Lutheran – Orthodox dialogue

Relations between the LWF and the Eastern Orthodox Churches

High-level visits and discussions between the LWF and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the spiritual leadership of the Orthodox world, began in 1967. Plans for a global ecumenical dialogue between the two sides began shortly afterwards and were developed over the following decade.

The international Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission met for the first time in Espoo, Finland, in 1981 and has been working continuously since then, creating common ground on different topics and agreeing on a number of joint statements.

Significant common statements include Salvation: Grace, Justification and Synergy (1998) and Baptism and Chrismation as Sacraments of Initiation into the Church (2004). The topic of the current phase of dialogue, which began in 2019, is focused on the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.

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Members of the international Lutheran-Orthodox Commission meeting with Archbishop Anastasios in Albania in 2019. All photos: N. Hoppe

Key Themes
  • Divine Revelation
  • Scripture and Tradition
  • Canon and Inspiration
  • Sacraments
  • Apostolic succession and ordination
  • Ministry/Priesthood
  • Holy Spirit
Activities
  • 2012 - 2014 – Preparatory meetings for the 16th session of the Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission
  • 2013 – Preparations for 16th session of the Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission
  • 2015 – Plenary meeting of the Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission on Ministry/Priesthood
  • 2015 – Reception of the plenary report of the Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission on Ministry/Priesthood by the LWF Council
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Photo: The Ecumenical Patriarchate

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Photo: LWF

  • 1985 – 3rd Plenary in Allentown, U.S., Divine Revelation
  • 1987 – 4th Plenary in Crete, Greece, Scripture and Tradition
  • 1989 – 5th plenary in Bad Segeberg, Germany, The Canon and the Inspiration of the Holy Scripture
  • 1993 – 7th Plenary in Sandbjerg, Denmark, The Ecumenical Councils
  • 1995 – 8th Plenary in Limassol, Cyprus, Understanding of Salvation in the Light of the Ecumenical Councils
  • 1998 – 9th Plenary in Sigtuna, Sweden, Salvation: Grace, Justification and Synergy
  • 2000 – 10th Plenary in Damascus, Syria, Word and Sacraments (Mysteria) in the Life of the Church
  • 2002 – 11th Plenary in Oslo, Norway, Mysteria/Sacraments as Means of Salvation
  • 2004 – 12th Plenary in Duràu, Romania, Baptism and Chrismation as Sacraments of Initiation into the Church
  • 2006 – 13th Plenary in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, The Mystery of the Church/The Holy Eucharist in the Life of the Church
  • 2008 – 14th Plenary in Paphos, Cyprus, The Mystery of the Church: The Holy Eucharist in the Life of the Church
  • 2011 – 15th Plenary in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany, The Mystery of the Church: The Nature, Attributes and Mission of the Church
  • 2017 – 17th Plenary in Helsinki, Finland, The Mystery of the Church: Ordained Ministry/Priesthood

Although international dialogue has a unique status and role within Lutheran-Orthodox relations, various regional Lutheran-Orthodox dialogues have developed a significant number of further themes.

The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), which includes Reformed and United churches in its membership, has been especially active in encouraging regional dialogues with Orthodox churches. Intensive Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue has also been carried out in Finland.

Documents agreed upon and produced by regional dialogues since the 1960s include following dialogues:

  • Finnish Lutheran Church – Russian Orthodox Church
  • EKD (Evangelical Church in Germany) - Russian Orthodox Church
  • EKD – Ecumenical Patriarchate EKD - Romanian Orthodox Church
  • Federation of Evangelical Churches (BEK) [DDR] - Russian Orthodox Church
  • BEK [DDR] /EKD - Bulgarian Orthodox Church
  • Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue in the U.S.
  • Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church – Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church

Further information on most of these dialogues can be found in Risto Saarinen: Faith and Holiness - Lutheran-Orthodox Dialogue 1959-1994. Göttingen, Germany, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1997 and on Risto Saarinen's web page.

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Lutheran – Mennonite dialogue

Official reconciliation between Lutherans and Mennonites began during the 450th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in 1980. It led to a process of working through the painful legacy of persecution of Anabaptists, whom Mennonites regard as their predecessors, in the 16th century. Lutherans and Mennonites continue to build on the process of reconciliation that resulted in the 2010 action of Lutherans asking forgiveness for the persecution of Anabaptists by their ancestors in the 16th century.
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Lutheran – Reformed dialogue

Lutherans and Reformed Christians enjoy a “special theological relationship” which has allowed churches in some parts of the world to enter into full communion of ministry and sacraments. In 1968, an ad hoc Lutheran-Reformed Evaluating Committee stated that dialogue should be encouraged and coordinated by the LWF and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). In 2017, the LWF signed the Wittenberg Witness with the WCRC, affirming the call to continued renewal and cooperation and committing “to explore new forms of life together that will more fully express the communion we already have in Christ.”
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Contact

Rev. Dr Dirk Lange
Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations

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