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 first to join the Porvoo Agreement; he described the relationship with the Anglican Church as special: “We are not in full communion with any other denomination.”
A milestone had been the joint declaration on the doctrine of justification between the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church: “A sign that the prejudices and tensions of past centuries had dissipated. In relations between the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches in Finland, we have a long and vigorous tradition of ecumenical co-operation,” he said.
“Through the Porvoo Agreement, we form a single family. The Finnish Church has gained much as a result of ecumenical convergence. We have maintained our own tradition and confessional basis, but at the same time we have adopted much from the Anglican, Catholic, and other churches. This is especially visible in our leadership, which has seen strong renewal in recent decades.
“Our appreciation of liturgy has increased, and we have been influenced by our ecumenical sister churches in music, prayer life, ecclesiastical vestments, and processions. I remember thinking, when I was listening to the concerns of the Scottish Episcopal Church 30 years ago, that rapprochement with one Church did not mean turning one’s back on others; nor does it mean endangering one’s own Church.
“Responsible ecumenism seeks a common path that can be walked together so that the tradition, theology and characteristics of both churches can be respected and cherished.”
But it was important, he said, that it did not stop there.
“We must ask ourselves and each other again and again what this communion means today. How can we work hard and bear witness to God in this challenging and complex 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 about 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 practical 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 about the joy of meeting other young Christians, and of “a culture that reaches your life, opens your eyes, and lets you see the world differently.” Young leader-led Bible study groups, they said, “are better than someone scary.”
They train for two years to be leaders. “The camps become a big 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 able to draw on the “foodbank of spirituality” in his time at the Synod: “I feel I have brought nothing except my love and prayers,” he said, speaking of “so many unseen blessings to give thanks for”.
He continued: “It has been very obvious in the last four days that our Churches are not problem free. We acknowledge the difficulties we encounter, our struggles in relation to climate change and other issues. I’d like to believe the challenges are yourds and ours — our challenge is together. We bring our hopes to the Lord in prayer: this is what makes us the Body of Christ.
“We are better and stronger together than apart. There is not much that we can offer you but our prayers for you — the spiritual food bank we are all capable of offering each other. Christ is ever-present in our church. I hope we will all continue to hold 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.”