2024 LOI at Lausanne 4 Seoul
2024 Consultation Contents
The first consultation of the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative
Click to read the 2024 Communique
At the gracious invitation of His Beatitude Archbishop Dr Anastasios Yannoulatos of Albania 46 Eastern and Oriental Orthodox and Evangelical leaders, from 20 different countries, gathered at St. Vlash Monastery in Albania from 2 to 6 September 2013 for the first international consultation of the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative.
Meeting under the theme The Mission of God participants were reminded by His Beatitude that “The Spirit ceaselessly gives life to the Church and to each of the Church’s members, transforming them into living cells of the mystical body of Christ, enabling it to partake in His continuing mission for the salvation of the entire cosmos.” Echoing this confession of Orthodox faith, Evangelical missiologist, Dr. Darrell Jackson, reminded us of the call of the Lausanne Movement that the whole Church should take the whole gospel to the whole world. Reviewing recent developments in Evangelical missiology and mission practice Dr. Jackson was able to point to convergences within our respective Orthodox and Evangelical understandings of the Mission of God whilst not neglecting those points which remain a matter not only of dispute but of real hurt.
Central to the evident, and to some surprising, success of this gathering, were the times spent together in the study of Scripture, in prayer and in honest, frank and generous discussion both in plenary and small groups. Participants recognised themselves as being on a pilgrimage of mutual and self- discovery, a journey whose destination is neither institutional restructuring nor theological conformity but rather our faithful participation in the Mission of God which will, in God’s time, bring us to that place where “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, [stands] before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9)
In frank discussion, through moving testimony, and in a spirit of respect and hospitality participants wrestled with the challenging issues of proselytism, canonical territory, salvation, justification, theosis and much more resolving to continue to journey together with a second international gathering already being planned for the early autumn of 2014.
As we move forward together, the goal of the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative is to reflect constructively on the history of relationships between Orthodox and Evangelicals in order to work towards better understanding, and encourage reconciliation and healing where wounds exist. Through this process Evangelicals and Orthodox will be mutually enriched and strengthened in the work of mission, working towards mutual respect, support and cooperation in the spirit of our Lord’s prayer for His Church in John 17.
To achieve this goal the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative is committed to encouraging members of its two traditions to: pray for each other and study Scripture together; encourage mutual understanding, respect and appreciation of one another’s tradition and practice; promote collaboration in mission wherever this is possible; build short-term and long-term mission partnerships; and facilitate the exchange and sharing of resources for mission.
St. Vlash Monastery
6 September 2013
Papers from the consultation can be downloaded below
Click to see the 2024 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
The Orthodox Understanding of Mission : Archbishop Anastasios of Albania
“‘Love of God, Love of neighbour’ is this really an Evangelical Missiology?”: Darrell Jackson
Justification, Sanctification, Theosis – an Evangelical View: Jim Stamoolis
Scripture and Tradition – An Evangelical view : Jim Stamoolis
The Independent Churches and Proselytism : Kosta Milkov
Tradition, Catholicity and the Mind of the Church : Brad Nassif
The danger of arrogance and ignorance: An Albanian case study: Luke Veronis
Consultation participants
Click to see the 2024 list of Participants
His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
HG Bishop Angaelos, Coptic Church of Egypt, UK
Rev Dr. Femi Adeleye, Evangelical, World Vision International, Ghana,
Pastor Ramez Atallah, Evangelical, Bible Society of Egypt
Dr. Bishara Awad, Bethlehem Bible College
Prof. Dr. Oti Bunaciu, Baptist, President of Baptist Union of Romania
Mrs. Karine Chernyak, Russian Orthodox Church
His Eminence Metropolitan G Coorilos, Syrian Orthodox Church, South India
Ms. Nana Danelia, Georgian Orthodox Church
Ms. Leslie Doll, Evangelical, Lausanne Movement, USA
Dr. Mark Elliott, Evangelical, East-West Ministries, USA
Dr. Rosalee Velloso Ewell, World Evangelical Alliance
Archpriest Vladimir Fedorov, Russian Orthodox Church
Dr. Tim Grass, Spurgeon’s College, UK
Mr. Bert Hickman, Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Gordon Conwell, USA
Mr. Nathan Hoppe, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
His Grace Bishop Nikolla Hyka, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
Rev. Dr. Darrell Jackson, Evangelical, Morling College, Australia
His Eminence Archbishop Jeronymos, Orthodox Church of Tanzania
Fr. K P Johnson, Mar Thoma Church of India, UK
Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky, Orthodox Church in America
Prof. Dr. Dimitra Koukoura, Ecumenical Patriarchate
Pastor Ali Kurti President of the Evangelical Allliance of Albania (VUSH)
Mr. Georges Lemopoulos, Representing the Ecumenical Patriarch (also WCC)
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, Orthodox Church of Kenya
