Photo: is Fr Œcumenius Amanatidis
A joint working group from the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Catholic Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) concluded a meeting on 1 November in Istanbul, hosted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to advance the revision of the Charta Œcumenica. Originally signed in 2001, this foundational document promotes Christian unity across Europe. The revision aims to update the Charta to address today’s challenges and maintain its role as a guiding force for peace and justice.
Churches and ecumenical organisations are invited to join the consultation, open until 31 December 2024. Their feedback is essential for shaping the Charta Œcumenica. Early contributions from churches and ecumenical bodies have already provided valuable insights for refining the document.
A key highlight of the Istanbul meeting was the CEC-CCEE joint working group’s audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, whose warm welcome underscored a shared commitment to strengthening Christian unity. His Eminence Emmanuel of Chalcedon, a former CEC president, who was instrumental in drafting the original Charta Œcumenica, also shared his experiences, bridging past achievements with the vision for the document’s future.
The CEC-CCEE working group is composed of the following members: His Eminence Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Łódź; Ms Lea Schlenker from the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD); Fr Luis Okulik from the Social Pastoral Care Commission of CCEE; Sr Minsey Estelle Mical Sogbou from the Chemin Neuf Community; Fr Œcumenius Amanatidis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul; and Rev. David White of the Church of Ireland.
The first draft of the updated Charta Œcumenica, approved by CEC and CCEE decision-making bodies, is available online. The consultation period runs until 31 December 2024, inviting feedback and comments via email at charta@cec-kek.be.