A handbook of councils and churches profiles of ecumenical relationships

Church of the Brethren (Czech Republic)

Evangelical Church of Slovenia

Evangelical Methodist Church of Portugal

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Croatia

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Cantons Bern, Fribourg and Neuchâtel (Switzerland)

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania in Exile (Germany)

Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein Federation of Evangelical Reformed Churches of Germany

German-speaking Evangelical-Lutheran Synod in Great Britain German-speaking Protestant Church in Greece

Lutheran Church in Ireland

Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Reformed Christian Church in Croatia

Reformed Church in Lithuania

Reformed Church in Transcarpathia (Ukraine)

Reformed Evangelical Church in Poland

Europe

Reformed Synod of Denmark

Union of Evangelical Churches (Germany)

The Council of Christian Churches of an African Approach in Europe (CCCAAE) has developed out of a series of consultations and conferences which began in 1995 in Leeds, UK. These meetings brought together representatives of African and African-Caribbean churches and communities, first from the UK, and later also from Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, etc. The CCCAAE was officially established in 2001, at Arzier, Switzerland. The executive body was constituted that same year, during a conference in Berlin, Germany.

The objectives of the CCCAAE are 1) coordination and networking of African Christian congregations in Europe; 2) the spiritual awakening and awareness of African Christianity in Europe; 3) furthering the partnership between African and European churches; 4) furthering the advancement of African theology and evangelism in Europe; 5) developing a forum for the problems facing Africans in Europe, in particular social exclusion and discrimination; 6) promoting research on African Christianity in Europe; 7) promoting Christian education of African youths in Europe; 8) supporting projects related to economic development in Africa.

In 2003 the CCCAAE co-sponsored an interdisciplinary conference in Hirschluch (near Berlin, Germany), on “The Berlin- Congo Conference 1884, the Partition of Africa, and Implications for Christian Mission Today”, which brought together African, European and North American scholars from universities and research institutions in Africa, Europe and the USA. The next interdisciplinary conference is scheduled to take place in 2007 or 2008. Among the more immedi­ate planned activities of the CCCAAE are the establishment of a small office, seminars for the Christian education of children and youth in African churches in Europe, intra-European and inter-continental exchange programmes for youth, and the formation of an African gospel choir. The latter will be a tool to create cultural awareness and foster mutual support and networking between African congregations in Europe.

The CCCAAE has a provisional office in Berlin, Germany.

Member churches of the Council of Christian Churches of an African Approach in Europe

France

Adoration of Christ International Centre

Bethel Prayer Ministry Int.

Deeper Christian Life Ministry

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Europe

Kingdom Exploiters Mission

Protestant Faith Fellowship

Basilea Vineyard Francophone of Bern Christian Assembly of Basel Christian Church of the Chablais Christian Assembly of Zürich Church of Christ – Central Coordination Church of Christ – Christian Assembly of Fribourg Crossroads Church Evangelical Church of the Grace of Jesus Christ for All Nations Evangelical Mission Evangelical Mission Bethesda Evangelical Revival Community Francophone Christian Assembly, Luzern Full Gospel Christian Community Full Gospel International Church Good News Evangelical Church Outreach Deliverance Protestant Evangelical Church Revival Church Amen

United Kingdom

Apostolic Congress of Great Britain

Deeper Life Christian Ministry

(Conférence des Eglises protestantes des Pays latins d’Europe, CEPPLE)

Founded in 1950

CEPPLE groups together churches of different theological traditions (Reformed, Lutheran, Episcopal, Waldensian, Baptist, Methodist, etc.) which desire to assist each other in expressing the witness of the churches of the Reformation in the Latin countries.

Member churches of CEPPL:

United Protestant Church of Belgium
Church of the Confession of Augsburg, Alsace and Lorraine(France)
Evangelical Lutheran Church of France

Federation of Evangelical Baptist Churches of France

Evangelical Methodist Church of Portugal

(Conférence des Eglises riveraines du Rhin, Konferenz der Kirchen am Rhein) Founded in 1961

The Conference of Churches on the Rhine understands itself as a space for ecu­menical encounter and cooperation where, in listening together to the concrete commandments of Jesus Christ, impulses for missionary, diaconal, social and ecu­menical commitment may be hoped for. The Conference came into being as an instrument of reconciliation and peace, with the purpose of making the Rhine a symbol of togetherness and no longer of separation and dreams of power to invade each other.

