Consultations on Churches’ Teaching on Marriage

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The Porvoo Communion held a consultation on Churches’ teaching on Marriage and challenges in apllying the teaching and theology. The consultation was held in Turku, Finland, November 1-4 2011.

At the outset the consultation recognised that the Context in which we live is a rapidly changing one. State legislation on marriage is changing, drawing responses from the churches of the Porvoo Communion.

The consultation furthermore recognised that central to the task of the Porvoo churches is to witness together for Christ to the needs of a rapidly changing and confusingEurope. Traditionally marriage has offered just such an opportunity for witness. Throughout its history the Christian Church has had to face the challenges of the changing nature of the societal context in which she ministers and in which the people live. The church in every age is called to serve the people of her society. The church is in but not wholly of the world as she seeks to live and proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ afresh in each generation.

The consultation also noted that although the church seeks to provide teaching on marriage, frames an explicitly Christian understanding of a natural order and seeks to celebrate the union of hearts and minds, it is also endeavouring to respond to trends in wider society. Such an endeavour involves tension and struggle. This struggle is not new.  It has been the case in every generation.

In the light of this ever changing context and new challenges, the consultation affirmed the importance of this consultation on marriage.

The Opening Eucharist was held at Turku Cathedral. The Revd Sari Lehti from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland presided and the Presiding Bishop of Norway, Helga Haugland Byfuglien preached. She reflected on the text ‘overcome evil with good’ (Rom.12.21) setting the spiritual tone for the consultation, drawing from the experience of the tragic massacre in Norway this past summer. The Closing Eucharist was held at St Mary’s Church near the consultation centre. Bishop Martin Wharton (Co-Chair of the Porvoo Contact Group) presided and Bishop Stephen Platten (Church of England) preached, reflecting on the tensions which issue from the Gospel’s engagement with wider culture in every age.

During the Opening Session Bishop Martin Wharton welcomed all participants. Bishop Hans-Erik Nordin ofSweden was welcomed as the Lutheran Co-Chair for this consultation.

Bishop Martin Wharton underlined the aim of this Consultation to provide an opportunity to listen, share, understand and learn from each other’s histories, experiences and pastoral contexts as well as to deepen our knowledge of our Churches’ current teaching and practice regarding marriage.  He also explained how the Porvoo Consultation on ‘Churches Responding to Conflict’ (Feb. 2011) provides a framework for discussing and responding to controversial issues.

The challenges are many. However, the churches present agreed that:

  • they can continue to address critical issues resulting from differing theological positions and pastoral practices;
  • they are called to a sense of mutual responsibility as churches in communion
  • they work towards wider consensus through prayer and engagement as well as with time, patience and a commitment to Spirit led discernment.

Reflection on scripture took a central role in the consultation. Participants also focussed on the many significant changes in State law and in society that have already happened and how our churches are seeking to respond to them in faithfulness to the Gospel. This led to an exploration of the evolving theological understanding of marriage implicit in our liturgies, doctrinal statements and pastoral practices, and their relevance in our diverse contexts. The daily Bible Studies given by Archbishop Michael Jackson of Dublin addressed aspects of the scriptural foundations of the doctrine of Christian marriage. Beginning with the texts in Genesis 1 and 2 relevant to the creation of humankind, he also explored the metaphors of covenant used by the Old Testament prophets. The teaching of Jesus Christ on marriage and divorce was examined. Reflection on Ephesians and Revelation 21 opened up the dimensions of discipleship and eschatology as they relate to marriage.

Presentations

The presentations brought a variety of thinking to the consultation and fed the work of the groups and workshops.

Prof Dr Antti Laato presented the first paper of the consultation on an ‘Interpretation of biblical passages related to marriage in the Old and New Testaments’. Prof Carl Reinhold Braakenhielm explored the question of what might count as ‘theological justification’ for same-sex marriage.

Responding, Professor Oliver O’Donovan considered the circumstances under which doctrine might be understood to develop and evolve within the Church.

Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga brought the perspectives of human genetics to the consultation. By explaining the complexities of human genetics, she pointed out why there are individuals who do not fall neatly into the binary categories of ‘male’ and ‘female’.

Small Groups and Workshops

In Small Groups participants were able to share and discuss material relating to marriage submitted in advance by their churches. The workshop sessions were thematic, addressing three key areas: Theological and Liturgical; Context, Society and Witness; Relationships – Ecumenical, Communion and Internal.

Reflecting Process

Central to the process of reflection were the Keynote Listeners.  At the end of each day they engaged in a kind of public conversation. They were asked several questions in an interview format to draw out themes which had emerged in the intense discussions in small groups and workshops.

 Findings and Texts of Presentations

The consultation made clear that differences over the introduction of “same-sex marriage” remain unresolved. Among the Churches of the Porvoo Communion it was clear that there are a variety of views and pastoral practices along a theological spectrum. Some of the participants saw same sex marriage to be a legitimate development in the Christian tradition, whilst for others it was a serious departure from received tradition. Nevertheless the consultation affirmed the benefits for ‘belonging to one another’. The value of honest encounter and strengthened friendship provides a platform of sustained communication in the face of these issues which raise such difficulties for us.

