2014 Consultation: Mission Issues
This was not a conference or colloquium with specialist speakers but rather an opportunity for genuine consultation. For this reason considerable time was given to small group discussions, both formal and informal, which formed an important part of our interaction together.
Bible Study and Prayer were an important part of our time together. Each morning one of our participants led us in a Biblical reflection on the theme of the days discussions. We also had opportunities to experience the prayer and worship traditions of our different communities.
On Tuesday 16 September the Consultation included an Orthodox-Evangelical gathering of Albania Youth
Content for:
LOI Second Consultation
Date:
15-19 September, 2014
Location
The monastery of St. Vlash, Albania
2014 Consultation Contents
The first consultation of the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative
Click to read the 2014 Communique
Orthodox and Evangelicals engaged in missional dialogue
Relationships between Evangelicals and Orthodox engaged in mission have not always been positive, but the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative is working towards increased mutual understanding and a healing of wounds, in order to collaborate more effectively in God’s mission. Sixty senior church and mission leaders, ecumenists and theologians from many parts of the world came together for the initiative’s second consultation. Gathering from 15-19 September at the Orthodox monastery of St Vlash in Albania, and hosted by His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios and the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, the consultation was chaired by Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church and Mrs Grace Mathews of the Lausanne Movement.
Topics explored included conversion and spiritual transformation, the relationship between ecclesiology and mission, and ethical evangelism and proselytism. Participants reported on how the two traditions have already found ways of collaborating in mission in various parts of the world. A youth event brought together some of the nation’s Orthodox and Evangelical young people. In Tirana, consultation participants were received by Archbishop Anastasios at the Orthodox Cathedral, attended a meeting of the Albanian Evangelical Brotherhood (VUSH), and visited a local evangelical church, hearing in each place of the resurrection of the country’s Christian community.
The monastery’s welcoming hospitality provided a context for participants, half of whom had not been at the first consultation, to develop contacts with a view to building solid relationships. A remarkable sense of unity was evident, even when discussing contentious issues. Over time, relationships forged at these consultations should foster mutual respect and co-operation in the missionary task of our respective Christian traditions.
Papers from the consultation can be downloaded below
Click to see the 2014 list of Papers
These papers are for private and research purposes only and must not be published in any shape or form without the written permission of the author and the LOI facilitator. Contact lausanneorthodox@gmail.com
Opening Remarks : Mrs GraceMathews Email gmathews@lausanne.org
Biblical Reflection by His Eminence Metropolitan Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios Email hgyulios@gmail.com
Video of the Resurrection of the Albanian Orthodox Church (shown at the Cathedral)
The Conversion of Peter and Cornelius – Bible Reflection : Dr Ramez Atalla with a powerpoint Engel Scale (open with slideshow viewer to see animation) Email rameza@gmail.com
Spiritual Transformation : Prof Stelian Tofana (Paper) Email steliantofana@gmail.com
Spiritual Transformation : Prof Stelian Tofana (PowerPoint) Emial steliantofana@gmail.com
Spiritual Transformation, Response : Prof Anne-Marie Kool Email amkool1@gmail.com
Conversion: An Evangelical Understanding : Prof Simon Chan Email: schan@ttc.edu.sg
Koinonic Evangelism – The Community as the Evangelist : Archpriest Eric G Tosi Email egtosi@oca.org
Global Christian Forum : Call to Mission, Perception of Proselytism Email larrymiller@globalchristianforum.org
Global Christian Forum : ‘Discrimination, Persecution, Martydom : Facing the Challenge Together Email larrymiller@globalchristianforum.org
Cooperation between Christian Denominations in IBT Email absomov@yandex.ru
Cross of Nails project (Romania) : Rev. Geoff Kimber Email geoff.kimber@gmail.com
Cross of Nails presentation : Geoff Kimber Email geoff.kimber@gmail.com
The full paper by Prof Ioan Sauca will be posted here soon Email ioan.sauca@wcc-coe.org
