ELCA NEWS SERVICE February 2, 2004 ELCA, Orthodox Leaders Discuss Wide Range of Issues 04-013-JB ISTANBUL, Turkey (ELCA) -- Relationships domestically and internationally between Lutherans and Orthodox Christians were described as "very good" by Lutheran and Orthodox Christian leaders who met here Jan. 27. The Lutheran delegation included leaders of the Chicago-based Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), based in Geneva, Switzerland. The Lutherans visited here Jan. 26-30 with a variety of international leaders and theologians of Orthodox Christians. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and LWF president, and the Rev. Ishmael Noko, LWF general secretary, headed the 14-member joint ELCA-LWF delegation. Members of the ELCA delegation were to have visited here in March 2003, but postponed the trip because of security concerns related to the start of the U.S.-led war with Iraq. In a meeting that covered a wide range of topics, the Lutherans met with Orthodox leaders at the offices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, home of the international leadership for Orthodox Christians worldwide. In the 3 1/2 hour meeting the church leaders had a frank discussion on such topics as Lutheran- Orthodox dialogues, Lutheran Church relationships in the United States, ELCA full-communion relationships, and the ordination of women and people who are gay and lesbian in committed relationships. His Eminence Metropolitan Athanassios of Helioupolis and Theira, noted that Hanson's visit here continued a tradition in which ELCA presiding bishops have visited world Orthodox leaders in Istanbul. Athanassios is president of the Orthodox Inter- Church Affairs Synodical Commission. "We thank you for these regular visits to the Patriarchate," he said. This meeting was the first in which both the LWF president and general secretary visited Istanbul together, Athanassios noted. "It is an honor to greet you on behalf of the ELCA and also on behalf of the LWF," Hanson said. "We come here to express gratitude to God for the deepening unity we experience in the body of Christ. We come grateful to God for progress in the U.S. and international Lutheran-Orthodox dialogues." The ELCA-LWF visit is in keeping with the historic tradition of the church, Noko said. Lutherans and Orthodox Christians should greet one another as a sign of unity, he added. Good relations between Lutherans and Orthodox Christians are possible because the churches respect one another and one has never "condemned" the other, Noko said. The good relationships "give us a unique ecumenical opportunity," he said. In North America an ELCA theological dialogue with Orthodox Christians is approaching the end of its third round, said the Rev. Randall R. Lee, director of the ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs. The two churches have been exploring the Holy Trinity and the "mystery" of the Christian Church, he said. In June, the dialogue participants hope to publish a common statement and a guidebook for congregations of both religious traditions to use in conversation, and to encourage common prayer services, Lee said. Lee said he was grateful to the Rev. Donald G. McCoid, co-chair of the U.S. dialogue with Metropolitan Maximos. McCoid is bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, Pittsburgh. Maximos is bishop of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh. In addition to the North American dialogue, there is an international Lutheran-Orthodox theological dialogue. His Eminence Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima, a member of the Orthodox Inter-Church Affairs Synodical Commission, suggested there should be better "coordination" of the two dialogues. Gennadios said such an idea was discussed several years ago, but has not been discussed much in recent years. Hanson pledged there would be a "continuity of topics" in both dialogues. "I hope my presidency of the LWF will facilitate the integration of the dialogues and not any unilateral action by the ELCA," he said in response. "I hope you hear that commitment." Athanassios asked the ELCA delegation specifically about the status of the ELCA's full communion relationship with the Episcopal Church in the wake of its consecration of Bishop Gene V. Robinson, who is gay and in a committed homosexual relationship. Under present policy, the ELCA expects that its pastors refrain from any sexual activity outside of marriage. The ELCA is in a study process, examining whether or not to ordain clergy who are gay or lesbian and in committed homosexual relationships, and whether it should have a policy on blessing same-sex relationships. The church has no formal policy about blessing of same-sex relationships, though its bishops have advised the church they do not approve of such ceremonies. Hanson told the Orthodox leaders that the full communion agreement -- "Called to Common Mission" -- states clearly that each church maintains its own clergy standards. "We do not change our standards for ordination because the Episcopal Church consecrated a gay bishop," Hanson responded. "The ELCA is now in a period of study and we are very mindful that we do not carry out that study in isolation," Hanson said. "We are mindful that study and any recommendations from it impact our global and ecumenical relationships." The ELCA and Orthodox leaders briefly discussed the ordination of women. The ELCA and its predecessor church bodies have ordained women for more than 30 years; Orthodox churches do not. Gennadios said some Orthodox churches are studying the issue, mostly in response to questions from other church bodies. "There is no request from inside our church for this (ordination of women)," he said. "We respond to questions from outside the church. The role of women is very different in the United States compared to Turkey and Greece." Other subjects discussed in the meeting were the status of other ELCA full communion relationships and church-to-church theological dialogues; relationships between the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Middle East concerns; National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and World Council of Churches relationships; and the possibility of a single, common date for the celebration of Easter by Western and Orthodox churches. Accompanying Hanson, his wife Ione, and Lee on the visit to Istabul were: the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary; the Rev. David E. Jensen, Ascension Lutheran Church, Minocqua, Wis. and ELCA Church Council member; Kathy J. Magnus, regional officer for North America, Lutheran World Federation, Chicago; Arthur Norman, Spanish Fort, Ala.; the Rev. Fred S. Opalinski, Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, Pa.; the Rev. Karen S. Parker, assistant to the bishop, ELCA Pacifica Synod, Yorba Linda, Calif.; the Rev. Paul A. Schreck, executive assistant, ELCA Office of the Secretary and associate for bilateral dialogues, ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs, Chicago. Representing the LWF were the Rev. Ishmael Noko, general secretary; Karin Achtelstetter, director, Office for Communication Services; and Archbishop Georg Kretschmar, co- president, Lutheran/Orthodox Joint International Commission, St. Petersburg, Russia. Reporting on the trip were Achtelstetter and John R. Brooks, director for news and media production, ELCA Department for Communication -- -- -- Information about Lutheran-Orthodox dialogues can be found on the Department for Ecumenical Affairs home page at http://www.elca.org/ea on the ELCA Web site. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news