The findings of the consultation will be available for participants in an interim report. The core-group will, however, continue its work in this connection and present a report for further discussion in the Porvoo Contact Group. The texts of presentations will be made available to participants in due course.

Communique Marriage Consultation

Consultation on the Churches’ teaching on marriage challenges in applying the teaching and theology

Sharing a Common Life

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Meeting of the Primates and Presiding bishops, Llandaff.

The Primates and Presiding Bishops of the Porvoo Communion of Churches met in Llandaff, Wales, on October 3. -4., to review common work undertaken since the last meeting, to discuss areas of common concern and to share information about important issues in their respective churches.

The biannual meeting of the Primates and Presiding Bishops is one of the consultation processes in the Porvoo Communion of Churches, who have committed themselves to “share a common life in mission and service.”

In reviewing the work carried out since their last meeting the Primates and Presiding Bishops commended the “Guidelines for Interfaith Encounter” which had been further developed at a Porvoo Consultation in 2011, and also the work on responding to conflict which is part of an on-going process for consultation within the Communion. Information on these consultations can be found on the website of the Porvoo Communion, www.porvoochurches.org under “resources”.

In discussing the current economic crisis in Europe the Primates and Presiding Bishops recognized that this affects all the countries and churches in different ways. Unemployment is rising in most of the countries. Changing patterns of migration have created a challenge to the churches in providing pastoral care to the new migrants. A Consultation on Diaspora and Migrant Churches will be held by the Porvoo Communion in March 2012. The Primates and Presiding Bishops also called for a consultation on Economy and Ethics, recognising the effect that the current economic environment has on their countries and the moral responsibility of the richer churches towards the poorer churches. The next consultation of the Communion, to be held in Finland in November 2011, will be a Consultation on Marriage. The consultation will enable the Porvoo churches to share each other’s understanding and experiences as well as each other’s traditions, histories and differences.

The Porvoo Communion is visible in different areas in the life of the churches, for example in twinning and visits between dioceses and congregations, and in the mutually enriching engagement of diaspora congregations in the life of the churches of the Communion. The Primates and Presiding Bishops asked that creative work with young people across the Communion should be explored.

Presiding bishops from across Europe gather in Wales

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Twelve leaders from European churches of the Porvoo communion met together in Wales this week. The meeting, hosted by the Church in Wales, is taking place at St Michael’s College, Llandaff, on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is the first time the leaders of the Porvoo churches, who represent churches from Spain to Iceland, have met in Wales. They meet every two years to discuss common issues and build up stronger relationships between their churches. The meeting will begin with a service at Llandaff Cathedral tonight (Monday) at which the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, will preside and the Archbishop of Uppsala, Andres Wejryd, will preach. Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop in Wales said, “I am delighted to welcome the leaders of the Porvoo Communion to Wales for the first time and I hope we will inspire each other with our different traditions as well as strengthen the links we have already build up between our churches.” The church leaders coming to Cardiff are: Archbishop Kari Makinen, Finland Archbishop Andres Poder, Estonia Archbishop Elmars Ernsts Rozitis, Church of Latvia Abroad Archbishop Anders Wejryd, Sweden Bishop Karl Sigurbjörnsson, Iceland Bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien, Norway Archbishop Mindaugas Sabutis, Lithuania Bishop David Chillingworth, Scotland Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga, Lutheran Church in Great Britain Bishop Carlos Lopez Lozano, Spanish Episcopal Church Archbishop Rowan Williams, Canterbury.

Consultation on Churches Responding to Conflict

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On the recommendation of the Church Leaders Consultation in March 2010, the Porvoo Contact Group held a consultation on the theme Churches Responding to Conflict from 20th -23rd February 2011 in Tallinn, Estonia. The organisers are grateful to the host church, the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, for the invitation to hold such a consultation in Tallinn. The churches met in the context of a widening conflict across the Arab world and upheld its peoples in prayer.

Keeping the goal of the common good of Christ’s church in mind, the consultation was a way to deepen knowledge, strengthen sharing, learn from one another and generate greater understanding. Furthermore, it was to make suggestions to the Porvoo Contact Group for further work on an appropriate framework for responding to situations of conflict within the Porvoo Communion of Churches. Serious tensions have arisen over issues of sexuality which have threatened communion.

The conference opened with Eucharist in the Cathedral at which The Rt Revd Karl Sigurbjörnsson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Iceland presided and The Rt Revd Trevor Williams preached. The consultation closed with Eucharist in the Holy Spirit Chapel, presided over by Archbishop Andreas Põder of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church and at which Bishop Michael Jackson was the preacher. Daily prayer accompanied the sessions.

The Bible Studies held by The Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera of the Church of Ceylon formed a cornerstone to the deliberations. As a representative from the Global South he shared valuable theological insights gained from the context of conflict in his country of Sri Lanka and within the Anglican Communion.

