5 Jun, 2018

“Making the diversity of church voices audible” Bishop Petra Bosse-Huber on the future of Europe

“Europe is more than the 28 states of the European Union…hence it is good, and a visible sign, that we have come to Serbia and Novi Sad with our General Assembly,” said Rev. Petra Bosse-Huber.

5 Jun, 2018

The Holy and Great Council: The Common Witness of the Orthodox Church

The Orthodox participants at the General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches in Novi Sad, Serbia, have a common point of reference: the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church.

4 Jun, 2018

“It does not matter what kind of nation you are, we have one goal – Christianity”

Araqsya Avchieva and Lilit Melkonyan, of the Ecumenical Forum of Christian Women in Armenia, are two of the stewards at the General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches in Novi Sad.

3 Jun, 2018

“A wonderful atmosphere of family”: Being a Catholic priest at the Novi Sad Assembly

Benedictine priest father Thaddée Barnas is participating in the CEC General Assembly for the third time.

2 Jun, 2018

Renate Japenga: Finding inspiration in encounters

Renate Japenga will soon turn 30, the age limit for attending the General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches as “youth”.

2 Jun, 2018

John Murray and Adrian Shaw, the Lords of the Minutes

Adrian Shaw and John Murray are two truly British gentlemen.

2 Jun, 2018

Orthodox reflect together on challenges

Photo: Mladen Trkulja/CEC The Orthodox confessional meeting, held on the first day of the Novi Sad General Assembly of CEC, brought together some sixty people from Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, who were taking part in the Assembly.  There were delegates, members of CEC Governing Board, the Thematic Reference Groups, staff and stewards. The meeting was chaired by His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden (Ecumenical Patriarchate), who invited the participants to reflect together on the challenges they are facing today in the modern world, which can only be addressed if they are unanimously agreed. Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn (Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church) referred to the documents of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church as being the crux for our witness of the world. He also mentioned that despite all the struggles and discussions at the Council around the document “Relation of the Orthodox Church to the rest of the Christian world” the fact remains that we are here in Novi Sad at the General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches, and that “whoever was against is here …and that we finally have a common witness”. His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia and Filadelfia (Church of Greece) gave a report on the Inter-Orthodox Pre-Assembly consultation in Paris on 19 April 2018, and its communique. The communique states that “The care for the human person, human dignity and the protection of human rights for refugees and migrants remains the central issue for the Orthodox Churches, as well as the work done in the integration process.” According to Metropolitan Gabriel, that is our starting point for discussing witness, justice and hospitality at the General Assembly. His Eminence Bishop Porphyrios of Neapolis (Church of Cyprus) expressed satisfaction that the General Assembly of CEC is being held in an Orthodox country for the first time since 1979, which will provide a chance to raise the issue of Kosovo again. He echoed His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, who spoke earlier in the opening plenary and urged European churches to raise their voices in solidarity with those who had been displaced from their homes. His Eminence Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb and Ljubljana, representing the host Serbian Orthodox Church, also stressed the huge importance of unity and koinonia. This should be the message and witness of the Church to a world deeply submerged in individualism: “The Church is community in her nature; we can witness to the world of this community|. The Church is community and it is open to discussion on the issues of the modern world.” His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosyan of the Armenian Apostolic Church updated the participants on progress in the dialogue between the two families of Orthodox Churches. Archbishop Yeznik admitted, “We are living in the twenty-first century, and we are divided because of something that happened in the fifth century… I believe that our different understandings of the nature of Christ should not be an obstacle to the unity of the Churches.” Metropolitan Emmanuel, who is co-chair of the dialogue with oriental Orthodox Churches, also expressed his conviction that it is one […]

2 Jun, 2018

Justice: Youth bring perseverance and enthusiasm

When it comes to justice, everyone at the General Assembly will agree that CEC should somehow get involved in that topic

2 Jun, 2018

Finding justice in context: Bible study with Rev. Dr Elaine Neuenfeldt

“Our biblical text calls us to discern responsibilities and not create guilt or shame or even apathy—feelings that are not constructive and not transformative.”