Dialogue with the Orthodox churches

In November 2002 representatives of the LCF and the Orthodox churches of the CEC met for a consultation on Crete. The conversations were about questions of ecclesiology. The LCF study "The Church of Jesus Christ" (CJC) was the starting point, ecclesiological questions within Protestantism were discussed and, building on the Leuenberg Agreement, a possible model of church unity, "unity in reconciled difference", was presented.

Here the CJC study had in view especially an ecumenical disucssion with the Catholic Church. However, the subtitle, "The Reformation Contribution to the Ecumenical Conversation on the Unity of the Church", now became the occasion for also looking with the Orthodox churches at fundamental questions relating to the study and thus the understanding of the church from the perspective of the Reformation churches and Orthodoxy. The consultation laid important foundations for understanding.

The results were published in a press release and in Volume 8 of the "Leuenberger Texts". Following the encouraging experiences in the first consultation, a second meeting was arranged, to be held between 25 and 27 June 2004 in Luther’s city of Wittenberg. In spring 2005 the CPCE Executive Committee, meeting in Utrecht, also took a positive view of this event and supported a further consultation in 2006, to be concerned with practical topics and the reciprocal recognition of baptism. This meeting took place from 27 to 30 April 2006 in Istanbul (at the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Phanar).