The JDDJ and the path towards unity

26 Mar – 28 Mar 2019

Invitation Only

Five Christian World Communions discuss the impact of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification and explore paths towards closer unity

The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification was signed by Lutherans and Catholics in 1999, effectively resolving one of the key conflicts of the Reformation. Initially a Catholic-Lutheran agreement, it has since been joined and affirmed by three other Christian World Communions, namely the Methodist, Anglican and Reformed.

The Consultation aims to highlight the important ecumenical progress achieved by the signing of the JDDJ in October 1999 and look forward to further developments in inter-church relations resulting from the growth in communion.

The consultation will ask what the five world communions can do now to demonstrate this theological progress in the daily life of their local churches.

The meeting brings together high level Lutheran, Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Reformed delegations to discuss the impact of the agreement, the meaning for their unity and witness, given their agreement on questions of salvation, and to suggest creative ways of moving further towards the full, visible unity of all Christians.

The closed-door meeting will take place at the Catholic University of Notre Dame in the United States, which has a long-standing commitment to furthering ecumenical and interfaith relations.

During the week of the consultation the university will also host two public events to which staff, students and the local community are warmly invited. On 26 March an ecumenical prayer service will be held at 7.30pm in the Basilica of Sacred Heart with music provided by the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir.

The second event is a panel discussion among leaders of the different denominations entitled 'From Conflict to Communion: The Future of Christians Together in the World'. It will be held at 5pm on 28 March in the McKenna Hall Auditorium and will be moderated by Professor Neil Arner of Notre Dame’s Department of Theology.