Conference of European Churches (CEC) Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum Europae (CCEE)
Conférence des Eglises européennes (KEK) Council of European Bishops¹ Conferences (CCEE)
Konferenz Europäischer Kirchen (KEK) Rat der Europäischen Bischofskonferenzen (CCEE)
P.O. Box 2100 - 150, route de Ferney Gallusstrasse, 24
CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland CH - 9000 St. Gallen
Tel: 41-22/791 61 11 Fax: 41-22/791 62 27 Tel: 41-71 / 227 33 74 Fax: 41-71 / 227 33 75
e-mail: cec@cec-kek.org home-page: www.cec-kek.org e-mail: ccee@ccee.ch - home-page: www.ccee.ch
Press release No. 03-45/efg St. Gallen/Geneva, 18.11.2003
THE CHARTA OECUMENICA PROCESS GOES ON
A consultation in Le?nyfalu, Hungary, 27-30 November 2003
To evaluate the ecumenical situation in Central and Eastern Europe, and to identify how the Charta Oecumenica process can contribute to overcome the present difficulties: this is the objective of the consultation which will take place from 27-30 November in Le?nyfalu, Hungary, upon invitation of the Council of European Bishops¹ Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC).
The Charta Oecumenica is a short document presenting ³Guidelines for the growing cooperation among the Churches in Europe². It was signed in 2001 by the Presidents of CEC and CCEE, and sent to all Churches and Episcopal Conferences for study, implementation and adaptation to the local context. The Charta has now been translated into 30 different languages.
The consultation in Hungary is a new step, which has been planned by the Joint Committee of CCEE and CEC. The programme includes reports from the different countries of Central and Eastern Europe on signs of hope and difficulties on the ecumenical journey. Participants will also try to identify future working perspectives in order to progress in ecumenical relations and to face the challenge of the European integration process together.
There will be some 40 participants at the consultation, representing churches and Episcopal Conferences from 16 countries: Albania, Armenia, Bielorussia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Ukraine and Turkey.
The consultation will also be an opportunity to present the new volume edited by the CCEE and CEC secretariats: ³Charta Oecumenica. A text, a process, and a dream of the Churches in Europe². The book includes, besides the text of the Charta, contributions on the story of the Charta and on the hopes which have been raised through the initiatives of the European Churches. The book has been published in English, French, German and Italian.
A press release will be published at the end of the Consultation.
A Press Conference will be held on Friday 28 November at 11.30 at the Exerzitienhaus (M1Ž2ricz Zs u. 14, HU-2016 Le?nyfalu/Budapest, phone +36 26 383212, fax +36 26 383302).
For information during the consultation please phone +36 26 383212 or +39 335 6041576.
The text of Charta Oecumenica is available on the CEC and CCEE websites:
www.cec-kek.org www.ccee.ch
For more information:
- Sarah Numico, CCEE Press Officer
phone +41 71 22 73 379 or +39 335 6041576 - Luca Negro, CEC Press Officer
Phone +41 22 791 64 85 or +41 78 870 81 17.
The Council of European Bishops¹ Conferences (CCEE) comprises the Presidents of the 34 bishops¹ conferences that are in Europe. Its president is Mgr. Amédée Grab, Bishop of Chur (Switzerland); the vice-presidents are Card. Cormac Murphy- O¹Connor, Archbishop of Westminster and Archbishop Josip Bozanic of Zagreb (Croatia). The General Secretary of CCEE is Mgr. Aldo Giordano. For further information: www.ccee.ch
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of 125 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. Founded in l959, CEC has offices located in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg. The General Secretary is Rev. Keith Clements. For further information: www.cec-kek.org