JOINT COMMISSION FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE MALANKARA (JACOBITE) SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
REPORT OF THE 2004 MEETING
Kottayam, 11 October 2004
The Joint Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church held its 9th meeting at the Spirituality Centre of Kottayam, on October 11, 2004.
The major theological issue on the agenda was related to the Church as Communion. Two papers were discussed: the first on « Biblico-Theological Perspectives on Ecclesial Communion », prepared by Metropolitan Kuriakose Theophilose, and the second on « Growing towards full Communion, according to the Second Vatican Council », prepared by Msgr. Johan Bonny. The Joint Commission members reached the conclusion that the discussions held so far on issues related to ecclesiology already allow for a first synthesis to be drafted on the issue of the “Church as Communion"; a tentative version of such a synthesis will be drawn up for further discussion and completion during the next annual meetings.
Regarding the issue of common witness, the Joint Commission members discussed again some pastoral questions related to the practical application of the 1993 agreement on mixed marriages. They confirmed their decision of last year to prepare a new publication of this agreement, possibly accompanied by a commentary, so as to inform clergy of this agreement, its purpose and its application. As to the sub-commission on Common Witness, new arrangements were made to enhance its activity and to ensure its effective functioning.
The Joint Commission members took note of the report of the first meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Ortodox Churches, held in Cairo (Egypt), from 27-30 January 2004. They discussed possible repercussions of this international dialogue on the local dialogue in Kerala.
Finally, attention was given by the delegation members to some recent events, affecting relations between the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, among which the recent visit of Patriarch Zakka I Iwas to Kerala. They took notice of the modified name the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church decided henceforth to have in Kerala : the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.
The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church delegation was composed of: Metropolitan Kuriakose Theophilose (co-chair), Rev. Cor-Episcopa Adai Jacob (co-secretary); Fr. Daniel Thattarayil; Fr. Shibu Cherian; Fr. Thomas Abraham. The members of the Catholic delegation were: Bishop Brian Farrell (co-chair); Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil, Bishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry; Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios (representing Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios); Fr. Xavier Koodapuzha; Fr. Mathew Vellanickal; Fr. Geevarghese Chediath; Fr. Francis Pereparambil; Msgr. Johan Bonny (co-secretary). Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios and Bishop Patrick D’Souza could not attend the meeting.
The next meeting is to be held at the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary of Mulanthuruthy (Ernakulam), on December 5-6, 2005. Two issues will be on the agenda: a further study on the patterns of communion in the first millennium, and a tentative synthesis of the discussions held so far on the issue of Church as communion.
[Information Service 117 (2004/IV) 161]