CATHOLIC, LUTHERAN, MENNONITE, TRILATERAL DIALOGUE  

COMMUNIQUÉ

Augsburg, Germany, 9-14 February 2017

Representatives of the Catholic Church (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity), the Lutheran World Federation, and the Mennonite World Conference met in Augsburg, Germany, 9–14 February, for the fifth meeting of the International Trilateral Dialogue Commission on the understanding and practice of Baptism in light of the current missional challenges facing all three Christian communities. The meeting in Augsburg concluded a five year dialogue process. The commission discussed and developed its final report on “Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church” which was drafted by Professors Theo Dieter (Lutheran, France), William Henn (Catholic, US/Vatican) and John Rempel (Mennonite, Canada). The trilateral commission agreed on a further process to finalize the report which summarizes the rich discussions that have taken place over the last five years on three fundamental themes: 1) the relation of Baptism to sin and salvation, 2) the celebration of Baptism and its relation to faith and to membership in the Christian community, 3) the living of Baptism in Christian discipleship. The report will be published in early 2018. The meeting was hosted by the Mennonite World Conference and took place in Catholic St. Ulrich’s conference centre. The meeting took place at the same time and place as the Executive Committee and the permanent working commissions of the Mennonite World Conference. During the meeting, the commission gathered together in morning devotions and bible studies. In the evenings they joined the members of the MWC in evening prayers. The members of the commission participated in a tour led by Augsburg Mennonite Wolfgang Krauss introducing the Anabaptist and Mennonite history of the city. 22 Participants in the meeting on behalf of the Catholic Church were Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga, IMC (co-chair, Colombia); Rev. Prof. William Henn, OFM Cap (USA/Italy); Rev Prof. Luis Melo, SM (Canada); Sister Prof. Dr Marie-Hélène Robert, NDA (France); and Rev Avelino González-Ferrer (cosecretary, USA/Vatican). Lutheran delegation members were Prof. Dr. Friederike Nüssel (co-chair, Germany); Bishop Emeritus Dr Musawenkosi Biyela (South Africa); Prof. Dr Theodor Dieter (France); and Rev Dr Kaisamari Hintikka (co-secretary, Finland/Switzerland). Mennonites were Prof. Dr Alfred Neufeld (co-chair, Paraguay); Prof. Dr Fernando Enns (Germany); Rev Rebecca Adongo Osiro (Kenya); Prof. Dr John Rempel (Canada); Rev Dr Larry Miller (co-secretary, France). A member of the Lutheran delegation, Rev Dr KS Peter Li (Hong Kong, China) was not able to attend the meeting.