Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

ORIENTAL ORTHODOX – REFORMED DIALOGUE
FOURTH SESSION
Union Theological Seminary and the Presbyterian School of Christian
Education, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Representatives of the Oriental Orthodox Church and the World Alliance of
Reformed Churches met form 9 th -15 th January 1998, at Union Theological Seminary
and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia, USA for
the fourth session in their theological dialogue. Through this dialogue the delegates
seek a deeper understanding of one another’s traditions and hope to find some points
of common agreement between two traditions that have been separated for fifteen
hundred years but which share a common faith in Jesus Christ. Already this process
has borne some fruit with the production of a common statement on Christology,
which is to be submitted to their respective church authorities for approval.
The meeting was opened by Dr Milan Opocensky, General Secretary of the World
Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the delegates were welcomed to UTS/PSCE by
its President, the Reverend Dr. Louis Weeks, on behalf of the school, and by the
Reverend Dr. Eugene Turner, the Director of the Department of Governing Bodies,
Ecumenical and Agency Relationships, on behalf of the PC (USA). The sessions
were co-chaired by Dr. Milan Opocensky and His Grace Bishop Aykazian of the
Armenian Apostolic Church. In addition to the talks themselves, the delegates
enjoyed the many opportunities to experience the hospitality that was extended to
them by local institutions and churches. Particular mention must be made to President
Weeks and the Reverend Dr. Rebecca Weaver who co-hosted a dinner in the
delegates’ honour and also of St. James Armenian Apostolic Church who extended
the same privilege later in the week.
Following the previous discussions on Christology, Scripture and Tradition, this
meeting focused upon the Nature of the Church and the Mission of the Church. One
paper one each topic was presented by each tradition. It was realised that the
traditional categories of East and West were inadequate in the contemporary historical
context where they have acquired different connotations. (It is a revealing indication
of the geographical diversity of the contemporary church traditions that the furthest
most eastern delegate to this dialogue was a Reformed participant from Bangalore,
and the furthest most western delegate was a Coptic Bishop from Dallas). Each paper
was subjected to searching and critical discussion and points of convergence and
divergence were highlighted. The draft common statement represents those areas in
which the delegates found themselves to be in closest agreement. It will also serve as
a basis of a draft working document for future discussions and will be expanded to
incorporate the previous work on Christology, Scripture and Tradition, and the yet to
be discussed subject of Ministry.
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