JOINT COMMISSION FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE MALANKARA (JACOBITE) SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
REPORT OF THE 2010 MEETING
Kottayam, 7 December 2010
The Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church held its meeting at the Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam on Tuesday 7th December 2010. The meeting began at 10.a.m. with prayer led by His Grace, Joseph Mor Gregorios. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil welcomed the members on behalf of the Catholic representatives. He recalled that this year is very important for both Churches since it is the twentieth anniversary of the meeting of the dialogue commission, the 50th anniversary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the 25th anniversary of the visit of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II to Kerala and the visit to Catholicos Baselios Paulose that initiated the present dialogue. His Grace Kuriakose Mor Theophilose, Co-Chairman of the Joint Commission, welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Catholicos of the Jacobite Church. “The theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Church must not diminish the importance of the bilateral dialogue here” he affirmed. “Otherwise we are limiting the very scope of the dialogue here and our relationship”, he added. Bishop. Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and Co-Chairman of the Joint International Commission expressed his satisfaction about the dialogue and hoped the meeting would be fruitful by the grace of God our Lord. He also gave a brief description on the origin of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and of the role the Council plays in dialogue with the other Churches and ecclesial communities.
The Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church was represented by: His Grace Kuriakose Mor Theophilos (Co-Chairman), His Grace Joseph Mor Gregorios, His Grace Kuriakose Mor Eusebius, Rev. Dr. Addai Jacob Cor Episcopa ((co-secretary), Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Moolayil Cor Episcopa and Rev. Fr. Gregor Kollannur. The Catholic Church was represented by His Excellency Bishop Brian Farrell (Co-Chairman), His Grace Mar Joseph Powathil, His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakatt, His Grace Mar Thomas Mar Koorilos, His Excellency Most Rev. Selvister Ponnumuthan, Rev. Dr. Mathew Vellanickal, Rev. Dr. Xavier Koodapuzha, Rev. Dr. Jacob Thekkeparampil, Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil and Rev. Fr. Gabriel Quicke (co-secretary).
Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil presented the report of the last meeting in 2009 and the commission approved it.
The first topic for discussion was the possibility of sharing of sacred places such as Church buildings and cemeteries. The subcommittee appointed by the Joint Commission to study the question had prepared a draft paper on it and sent it to the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) and the Synod of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church. Both the KCBC and the Synod approved the text with little modification. The commission also approved the agreement (after a detailed discussion and clarifications), which will be sent to the bishops of both Churches and will be published in the official bulletins of the Churches.
Secondly, the Joint Statement made by the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church on Episcopacy and Petrine ministry was presented during the meeting. Rev. Dr. Addai Jacob Cor Episcopa introduced the statement and the meeting approved it for publication as the result of our ongoing dialogue. The document will also be published by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Information Service. The Joint Commission requested Rev. Dr. Addai Jacob and Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil to translate the document into Malayalam and to publish it in the official bulletins of both Churches.
Thirdly, as decided in the Joint Commission of 2009, the agreement between the Churches on Inter-Church marriages and the pastoral guidelines of both Churches along with the other agreements reached by the Catholic Church and the Jacobite Syrian Church have been published in Malayalam. The Joint Commission decided to send the copies of it with a covering letter to the bishops. The Joint Commission observed that the booklet will be helpful for the wider reception of the agreements reached so far. The Joint Commission also considered further guidelines proposed by the subcommittee. The proposals will be considered at the next meeting.
Fourthly, the emergence of Pentecostal groups in the Churches was discussed. Bishop Brian Farrell presented the history and the development of the Pentecostal movements and their significance for the ecumenical dialogue. A subcommittee with Metropolitan Thomas Mor Koorilos as coordinator and Metropolitan Thomas Mor Themotheos, Rev. Fr. Shibu Cherian and Mar Koorilos as members will study the question and present a paper in the next Joint Commission Meeting.
Finally, the Joint Commission decided to publish the theological papers discussed so far in our dialogue and the agreements reached in the form of a book. Rev. Dr. Addai Jacob Cor Episcopa was appointed as the Chairman of the subcommittee responsible for publishing the documents, with Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil and Rev. Fr. Gregor Kollannur as members.
The next meeting of the Joint Commission will be held on Tuesday 6th December 2011 at the Patriarchal Centre at Puthencruz.
The following major issues will be on the agenda:
1. The reception of the agreement on sharing of sacred places such as church buildings and cemeteries, and the agreement on Inter-Church Marriages and the Pastoral Guidelines’.
2. The emergence of Pentecostal groups in the Churches.
3. A catechism on ecumenism. The Joint Commission decided to prepare a catechism on ecumenism in the form of a booklet outlining different issues: an introduction to each church, the historical background, the history of ecumenism, the outcome of the ecumenical dialogue and the agreements between the Churches. Mar Mathew Moolakatt will be the Chairman of the subcommittee and His Grace Kuriakose Mor Eusebius, Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Moolayil Cor Episcopa, Rev. Dr. Xavier Koodapuzha, Rev. Dr. Augustine Kadayiparampil, and Rev. Dr. Cherian Karukaparampil will be the members.
[Information Service 135 (2010/III-IV) 129-130]