Europe

French Protestant Federation

Population: 3,220,164

Independent 97,470

Albania has been successively part of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. It became independent in 1912 and was a monarchy from 1924 to 1939, when it was invaded by fascist Italy. The Albanian Communist Party, formed in 1941, seized control of the country in 1944, installing one of the harshest com­munist dictatorships of modern history. Under Enver Hoxha, Albania was declared an atheist nation in 1967, and all religious and traditional beliefs were forbidden. It was a fear-driven regime, clamping down on all who resisted, intel­lectuals, clergy, and other opponents. Many Orthodox and Catholic bishops and priests were killed or sent to prison. Albania was politically and economically iso­lated from the rest of the world, including the communist world. In 1990, in the context of the end of the cold war and under internal pressure within the party and by the people, the communist regime collapsed. Since then, Albania has gone through several crises of instability, due in part to the conflicts in the Balkans. The political and economic situation is improving, but slowly. The two largest churches, Orthodox and Catholic, have re-established themselves. Islam has also re-affirmed itself in Albania. There has been a considerable influx of Evangelical, Pentecostal and other Christian faith missions. Relationships between the faith communities are on the whole tolerant. There is no council of churches.

Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania

Church Family: Orthodox (Eastern)

Membership: 400,000

Dioceses: 3

Parishes: 410

Bishops: 4

Priests: 134

Member of: WCC (1994) – CEC

Periodicals: Ngjallja (Resurrection), (monthly, in Albanian)

News from Orthodoxy in Albania

Website: www.orthodoxalbania.org

The origins of Orthodoxy in Albania go back to the apostolic age. In Rom. 15:19 St Paul mentions Illyricum, the province of the Roman empire of which the ter­ritory of today’s Albania was part. The southern part of Albania belonged for cen­turies to the Orthodox Byzantine sphere of influence. At the time of the schism in 1054, southern Albania retained its tie to Constantinople while northern Alba­nia reverted to the jurisdiction of Rome. From the 15th to the 20th century, Alba­nia was part of the Ottoman empire, and many of the people converted to Islam, often under pressure. At the beginning of the 20th century a nationalist inde­pendence movement emerged, which was led by people of Orthodox faith or descent. In 1937 the Orthodox Church of Albania was granted autocephaly by the Ecumenical Patriarch. Two years later the country was occupied by fascist Italy. Attempts were made to unite the Orthodox Church with Rome, but failed. Under communist rule from 1945 onwards, the Orthodox and other churches in Alba­nia came under complete control of the state. Until 1967 it was the same type of persecution as in other communist countries. In 1967 Albania declared itself an atheist state. All forms of religious expression were constitutionally forbidden. Virtually all churches and monasteries were destroyed or turned into warehouses, barracks etc. Clergy were unfrocked, many of them were thrown into prison or sent into exile, and a number went to their martyrdom. Of the 440 priests who had served before communism only 22 survived this time of extreme hardship.

In 1991, following the political changes in Albania, the Ecumenical Patriarch appointed then-Bishop Anastasios Yannoulatos from Greece as Patriarchal Exarch, and subsequently as archbishop of Tirana, together with three diocesan metropolitans, also from Greece. After many difficulties with the Albanian authorities who opposed an all-Greek hierarchy, the holy synod of the Church of Albania was re-established in 1998, with two of the four hierachs being Alban­ian. Despite these trials, beginning in 1991 the Orthodox Church of Albania rose from its ruins. A remarkable revival and development began which radiated into many social sectors. The church started by proclaiming the gospel of love and peace. It developed a life of worship and cultivated a Christian (Orthodox) con­science. It re-established Orthodox parishes, with active liturgical lives in many cities and towns, as well as in hundreds of villages, and created Orthodox intel­lectual groups, women’s groups and youth groups, which assist the church with ecclesiastical work. In 1992 an academy was created for the training of a new gen­eration of priests, which is also open to women, who will serve as lay leaders in the church. An ecclesiastical high school was opened in 1998. Youth outreach is a major concern of the church, with national and regional youth offices, camps for youth and children, activities for students in the three universities, youth festivals, etc.