Ecclesiology and Mission (presentation) : Prof Ioan Sauca Email ioan.sauca@wcc-coe.org
An Evangelical Perspective on Church and Mission : Dr. Mel Robeck Email cmrobeck@fuller.edu
Conflict Transformation, Serbia : Fr. Radomir Radik Email rradik@sezampro.rs
Religious Freedom : Fr. Radomir Radic Email rradik@sezampro.rs
Transforming Conflict – Experiences from Ethiopia : Tekle Belachew Email teklebelachew@gmail.com
Conflict Transformation : Dr Richard Harvey (Paper) Email richardharvey@gmail.com
Conflict Transformation : Dr Richard Harvey (Presentation) Email richardharvey@gmail.com
Biblical Reflection : Who is My Neighbour? : Dr. Femi Adeleye Email Femi_Adeleye@wvi.org
Ethical Evangelism and Proselytism : Dr Elmer Theissen Email ejthiessen@sympatico.ca
Ethical Evangelism and Proselytism : Dr Elmer Theissen (Outline) Email ejthiessen@sympatico.ca
Summary of 15 criteria of evangelism : Dr Elmer Theissen Email ejthiessen@sympatico.ca
The Challenges of Proselytism in the Context of Christianity in Asia : HE Metropolitan Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios Email mar.demetrios@gmail.com
Ethical Evangelism – Response : Dr Danut Manastireanu Email danutm@gmail.com
Ethical Evangelism – A reply to the responses by Dr. Elmer Theissen Email ejthiessen@sympatico.ca
Consultation participants
Click to see the 2014 list of Participants
His Eminence Archbishop Anastasios, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
Rev Dr. Femi B Adeleye, World Vision International
His Grace Bishop Angaelos, Coptic Church of Egypt, UK
Bishop Mathews Mor Aphrem, Syrian Orthodox Church, India
Dr Ramez Atallah, Bible Society of Egypt
Dr. Bishara Awad, Bethlehem Bible College
Revd. Dr. Doug Birdsall, Lausanne Movement
Mr. Harry Bryans, European Evangelical Alliance
Prof Dr Otniel Ioan Bunaciu, President of Baptist Union of Romania
Prof Simon Chan, Singapore
Metropolitan Dr Yuhanon Mar Demetrios, Syrian Orthodox Church, North India
Bishop Yuhanon Mar Diascoros, Syrian Orthodox Church, South India
Mrs. Leslie Doll, Lausanne Movement
Ato Yilma Getahun, Bible Society of Ethiopia
Pastor Alfred Golloshi, Albanian Evangelical Alliance
Dr Tim Grass, Spurgeon’s College, UK
Dr. Richard Harvey, Jews for Jesus, UK
Mr. Taylor Hostetter, Orthodox Church in America
His Grace Bishop Nikolla Hyka, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
Mr. Altin Hysi, Interconfessional Bible Society of Albania
Rev. Dr. Nelson Jennings, Overseas Ministries Study Centre, USA
Revd. Geoff Kimber, Church of England/Church Mission Society
Prof. Anne-Marie Kool, Central and Eastern European Association for Mission Studies, Hungary
Mr Sergey Koryakin, Moscow Evangelical Christian Seminary
Prof. Dimitra Koukura, Ecumenical Patriarchate, Greece
Mr. Petro Kovaliv, Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary
Dr. Jim Kushiner, Executive Director of the Fellowship of St. James
Dr. Ralph Lee, Navigators, Ethiopia
Mr. Georges Lemopoulos, Ecumenical Patriarchate
Ms. Lisa Loden, Musalaha
Mr. David Lyons, Navigators, USA
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, Orthodox Church, Kenya
Dr Danut Manastireanu, World Vision, Romania
Mrs Grace Mathews, Lausanne Movement
Dr. Rajan Mathews, Syrian Orthodox Church, India
Mr Jeffrey MacDonald, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
His Grace Bishop Andon Merdani, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
Rev Dr Larry Miller, Global Christian Forum
Mr. Tekletsadik Belachew Nigru, Ethiopia
Mr. Zefjan Nikolla, International Fellowship of Evangelical Students
Mr. Moss Ntlha, World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission
Revd Canon Mark Oxbrow, Faith2Share
Dr. Parush Parushev, International Baptist Seminary, Amsterdam
Ms. Katerina Pekridou, Church of Greece
Archpriest Stephen Platt, Moscow Patriarchate, UK
Mr. Anton Ponomarev, Faith2Share
Protodeacon Radomir Rakic, Bible Society / Orthodox Church of Serbia
Dr. Mel Robeck, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA
Fr Prof Dr Ioan Sauca, World Council of Churches
Dr. Alexey Somov, Institute of Bible Translation, Russia
Dr James Stamoolis, USA
Dr. Elmer Thiessen, Canada
Prof. Stelian Tofana, Romanian Orthodox Church
Archpriest Eric Tosi, Orthodox Church in America
Fr. Spiro Tsimouris, Church of Greece
Dr. Grant White, Orthodox Church of Finland
His Eminence Metropolitan Dr. Geevarghese Mar Yulios, Syrian Orthodox Church, North India
Consultation programme
Click to see the 2014 Programme
The conference report can be downloaded here
Monday 15 September
Morning/afternoon – Participant arrivals and registration. (Airport transits will be provided for all participants who have notified the LOI facilitator of their arrival time and flight number.)
