International Catholic-Lutheran Preparatory Group meets at the DPCU

The International Catholic-Lutheran Preparatory Group met at the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU) from 27 to 29 November 2023. The participants jointly evaluated the document "Baptism and Growth in Communion", which was "studied and received" by the Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in 2019, but which, despite many positive developements, can only be considered by the Catholic side as an "open-ended study document not ready for reception" due to open ecclesiological and terminological questions,.

At the same time, possible topics for the planned Sixth Phase of the International Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue were discussed.

The group was accompanied by the two secretaries Prof Dr Dirk Lange, Assisting General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations of the LWF, and Father Dr Augustinus Sander, OSB, Official of the DPCU, responsible for relations with the Lutherans. 

Another meeting will be held in Geneva in February 2024.

Members of the preparatory group:

Lutherans:

Dr Minna Hietamäki, Finland

Dr Sarah Hinlicky Wilson, USA / Japan

Prof Dr Bernd Oberdorfer, Germany

Secretary: Prof Dr Dirk Lange, Switzerland

Catholics:

Prof Dr Markus Lersch, Germany  

Prof Dr Jan-Heiner Tück, Austria

Msgr Dr Matthias Türk, Germany

Secretary: Father Dr Augustinus Sander, OSB, Vatican