Europe

The church has developed social programmes in the areas of health and educa­tion, notably the “Annunciation” medical centre and the “Spirit of Love” insti­tute for professional training. It is active in relief work for the destitute, and par­ticipated in the care for refugees during the Kosovo crisis in 1999. It is supporting agricultural and many other development programmes. Since 2001, an environ­mental programme has been ongoing. Beyond its borders, the Church of Albania contributes to peace and reconciliation in the Balkans.

Population: 3,042,633

Protestants 8,900; Independent 26,340

Armenia was for many centuries an independent nation and kingdom that in some periods of its history extended far beyond its present geographical location in the South Caucasus. It adopted Christianity as the official religion in 301, and thus became the first Christian nation of the world. From 1920 onwards, Arme­nia was a republic in the Soviet Union. It regained its independence in 1991. The country is in the process of rebuilding its economy. The Armenian Apostolic Church is by and large the majority church. The Catholic Church has had a mino­rity presence in Armenia since the time of the Crusaders and Catholic missions that begun in the 15th century. Protestant missions (mainly Baptist) arrived in the 19th century. In recent years there has been an influx of some Evangelical and Pentecostal groups. Due to historic circumstances there is a large Armenian dias­pora. At present a little over three million Armenians live in the Republic of Armenia, more than two million in Russia and the other republics of the former Soviet Union, and another three million in the diaspora.

Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Etchmiadzin)

Church Family: Orthodox (Oriental)

of All Armenians), Sion (monthly, Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem), The Armenian Church and Mother Church (Armenian Dioceses of the USA)

According to sacred tradition, in the 1st century the apostles St Thaddeus and St Bartholomew came to Armenia, preached the gospel and were martyred for their faith. From that time onward, there have been Christian communities in Armenia. In 301, Christianity was proclaimed the official state religion. The his­torical centre of this autocephalous national church is the Mother See of Etchmi­adzin, near the capital city of Yerevan. Doctrinally, the church bases its faith on the Bible, holy Tradition, and on the decisions of the first three ecumenical coun­cils. On the question of Christology, it accepts the definition set by the Council of Ephesus, that “one is the nature of the incarnate word”. It does not accept the Council of Chalcedon (451), and renounces the teachings of Nestorius and Euty­ches. The church’s liturgy is substantially that of St Basil the Great, in classical Armenian. The Gregorian calendar is primarily used. The Bible was translated into Armenian at the beginning of the 5th century, immediately after the creation of the Armenian alphabet, which is still in use today.

Holy Etchmiadzin and other monastic centres have contributed to the advance­ment of faith, culture, literature, science and the arts for centuries. They repre­sent the religious, linguistic and cultural unity of Armenians in their homeland and abroad. During the last decades many sanctuaries, old monasteries and churches have been renovated. There are currently 18 monasteries. As a result of the historical situation of the Armenians, two patriarchates were established within the hierarchy of the Armenian Church, in Jerusalem and Constantinople, both with local jurisdiction. At present over three million Armenians live in the Republic of Armenia, more than two million in Russia and the other republics of the former Soviet Union, and another three million in the diaspora. During the last ten years, 16 new bishops have been consecrated, 63 celibate priests and over 100 married priests have been ordained, and hundreds of deacons have graduated from the Gevorkian Theological Seminary located at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. In recent years, the number of believers has considerably increased. Among the principal priorities of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the near future are: (a) the spiritual life of Armenians and the sustenance of newly formed parishes and communities; (b) reorganization of the theological seminaries – two new seminaries have been founded; (c) construction and renovation of new churches, (d) development of church media agencies and advancement of Chris­tian education; and (e) the continuation of ecumenical dialogue and visitation with sister churches and other member churches of the WCC

A new Armenian translation of the Bible was published in 1994. Armed forces chaplaincy and prison ministry programmes were established in the late 1990s. In 2002, at the proposal of the church, the government agreed to add the subject of “Armenian Church History” to the curriculum of the public schools system. A TV studio was founded in 1998, and was granted a licence for a public broadcast in 2002. The studio produces and shows thematic films and documentaries and covers public, economic, cultural, and national-ecclesiastical events as well as church activities. Youth centres were started in 1993 and are spread throughout Armenia providing the youth with places for learning, social and cultural activi­ties. In 1997, the Christian Armenia newspaper was established, a bi-weekly peri­odical distributed to the local public. The Mother See is a quarterly English lan­guage newsletter published and distributed to the diaspora by the department of information services.

Europe

Armenia: 3,026,000

Europe: 3,695,000 (including Russia and the other countries of the former

Soviet Union)