Meeting between His Holiness the Patriarchand the Chairman of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists in Russia

MEETING BETWEEN HIS HOLINESS THE PATRIARCH AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS-BAPTISTS IN RUSSIA

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia met with the chairman of the Union of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists in Russia, Rev. Peter Konovalchik, on September 9. Participating in the meeting from the Orthodox side were Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, archpriest Victor Petliuchenko, a DECR vice-chairman, hieromonk Hilarion (Alfeyev), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations, and Mr. Roman Kon of the DECR secretariat for inter-Christian relations. The Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists was represented by N. Zverev, director of the department for external church relations, Yu. Sipko, vice-president of the Union, V. Ryaguzov, vice-chairman of the Union for education, S. Zolotarevsky, senior protopresbyter in Moscow, and Yu. Agapov, editor-in-chief of the journal Bratsky vestnik (“Fraternal Messenger”).

Both sides expressed satisfaction with their cooperation within the Christian Inter-confessional Advisory Committee, which was set up by the decision of the Conference “Called to One Hope in the Bond of Peace” held on 1-4 October 1996 in Minsk.

At the same time, it was noted that the discussion on the draft law “On the Freedom of Conscience and on Religious Associations” failed to bring inter-confessional consensus – the fact that led to a curtailment of cooperation within the Christian Inter-Confessional Advisory Committee. Both sides expressed the wish to renew the work of this committee so that it could become a meeting place for representatives of various confessions in order to discuss matters of mutual concern.

The sides also exchanged views on the World Council of Churches. A serious concern was expressed for disturbing tendencies developing in some Protestant denominations as reflected in the WCC agenda. Among them is the discussion on a possible review of the biblical norms of morality, the practice of ordaining women and the use of the so-called inclusive language in the Biblical translations.

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church stressed that the criticism they leveled at the WCC did not mean that their Church wished to abandon contacts and dialogue with the non-Orthodox world. In making proposals for a radical reconstruction of the WCC, the Russian Orthodox Church sought to see that the structure of the Council and methods of its work ensure an equitable and meaningful dialogue. Representatives of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists appreciated the stand of the Russian Orthodox Church on the WCC and noted with satisfaction a considerable convergence of their attitudes.

The sides pointed to difficulties existing in relations between the Orthodox and the Baptists on the parish level.

Both sides expressed the wish to continue these meetings which had become traditional for the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists.