Roczniki Teologii Ekumenicznej

Awakening to the New Pilgrimage. The Theological Aspects of the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches

Hans-Georg Link — 2021-01-30

Article presents the short report of the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches held in Busan (South Korea) (30 of October – 8 of November 2013) including its theological and ecumenical interpretation. The presentation is structured into the three principal sections. Firstly, the author expounds the main theological issues discussed at the meeting. He refers to the two important documents adopted by the Assembly: God’s Gift and Call to Unity- and our Commitment and Together Towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes and describes their content through three keywords: unity, mission and evangelization. Furthermore, the article illustrates the theological conditions of the social commitment of the World Council of Churches with the theological concept of pilgrimage. The second section displays the participation of representatives of various Christian confessions as well as representatives of non-Christian religions and political institutions. The third section presents the statements submitted by the Assembly, concerning two important political crisis: that of the Korean Peninsula and that of the Middle East and includes the short interpretation of the call for the “just peace”. The conclusion of the article contains a short assessment of the Assembly from the view of its participant.

The Ecumenical Commitment of Pope Francis

Hector Scerri — 2021-01-30

The Ecumenical Movement was born outside the Roman Catholic Church, just over a century ago. The impetus of this Movement officially came in touch with the Catholic Church during the relatively short, yet eventful Pontificate, of Pope John XXIII. The incipit of each of the five Pontificates since then has been analysed for the ecumenical credentials of each of the men who was elected Bishop of Rome. On the 13th March 2013, we witnessed the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new Pope. In the few months which have passed since the election of Pope Francis, we have been able to focus our attention upon the few, yet highly important, ecumenical pronouncements he has made.

In the Search for a New Testament Model of the Church. Elements of Baptist Ecclesiology and Beginnings of the Dialogue with Baptists about the Church

Przemysław Kantyka — 2021-01-30

The article depicts the elements of Baptist ecclesiology such as: nature and structure of the Church, baptism in relation to the Church membership, understanding of the Lord’s Supper and of the ministry in the Church. At the end there’s an outline of the first fruits of the official Baptist-Roman Catholic dialogue on the world level concerning ecclesiology.

For Baptists the pattern of the Church is a local congregation gathered by Holy Spirit in the obedience to the word of God. Such a local gathering is totally independent and any higher forms of organization or unions do not represent a higher form of ecclesiality. The Baptists practice the baptism of adults only, as the profession of faith must be prior to the baptism, which does not create any new reality in a faithful nor cleanse of the original sin. In the Lord’s Supper a faithful while consuming bread and wine not transformed anyhow, receives by faith the benefits coming from the vicarious sacrifice of Christ. The ministers in the Church – deacons and presbyters – are instituted in a non-sacramental rite of ordination. The most of congregations present only men for ordination.

The official dialogue between Baptists and Roman Catholics produced up to now only one document. In the field of ecclesiology the statement contains mainly enumeration of divergences. For this reason it seems obvious that Baptist-Roman Catholic talks will not lead in the near future to the instauration of the full communion between our two Communities.

Approach to Ecumenism in the Discussions during the Second Vatican Council

Leonard Górka — 2021-01-30

The discussion held in one of the hall of the Second Vatican Council on the outline of the decree De oecumenismo enables us to distinguish two conspicuous attitudes: the integrist one on the one side and the reformist on the other. Both are displayed in the article. Yet apart from the attitudes mentioned above, it was for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church that the Counciliar bishops officially have spoken out on the issues connected to ecumenism. This discussion sparked the critical self-understanding of the Church. Furthermore, it allows us to create an attitude of openness for the values of the other Christian communities and to keep simultaneously the dogmatic truths intact.

Apostolic Succession in the Church of Sweden from the Catholic Perspective. Between Theological Precision and the Search for Ecumenical Success

Marcin Składanowski — 2021-01-30

According to the Catholic doctrine, apostolic succession is necessarily and essentially related to the ministry in the Church. The most important sign and the guarantee of Apostolic succession is the unbroken succession of bishops which are the successors of the Apostles. The situation of the Church of Sweden is unique: it has a historic episcopate but it has adopted the Lutheran doctrine of the sacraments and of the Church. For this reason, the Catholic Church does not recognise the validity of the Swedish Lutheran ordinations. For the same reason, it can not accept the existence of Apostolic succession within the Church of Sweden.

The Issue of Women’s Deprivation in Light of the Social Commitment of the World Council of Churches

Piotr Kopiec — 2021-01-30

The issue of gender justice increasingly shifts on to the core commitments of the World Council of Churches (WCC). Matters related to gender appear in a number of statements, commissions, programs and documents held within various bodies of the WCC. The survey of these commitments seems to be difficult to make, due to their diversity reflecting geographical, ethnic, economic and cultural background. This is partly affected by a nature of the WCC as it is the global platform where ideas from whole world are discovered, interpreted and passed on to the world. Article deals with the issue of gender justice and its place in the social discourse of the World Council of Churches.