Thematic inputs were given by Rt Revd Trevor Williams, Church of Ireland, Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe (Churches Responding to Political and Religious Conflict), Rt Revd Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland, Diocese of Clogher (Churches Responding to Conflict – a Diaconal Perspective), Revd Prof Paul Avis (Authority, Conflict and Leadership) and Revd Prof Dr Tõnu Lehtsaar, Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (Churches Responding to Conflict in Times of Societal Change – An Estonian Perspective).

In group meetings and workshops, participants explored their perceptions and ideas. The so called Keynote Listeners provided the plenary sessions with information from group meetings and workshops. The daily Public Conversations provided the reflecting process in which the keynote listeners were asked questions in an interview format to invite their reflections. The resource persons also acted as consultants for the consultation.

The consultation provided the Porvoo Contact Group with a range of important building blocks for further progress on a framework for responding to Conflict.

 

The LELCA a new observer in Porvoo

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A service in the LELCA

The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad was given an observer status in the Porvoo Communion during a meeting of the Porvoo Contact Group in Madrid, October 4 – 7 2010.

The Most Revd Elmārs Ernsts Rosītis, archbishop of the LELCA represented his church at the meeting, having been invited to the meeting as a guest, before decision was reached.

The church was closely involved in the making of the Porvoo Agreement where the representative of the Latvian Lutheran Church was the Dean of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Great Britain.

This brings the number of churches with an observer status in the Communion to three. The other two churches are The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia which has had an observer status from the signing of Porvoo and the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, which became an Observer in March 2010.

The picture is from the website of a member church of the LELCA in Britain.

New observer in the Porvoo Communion

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A service in a church of the LCiGB.

“Two new churches are present at the Porvoo Contact Group meeting taking place in Madrid, October 4 – 7 2010. These are the Lutheran Church in Great Britain and the Latvian Church Abroad.”

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The Church of Denmark signs the Porvoo Agreement

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Mrs Hanna Broadbridge, Bishop Karsten Nissen of Viborg Diocese (signing) and Jørgen Skov Sørensen, the General Secretary of the Council on International Relations.

“The Church of Denmark today became a full member of the Porvoo Communion when representatives of the church signed the Porvoo Agreement in Copenhagen Cathedral.”

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The Church of Denmark will sign the Porvoo Agreement in October

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The Church of Denmark will sign the Porvoo Agreement on October 3rd in Copenhagen.

The Church of Denmark participated in the dialogues leading to the Porvoo Agreement but did not sign the Agreement when the Porvoo Communion was established. It has however maintained an observatory status and participated in Porvoo events and meetings since 1996. The decision to sign was announced in 2009. A date has been set and the Church of Denmark will sign the Porvoo Agreement and become a full member of the Porvoo Communion at a service in Copenhagen Cathedral on October 3rd 2010. The service starts at 10 am and is open to all. Members from other churches of the Porvoo Communion will be present.

Report from the Leadership Consultation

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The Porvoo Church Leadership Consultion (CLC) 2010 was held in Sigtuna, Sweden, in March. The CLC provides guidelines for the direction of common efforts in the Porvoo Communtion.

The consultation highlighted a few areas to concentrate on:

  • To develop better processes of consultation
  • To develop a regular newsletter to improve communications
  • To develop a youth network and strengthen youth exchange
  • To explore the possibility of establishing a Porvoo Solidarity Fund in order to help churches without huge resources to participate
  • To explore the possibility of an interchange programme for theological students
  • To work towards a clear united perspective on lay ministry within the Porvoo Communion
  • To take forward the recommendations from the Interfaith Consultation inEdinburghworking towards codes of good practice
  • To keep in mind the needs of churches in their contextual struggle and show solidarity

Main Recommendations of the CLC

  • To hold a consultation on Responding to Conflict in 2011
  • The theme for next Porvoo Theological Conference will be:  Sacraments in the Mission of the Church. The reason for this is to reflect on an enduring issue in the life of the church. Sacraments and mission can be linked in a good way, since they are the core element in the life of the church. For example, one can look at baptism and confirmation and what part they play in the evangelism of the church. Pastoral, liturgical and theological dimensions will form part of the discussions. There is furthermore a vital discussion in Sweden on whether the non-baptised can receive communion. The conference would also address this issue. The ‘Porvoo Idea’ is to be together in mission and ministry and this conference would give visibility to the idea.
  • The PCG should work towards a further Consultation on Diaconal Ministry which addresses the question of how churches in the Porvoo Communion see the future of the diaconate in their own church. Furthermore the PCG should work on putting instruments in place for greater solidarity with the migrant population.
  • To hold a Consultation on Diaspora and Migration in 2012.

The final report of the Leadership Consultation

List of Participants at the Leadership Consultation

Pictures from the Consultation

Documents from Anglican and Lutheran discussions available online

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The Church of Finland has published documentation of various meetings between Lutherans and Anglicans.

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Matti Repo, bishop of Tampere, Finland has contributed to the book with several articles.

The Church of Finland has published documentation of various meetings between Lutherans and Anglicans. In their series Reseptio, nr. 1/2010, many papers from theological conferences and consultations are found, on diakonia, communion, baptism and confirmation, on inter-faith issues and others. Most of them are printed in English, but some are in Finnish.

They are now available online also.

Reseptio 1/10 Lutheran Anglican relations.