|PIC1|The World Council of Churches’ (WCC) 9th Assembly has seen Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece tell that new perspectives have been opened for the renewal of the ecumenical movement as well as for Orthodox participation in the WCC.

During his visit to the WCC, which lasts from 29-30 May 2006, the primate of the 10-million-strong Orthodox Church of Greece referred to “new perspectives of the ecumenical movement after the significant decisions taken by the 9th Assembly”.

Archbishop Christodoulos, the Assembly said that the Assembly held in Porto Alegre, Brazil in February, was “historic”, not only as it satisfied many long-standing Orthodox demands, but especially because “it strengthened the perspectives of renewal of the ecumenical movement's mission in the new reality of the world”.

The Assembly adopted a consensus decision-making process as well as a stricter theological and ecclesiological criterion for Council membership, and a new basis was established that would “allow the Orthodox Church not only to participate in the ecumenical dialogue without reticence but also to contribute effectively to it,” Christodoulos said.

|TOP|Calling for “dialogue in truth, according to the spirit of truly Christian love for God and humankind,” the archbishop affirmed that the Church of Greece is ready “to contribute its support to the new perspectives of ecumenical dialogue”.

The need for “coherence” and a “sense of responsibility in the planning of future actions" and programmes by the WCC governing bodies was also required, the primate said.

Christodoulos recognised that the “journey towards unity is long and difficult, because it demands that the church's historic memory be cleansed of burdens and traumatic experiences that have shackled it for centuries”.

However, he affirmed that the final goal of the ecumenical movement is “the ecclesial communion around the Lord's table,” and asked for all to persevere, trusting that “the divine gift of communion will come in its own good time”.

The WCC General Secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia agreed that the “major constitutional and institutional changes” undertaken by the 9th Assembly were of an historical nature and had inaugurated a “new stage” in the participation of the Orthodox in the WCC.

|QUOTE|He also highlighted the “invaluable contribution” of theologians from the Church of Greece, one of the founding and most active members of the Council.

Without pretending “that all problems have been solved” or minimising “the difficulties ahead of us,” Kobia affirmed that “as we open a new page in our own history after the Assembly, we express our authentic desire to open a new page of collaboration with the Church of Greece”.

If “forms of fundamentalism and sterile conservatism are to be found across the confessional and denominational boundaries,” Kobia said, the WCC is “ready ... to become a real space for encounter and dialogue”.

There is “no other way forward but for the churches of Christ to continue to walk together on their common journey towards unity, without compromise, providing one another a mutual enrichment and sustenance,” he added.