Faith and Order Commission
Encyclopedia
The Faith and Order Commission is an important assembly group within the World Council of Churches
which has made numerous and significant contributions to the ecumenical movement.
The FOC has been successful in working toward consensus on Baptism
, Eucharist
, and Ministry, on the date of Easter
, on the nature and purpose of the church
(ecclesiology
), and on ecumenical hermeneutics. The 1952 meeting of the Faith and Order Commission, held in Lund
, Sweden
, produced the Lund Principle
for ecumenical co-operation.
The Commission has 120 members, including representation of churches who are not members of the World Council of Churches, among them the Roman Catholic Church. Members are men and women from around the world - pastor
s, laity
, academics, church leaders nominated by their church.
A major study on the church is being undertaken examining the question 'What it means to be a church, or the Church?' Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry
was published in 1982.
In particular with a focus on ecclesiology and ethics focusing on the churches/Church's 'prophetic witness and its service to those in need'.
Faith and Order collaborates with Justice, Peace and Creation to answer the questions:
Material for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
is prepared annually with the Roman Catholic Church.
Other work of the Commission includes facilitating the coordination of:
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
which has made numerous and significant contributions to the ecumenical movement.
The FOC has been successful in working toward consensus on Baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, and Ministry, on the date of Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, on the nature and purpose of the church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
(ecclesiology
Ecclesiology
Today, ecclesiology usually refers to the theological study of the Christian church. However when the word was coined in the late 1830s, it was defined as the science of the building and decoration of churches and it is still, though rarely, used in this sense.In its theological sense, ecclesiology...
), and on ecumenical hermeneutics. The 1952 meeting of the Faith and Order Commission, held in Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, produced the Lund Principle
Lund Principle
The Lund Principle is an important principle in ecumenical relations between Christian churches. It affirms that churches should act together in all matters except those in which deep differences of conviction compel them to act separately....
for ecumenical co-operation.
The Commission has 120 members, including representation of churches who are not members of the World Council of Churches, among them the Roman Catholic Church. Members are men and women from around the world - pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s, laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
, academics, church leaders nominated by their church.
A major study on the church is being undertaken examining the question 'What it means to be a church, or the Church?' Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry
Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry
Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, also known as the Lima Document, is an important Christian ecumenical document published by members of the World Council of Churches in Lima in 1982. -Ecclesiology of communion:...
was published in 1982.
In particular with a focus on ecclesiology and ethics focusing on the churches/Church's 'prophetic witness and its service to those in need'.
Faith and Order collaborates with Justice, Peace and Creation to answer the questions:
- 'How can the search for unity be a source of renewal for both the Church and the world?
- 'What does our increasing cooperation on issues of justice, peace and the creation teach us about the nature of the Church?
- 'What is the relationship between ethnicity, nationalism, and church unity?
Material for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international Christian ecumenical observance kept annually between 18 January and 25 January. It is actually an octave, that is, an observance lasting eight days.-Beginnings:...
is prepared annually with the Roman Catholic Church.
Other work of the Commission includes facilitating the coordination of:
- results from international bilateral dialogues (the Bilateral Forum),
- movements towards local church unions.