Alienation and the Lack of Unity: The Results of the Original Sin

Marzena Wiercińska — 2021-01-30

The article discusses a few essential matters connected with the original sin: from Adam and Eva to the present day. The first part of the article refers to the sin of First Parents described in The Book of Genesis. It is a reminder of concrete and also universal history of the fall of a human, a trial for finding a reason of this event, as well. The second part debates the parallel of Adam-Christ from The St. Paul’s Letter to Roman – it is about the connection of people in the Adam’s sin and in the Redemption of Christ. The third part analyses a well-known medieval Augustine’s debate with Pelagius because a reason of this dispute was the original sin and to be more precise: a degree of its influence on human nature and on a free will. The fourth part of the article reminds that the original sin was a significant theme for The Reformation and for The Council of Trent. The issue of this argue was a relation between the original sin and concupiscence: for the Protestantism that was a relation of identity, for the Catholicism relation of causality; the issue has remained debatable to the present day. And finally, the fifth part of the article discusses in detail the problem of concupiscence as the heaviest ethically result of the original sin.

There were made two valid distinctions in the article. The first one is a methodological distinction, which was made already in the beginning of the article: distinction between the ethical guilt and the ontological result. This differentiation explains in a maximally straight form a mechanism of an influence of the original sin on the entire human race, even on modern people. The second one was made in the two last parts of the article: distinction between the original sin (every sin) and the concupiscence. This differentiation shows that a fight with concupiscence is possible and even necessary to authentic development of a human and rebuilding of interpersonal relations (in the ecumenical aspect: between the Christians), and offers a hope on “the return to the Paradise” (in the ecumenical aspect: recovery of unity of Church in a visible dimension).

Byzantine Spirituality against Background of the Cyril-Methodius Mission on Great Moravia. An Anthropological Aspect

Walerian Bugel — 2021-01-30

Despite focusing many scholar texts on the Great-Moravian mission in 863 the question of its spiritual background still remain rather without the sphere of scientist concern. The aim of this paper is to show if, and in what, was the spirituality of Cyril and Methodius innovative in compare with its Byzantine pattern—in concrete on example of anthropology, the individual, like as the political one. First it will sketched an outline of the spiritual context in witch this mission was accomplished. The second step is an analysis of some texts, being unquestionably native to this mission. By the end I will try to specify to which measure was this mission innovative on the field of spirituality.

“The Wolf Will Live with the Lamb” (Isaiah 11,6): The Integrity of the Creation according to the Orthodox Theology

Irena Saszko — 2021-01-30

The ecological crisis that we recently have been experiencing, challenges us to consider the issue of the integrity of creation. Creation has been groaning while it has been waiting in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed (cf. Romans 8, 18-22). However, countercurrents against the secular tides have inspired hope; on 16th January 2013 the Heads of Christian Churches in Poland, united in Polish Ecumenical Council, as well as the Chairmen of the Polish Episcopal Conference of the Roman Catholic Church signed the Appeal of Churches in Poland for the Protection of Creation. In this document they make an appeal to all the faithful, and state and self-government authorities to undertake a new way of life that reflects an embracing and appreciation for Christian dignity and Christian vocation.

The following article presents biblical and theological foundations to understand the issue of the integration of creation according to the Orthodox theology. The article consists of three parts. The first part depicts the relationship between God, Man, and Creation. Jesus Christ, thanks to the Mystery of Incarnation, became physical matter in order to initiate a process of reintegration and reunification of the broken and divided world. Thus, thanks to the “corporality” Incarnation, it is matter that enables contact and connection between man and God. Hence, it should be stated that every single man needs a developed relationship with the world of nature. But this relationship should not be consumerist or utilitarian. People should humbly recognise that everything, including the natural world, is a gift. The second part of the article focuses on a Eucharistic and ascetic attitude towards creation. Finally, the last part depicts some of the Orthodox saints who are the true examples of humility and love and who teach us how we should treat creation.

Ecumenical Analysis of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Przemysław Kantyka — 2021-01-30

The Thinkers of the Christian East and West on the Way of Philosophical and Theological Exploration of Merge Wisdom

Krzysztof Leśniewski — 2021-01-30

About the Ecology Ecumenically. Conference “‘About the Ecology Ecumenically.’ The Appeal of Churches in Poland to Protect Creation.” Lublin, 23 January 2013

Marcin Składanowski — 2021-01-30

42nd Congress of the International Ecumenical Fellowship. Ávila, 21-29 July 2013

Piotr Kopiec — 2021-01-30

“‘You Must Obey God rather than Human Authorities’ (Acts 5:29). Resistance during Dictatorships and Courage based on Christian responsibility.” International Conference Co-organized by the Ecumenical Institute of John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin

Piotr Kopiec — 2021-01-30

Bibliography of the Current and Former Employees of the Ecumenical Institute in 2012

Piotr Kopiec — 2021-01-30

The Scholarly Activities of the Ecumenical Institute of John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in 2012

Piotr Kopiec — 2021-01-30

List of Articles Featured in the “Annals of Ecumenical Theology” (Formerly “Annals of Theology” fasc. 7) in the Years 1993-2012

Piotr Kopiec — 2021-01-30