Lutheran, Orthodox Panel Agrees on Earliest Teachings

An international panel of Lutheran and Orthodox theologians has agreed that teachings of some of the earliest gatherings of the Christian church “are authoritative for our churches” even though the two denominations have used some of the teachings in very different ways.

“The teachings of the ecumenical councils of the early church are normative for the faith and life of our churches today,” the theologians said in a statement.

The communique reported on the seventh plenary meeting of the International Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission, which met in Sandbjerg, Denmark, July 5-10.

Officials of both faith bodies hope the talks eventually will lead to “full Communion” and mutual recognition between the two traditions. Such steps are probably in the distant future, since full Communion would mean the ability of church members to receive Communion in either church. Mutual recognition, in the fullest sense, would mean acceptance by each church of the others’ clergy.

The international panel is headed on the Lutheran side by the Rev. William Lazareth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and on the Orthodox side by Metropolitan Spyridon of Italy.

In the eight-point statement summarizing the meeting, the theologians said that the early councils of the church “are not merely of historical significance but are irreplaceable events for the church’s life.”