Boston, USA 12-14 November 2024
“Synodality and Primacy”
COMMUNIQUÉ (As it appears on the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s website)
The First Preparatory Meeting for the 19th Plenary Session of the International Joint Commission on the Theological Dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation and the Orthodox Church was held at the Huffington Ecumenical Institute, Boston, MA from 12 to 14 November 2024. The meeting was hosted by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Huffington Ecumenical Institute, with the organizational support of the Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology, and the Maliotis Cultural Center, where the meeting took place.
The preparatory committee, co-chaired by Rev. Bishop Dr. Johann Schneider (Evangelical Church in Central Germany) from the Lutheran World Federation and by H.E. Metropolitan Prof. Dr. Kyrillos of Krini (Ecumenical Patriarchate) from the Orthodox Church, discussed the overall theme of synodality under the two subthemes: a) synodality and primacy and b) synodality and participation. The committee heard presentation topics by HE concerning the above-mentioned Metropolitan Kyrillos of Krini, Rev. Prof. Dr. Dirk Lange, Prof. Dr. Rade Kisic, Rev. Prof. Dr. Demetrios Bathrellos, and Rev. Prof. Dr. Jennifer Wasmuth.
The committee members enjoyed the warm ambiance and hospitality extended by Rev. Archdeacon Dr. John Chryssavgis, Director of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at the Maliotis Cultural Center. Each morning, their sessions began with a common prayer and concluded with attendance of the Orthodox Service of Vespers at the school’s chapel. On the evening of the first day, HE Metropolitan Dr. Isaias and Rev. Prof. Dr. Jennifer Wasmuth delivered a lecture to the students of the school, hosted by the Huffington Ecumenical Institute, on the history of the dialogue. They also took the opportunity to engage in discussions with the students and seminarians about their lives and testimonies in the USA. On the final day of the meeting, the committee members attended Vespers, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, who also addressed them during dinner at the school. He expressed his joy in hosting the committee’s preparatory event, where he had served as Co-Secretary for several years.
Lutheran participants were: Rev. Bishop Dr. Johann Schneider (Co-Chair), Rev. Prof. Dr. Dirk G. Lange (Co-Secretary, LWF Geneva), Prof. Dr. Ian McFarland (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America), and Rev. Prof. Dr. Jennifer Wasmuth, consultant (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, Germany).
Orthodox participants were: H. E. Metropolitan Prof. Dr. Kyrillos of Krini (Ecumenical Patriarchate) and Rev. Deacon Œcumenius Amanatidis, Deputy Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod (Co-secretary, Ecumenical Patriarchate); Prof. Dr. Rade Kisic, (Patriarchate of Serbia); H. E. Metropolitan Dr. Isaias of Tamasos and Oreini, (Church of Cyprus); Rev. Protopresbyter Stephanos Chrysanthou, (Church of Cyprus) and Rev. Prof. Dr. Demetrios Bathrellos (Church of Greece).
It was decided that the First Plenary Meeting of the 19th Session of the Joint Commission, hosted by the Orthodox Church, will be held between the 19th and 25th of May 2025 in Larnaca, Cyprus. The Plenary Meeting will discuss the overall theme of Synodality and Primacy, exploring various implications and working towards the composition of a common statement on this topic.
Boston, 13 November 2024
