CONIC proposes an Ecumenical Fraternity Campaign in 2010

BRASILIA, Brasil, November 22, 2006

The decision was taken during CONIC’s assembly in Brasilia, November 15 – 17. 80 representatives Taxi Heathrow Airport of those Christian traditions associated with this ecumenical organization were present at the assembly, among them the Roman Apostolic Catholic Church (ICAR in Spanish). The theme of the assembly was, “God, by your grace, transform our country.” 

On the assembly’s agenda, was the Brazilian Methodist Church’s withdrawal from participation in ecumenical organizations where the Roman Catholic Church and non-Christian groups are present. The assembly regretted the Methodist Church’s decision and CONIC’s Board of Directors issued a letter to the Methodist College of Bishops, expressing its hope that new opportunities for meeting together and for dialogue may arise.

Walter Altmann, Moderator of the World Council of Churches (CMI in Spanish) and Presiding Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Confession Church in Brazil (IECLB in Spanish), outlined before the assembly a map of ecumenism’s current moment in the world, Latin America, and how it is reflected in Brazil. “Hope should be our support at this time of the reprogramming of the ecumenical movement,” said Altmann. He announced that in 2007 the World Council of Churches is to hold a Global Forum of confessional denominational families. This forum will be a response to the need for broadening dialogue. According to Altmann, it is necessary that inter-religious cooperation become a part of that dialogue.  

The delegates from the churches represented in CONIC, noted the need to recover the bases of ecumenism within a new context of cultural and political change, and suggested that the seminaries and theological institutes offer an ecumenical formation in their curriculums.

"The assembly debated the necessity of reverting the ecumenical dynamic,” so that besides the church’s commitment to human rights and the social struggle, that it also look at mission, the communicating of the faith and evangelization, CONIC’s Executive Secretary, Father Gabriele Cipriano told ALC.

Cipriani was open about expressing CONIC’s wish to have among its members historic Pentecostal churches, such as the Assembly of God and Brazil for Christ, Baptist congregations and historic churches such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB in Spanish) and the Independent Presbyterian Church, which recently affiliated itself to the World Council of Churches.

In response to suggestions made by the assembly, CONIC’s by-laws were reviewed so as to facilitate new associates. Thus, the Ecumenical Movement of Londrina (MEL in Spanish), the Ecumenical Movement of Curitiba (MEC in Spanish), the Ecumenical Movement of Maringá (MECUM in Spanish), the Ecumenical Group of Brasilia (GEB in Spanish), and the Ecumenical Dialogue Group of Caruaru – Agreste Pernambucano, were received as local representatives of CONIC.

The assembly approved CONIC’s Strategic Plan, and elected its new Board of Directors as follows: President, Carlos Möller, pastor and Second Vice-President of the Evangelical Lutheran Confession Church in Brazil (IECLB in Spanish); First Vice-President, Don José Alberto Moura of ICAR (Roman Apostolic Catholic Church); Second Vice-President, Bishop Filadelfo Oliveira Neto of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil (IEAB in Spanish); Third Vice-President, Reverend Gerson Antônio Urbano of the United Presbyterian Church; Secretary, Janette Ludwig of the IECLB, and; Treasurer, Lídia Fernanda Crespo Correia of the IEAB.

Besides the ICAR, IECLB, IEAB and the IPU, the Syrian Orthodox Catholic Church and the Reformed Christian Church also make up CONIC. The Methodist Church was one of the founders of the council that has been in existence for 24 years.