2023, CITI (Church of Ireland Theological Institute) hosted a hybrid meeting of a working group from the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Roman Catholic Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) who are revising the ecumenical document Charta Ecumenica.
The Charta Ecumenica is an ecumenical charter for Churches in Europe and was published in April 2001 in its final form by the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Roman Catholic Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). It marked the beginning of the century by calling the churches in Europe to dialogue, unity and action, and particularly to their common responsibility in facing issues of peace and justice in Europe.
The aim of the working group is to revise the current Charta Ecumenica, and to update any areas that require modification given the current changing circumstances in European society as well as among Christians. The goal is to ensure that the document remains relevant in the current context.
The finalised revision is to be confirmed by 2025 and made ready and available for distribution by the time of the Charta’s 25th Anniversary in 2026, in which there is also the proposed continental meeting of the European Ecumenical Assembly.
The working group remarked on the warm welcome they received in CITI and the excellent catering, accommodation and technological facilities.
The members of the working group are: Revd Dr Peter Pavlovic (Brussels / CEC), Ms Lea Schlenker (Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germany / CEC), Sr Estelle M. Sogbou (Chemin Neuf Community, France / CCEE), Cardinal Grzegorz Rys (Poland / CCEE), Fr Luis Okulik (Trieste / CCEE), Mr Nikos Kouremenos (Greek Orthodox Church / CEC) and Revd David White (Church of Ireland / CEC).