5.15pm. Welcome Reception
7.00pm. Opening Dinner and Reception with a welcome from His Eminence Archbishop Anastasios and Pastor Ali Kurti, President of the Evangelical Alliance of Albania, a Biblical Reflection from His Eminence Metropolitan G. Mar Yulios, and a Progress Report on LOI by the co-chairs His Grace Bishop Angaelos and Mrs. Grace Mathews.
9.00pm. Small group introductions
9.30pm. Free time
Tuesday 16 September
7.45am. Breakfast
8.45am. Consultation Welcome His Grace Bishop Angaelos and Mrs. Grace Matthews
9.00am. Biblical Reflection : Facilitator : Dr Ramez Atallah
9.30am. Plenary : SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION
Presenter : Prof. Stelian Tofana
Responder : Prof. Anne-Marie Kool
10.15am. Break
10.30am. Plenary : CONVERSION Facilitator: Prof. Simon Chan
KOINONIC EVANGELISM Facilitator : Archpriest Eric Tosi
11.15am. Break
11.45am. Discussion Groups
1.00pm. Lunch
3.00pm. YOUTH EVENT
Speakers : His Grace Bishop Angaelos, Coptic Church of Egypt (UK) and Austin McCaskill, Albanian Encouragement Project
4.45pm. Break
5.15pm. Small Groups : Sharing our Journeys in Mission
7.00pm. Dinner (with youth participants)
8.15pm. Plenary : HOPE and COLLABORATION
Report from Global Christian Forum meeting, ‘Call to Mission and Perception of Proselytism’ Rev. Dr. Larry Miller
Short Reports of Collaboration in Mission Participants will be invited to share their own experiences of collaboration between Orthodox and Evangelical Christians as part of the mission of God during this session.
Wednesday 17 September
8.00am. Breakfast
9.00am. Biblical Reflection : Facilitator (to be confirmed)
9.30am. Plenary : ECCLESIOLOGY and MISSION
Facilitator: Fr. Ioan Sauca
10.15am. Break
10.30am. Plenary : ECCLESIOLOGY and MISSION
Facilitator: Dr. Mel Robeck
11.15am. Break
11.45am. Discussion Groups
1.00pm. Lunch
2.00pm. Plenary : CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION
A discussion with a panel of speakers led by His Grace Bishop Angaeolos with Dr. Bishara Awad, Ato Tekle Belachew, Dr Richard Harvey and Archdeacon Radomir Rakic.
3.45pm. Prayer for Situations of Conflict
4.30pm. Depart for Tirana
5.30pm. Visit to ‘Resurrection of Christ’ Orthodox Cathedral, Tirana
6.30pm. GROUP VISIT TO ALBANIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH in TIRANA
To include worship, a presentation and testimonies from several evangelicals about their Christian journey.
7.45pm. Buffet Supper in Tirana with evangelical community
9.30pm. Arrival back at St. Vlash (Steering Committee meets).
Thursday 18 September
8.00am. Breakfast
9.00am. Biblical Reflection : Facilitator : Revd. Dr. Doug Birdsall
9.30am. Plenary : ETHICAL EVANGELISM and PROSELYTISM
Facilitator: Dr. Elmer Thiessen
10.15am. Break
10.30am. Plenary : ETHICAL EVANGELISM and PROSELYTISM
Responders: His Eminence Metropolitan Dr. Yuhanon Mar Demetrios and Dr. Danut Manastireanu
11.15am. Break
11.45am. Discussion Groups
1.00pm. Lunch
3.00pm. Plenary : NEXT STEPS
A discussion led by members of the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative Steering Group to consider the next steps for this initiative and Orthodox-Evangelical relationships in general.
Group Discussions
4.45pm. Break
5.15pm. Final Plenary
8.00pm. CLOSING DINNER and EVENING RECEPTION
Friday 19 September
8.00am. Orthodox Liturgy
9.30am. Breakfast
Morning/afternoon : Departures
1715 – 1845 Cheese and Wine reception at St. Vlash Monastery
1900 – 2130 Opening Reception and Dinner
Image Gallery
More images from the 2014 Consultation can be found here here.