Mr. George Makeen, Evangelical, SAT-7
Dr. Danut Manastireanu, Evangelical, World Vision, Romania
Mrs. Grace Mathews, Vice-Chair, Lausanne Movement
His Grace BishopAndon Merdani, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
Dr. Kostake Milkov, Evangelical Church of Macedonia
Rev. Dr. Larry Miller, Global Christian Forum
Prof. Brad Nassif, Antiochian Orthodox Church, USA/North Park University
Mrs. Aino Nenola, Finnish Orthodox Church
Rev. Canon Mark Oxbrow, Anglican, Faith2Share, UK (facilitator)
Rev. Akil Pano, Albanian Evangelical Alliance
Mrs. Gizela Papadhopuli, World Vision, Albania
Rev. Dr. Parush Parushev, International Baptist Seminary, Prague (Bulgarian)
Rev Fr Tiran Petrosyan, Armenian Apostolic Church (Etchmiadzin)
Mr. Anton Ponomarev, Russian Orthodox, Faith2Share, UK (facilitator)
Fr. Martin Ritsi, Orthodox Christian Mission Centre, USA
Fr. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca, Romanian Orthodox Church / Ecumenical Centre, Bossey (WCC)
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, World Evangelical Alliance
Ms. Elena Speranskaya, Russian Orthodox Church
Dr. James Stamoolis, Evangelical, USA
Prof. Stelian Tofana, Romanian Orthodox Church
Dr. Sergiy Tymchenko, All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists
Consultation programme
Click to see the 2024 Programme
Monday 2 September
1715 – 1845 Cheese and Wine reception at St. Vlash Monastery
1900 – 2130 Opening Reception and Dinner
Welcome address by His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios on behalf of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania. Response by Mrs. Grace Mathews Vice Chair of the Lausanne Movement. Welcome to Albania by Pastor Ali Kurti President of the Evangelical Allliance of Albania (VUSH). Presentation “The Miracle of Albania”. Performance by the Albania Youth Choir
Tuesday 3 September
0800-0830 Bible Study Groups
0930-1115 Plenary Session Why are we here?
His Grace Bishop Angaelos and Mrs. Grace Mathews will introduce the theme of the consultation and set out the challenges that face us.
Our Vision of Mission
His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios and Dr. Darrell Jackson will present an Orthodox and an Evangelical vision of Christian mission. This will be followed by a brief period of plenary discussion but the main opportunity for discussion will be in groups later in the morning.
1145-1245 Group Discussion
1500-1645 Plenary Session Four Cameos of Mission Praxis
Four of our participants will describe what Christian mission looks like in their contemporary context.
1715-1845 My journey in mission
Participants meet in their Bible Study groups (see Pg. 19) to share with each other their own personal journey as a ‘Christ carrier’, those called to be His witnesses, to give an ‘account of the hope that is within you’ – your journey in mission.
2015-2115 Regional Group meetings
Wednesday 4 September
0800-0830 Bible Study Groups
0930-1115 Plenary Session Facing Hard Issues : Proselytism and Canonical Territory
Dr. Kostake Milkov and Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky will present Orthodox and Evangelical insights into these difficult issues. This will be followed by a brief period of plenary discussion but the main opportunity for discussion will be in groups later in the morning.
1145-1245 Group Discussion
1500-1615 Hope and Collaboration
We will hear a report of a joint Orthodox/Evangelical mission programme in Egypt during June 2013
Rev. Dr. Parush Parushev and Fr. Martin Ritsi will then make a presentation on the challenges, opportunities and resources for Orthodox/Evangelical collaboration in mission.
1730-1900 Meeting with Evangelical Leaders in Tirana
During the evening we will meet with many of the Evangelical church leaders in Albania and hear from them about their mission experience. This visit is designed to both inform our more formal consultation sessions and to provide informal time for our discussions together. During this evening visit we are invited to join Evangelical leaders in prayer and worship in an Evangelical Church
Thursday 5 September
0800-0830 Bible Study Groups
0930-1115 Plenary Session Are you hearing what I’m saying?
*Rooted in Tradition and Grounded in Scripture
* Justification/Salvation/Theosis
Dr. James Stamoolis and Dr. Brad Nassif will present Evangelical and Orthodox understandings in these two areas of theology and suggest how we might hear and understand each other better. This will be followed by a brief period of plenary discussion but the main opportunity for discussion will be in groups later in the morning.
1145-1245 Group Discussion
1500-1730 Plenary and Discussion Groups Where next?
This plenary session will be led by the LOI Core Group and chaired by our co-chairs Mrs. Grace Mathews and His Grace Bishop Angaelos. We will also hear by video from Mr Doug Birdsall, former Executive Chair of Lausanne, who initiated the LOI process. Our task during this afternoon (in plenary and in groups) will be to determine what actions are possible and desirable as a follow up to this consultation.
1500-1545 Plenary Session
1545-1615 Discussion Groups in Regional Groups
1645-1730 Concluding Plenary
1800-2130 Reception for Local Orthodox and Evangelical Church Leaders
We will attend Orthodox Vespers at the Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana and then gather with local church leaders at a nearby venue for a Reception and Dinner.
Friday 6 September
0830-10.00 Orthodox Liturgy
Departures
Image Gallery
More images from the 2014 Consultation can be found here here.
