THE General Synod heard on Friday from an ecumenical guest, the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Dr Tapio Luoma.
In his address, he recalled a visit, 30 years earlier, to St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, when the Scottish Episcopal Church was the primary to hitch the Porvoo Agreement; he described the connection with the Anglican Church as special: “We usually are not in full communion with every other denomination.”
A milestone had been the joint declaration on the doctrine of justification between the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church: “An indication that the prejudices and tensions of past centuries had dissipated. In relations between the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches in Finland, we now have an extended and vigorous tradition of ecumenical co-operation,” he said.
“Through the Porvoo Agreement, we form a single family. The Finnish Church has gained much because of this of ecumenical convergence. We have maintained our own tradition and confessional basis, but at the identical time we now have adopted much from the Anglican, Catholic, and other churches. This is particularly visible in our leadership, which has seen strong renewal in recent a long time.
“Our appreciation of liturgy has increased, and we now have been influenced by our ecumenical sister churches in music, prayer life, ecclesiastical vestments, and processions. I remember pondering, after I was listening to the concerns of the Scottish Episcopal Church 30 years ago, that rapprochement with one Church didn’t mean turning one’s back on others; nor does it mean endangering one’s own Church.
“Responsible ecumenism seeks a typical path that will be walked together in order that the tradition, theology and characteristics of each churches will be respected and cherished.”
But it was essential, he said, that it didn’t stop there.
“We must ask ourselves and one another many times what this communion means today. How can we work hard and bear witness to God on this difficult and complicated world together as sisters and brothers in Christ? May God bless the Church of England and her mission.”
Sam Atkins/Church TimesThe Bishop of Tampere, the Rt Revd Matti Repo
The Bishop of Tampere, the Rt Revd Matti Repo, told the Synod concerning the joint work of confirmation training between Tampere in Finland and the diocese of Manchester, centred on summer camps for confirmands — a key training ground for junior leaders. It had been operating since 2004, at Pänniemi, and at Scargill House, Yorkshire, and was “a model of co-operation” that had the sensible support of bishops.
He described Scargill House as a “paradise”. The bishops had brought two of the young leaders currently on the Yorkshire camp, to Synod. They spoke engagingly and with maturity concerning the joy of meeting other young Christians, and of “a culture that reaches your life, opens your eyes, and enables you to see the world in another way.” Young leader-led Bible study groups, they said, “are higher than someone scary.”
They train for 2 years to be leaders. “The camps change into an enormous a part of your life,” they said in conclusion.” Synod gave them sustained applause after a video presentation featuring the camps and their ethos, with input from Susie Mapledoram, diocesan youth officer for the diocese of Manchester.
On Tuesday morning, the Archbishop of Melanesia, the Most Revd Leonard Dawea (Anglican Communion guest) spoke movingly about his Church being the “offspring” of the Church of England, whose missionaries had founded it. There had been “wonderful discussion on food banks”, he said. He had been capable of draw on the “foodbank of spirituality” in his time on the Synod: “I feel I even have brought nothing except my love and prayers,” he said, speaking of “so many unseen blessings to provide thanks for”.
He continued: “It has been very obvious within the last 4 days that our Churches usually are not problem free. We acknowledge the difficulties we encounter, our struggles in relation to climate change and other issues. I’d wish to consider the challenges are yourds and ours — our challenge is together. We bring our hopes to the Lord in prayer: that is what makes us the Body of Christ.
“We are higher and stronger together than apart. There is just not much that we will give you but our prayers for you — the spiritual food bank we’re all able to offering one another. Christ is ever-present in our church. I hope we are going to all proceed to carry together as one body.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury replied: “That was deeply, deeply moving. Your example and your faithfulness is something that touches our hearts deeply.”
