THE PORVOO COMMUNION
CHURCH LEADERS' CONSULTATION
TURKU, FINLAND, 12 - 17 MARCH 1998
[Attendance] [Photos]
Church leaders of the Anglican and Lutheran churches in Northern Europe
met this weekend to deepen their fellowship in the Porvoo Communion. Coming
from different backgrounds, and with a rich variety of experiences, they
affirmed their commitment to address together some of the challenges facing
people in Europe today. These challenges include the erosion of traditional
values, often accompanied by an inarticulated search for spirituality.
There was a strong conviction that the churches, as part of that society,
can work in partnership, to meet some of the major issues people are facing.
There was also a review of changing patterns of the relationships between
Church and State in the countries concerned.
Fifty million Christians in Northern Europe were represented at this
gathering of their church leaders at The Christian Institute, Turku, Finland
from 12 - 17 March 1998. This was the first such meeting of Anglican and
Lutheran church leaders from Britain and Ireland, and from the Nordic
and Baltic countries following the signing in Autumn 1996 of the Porvoo
Agreement.
In 1992, the Cathedral city of Porvoo, Finland gave its name to this
declaration which would set up a new relationship of communion between
the ten signatory churches. As a result, members of each church are now
regarded as belonging to the others. The agreement is already making possible
a new partnership of ideas, experience and resources to respond jointly
to the challenges and opportunities in today's Europe.
The participants from the churches - lay, clergy and bishops - were welcomed
by the Archbishop of Turku and Finland, the Most Reverend John Vikström.
Also present were ecumenical observers from other churches: Orthodox,
Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed.
A highlight which symbolised the growing together within this new family
of churches was the celebration of the Eucharist with the people of the
city of Turku in their Cathedral on Sunday 15th March.The preacher was
the Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend David Hope, and clergy from
several countries administered the Holy Communion.
The Primates of the churches will meet next year. A theological consultation
is planned for in two years time and a further Church Leaders' Consultation
will be in four years. In the mean time the work will be carried forward
by a contact group. Its new co-chairmen are The Right Reverend Erik Vikström,
Bishop of Porvoo, and the Right Reverend John Neill, Bishop of Cashel
and Ossory, Ireland.
Here is some documentation of what was said and heard during the course
of the Consultation;
The delegates were welcomed by The Archbishop
of Turku and all Finland, The Most Revd Dr John Vikström
Folk Churches of Tomorrow, introductory lecture
by The Revd Dr Carl Axel Aurelius, Assistant-Professor of Systematic Theology
at the University of Linköping, Sweden
Society And Church - Challenge And Response
: A Church In Wales Perspective. Reponse and commentary by The Right Revd.
Huw Jones, Bishop of St. Davids, The Church in Wales.
Society And Church in Northern Europe - How
does the Church respond? Nordic speaker: Dr Gunvor Lande, Assistant professor
at Agder College, Kristiansand.
Church and State. Finland's policy on church
and religion in the European context. The Rev. Dr. Juha Seppo, Professor
of Finnish and Scandinavian Church History, Helsinki University
Church and State in Sweden - A brief Presentation
by The Revd Dr Ragnar Persenius. Secretary for the Church, Sweden.
The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, preached
in the Service in Turku Cathedral on the Sunday.
A meeting of church lawyers of the Porvoo
Communion was held in Church House, Westminster on Friday and Saturday
16 and 17 January 1998 under the chairmanship of Dr Andreas Aarflot, Bishop
of Oslo. The outcome of that consultation was introduced to, and received
by the delegates at the Church Leaders' Consultation.
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