Methodists sign historic document
with Lutherans and Catholics
SUNDAY July 23, 2006 was
a historic day for Methodists, Lutherans and Roman Catholics.
On that day in Seoul, the World
Methodist Council (WMC) joined the Lutheran World Federation and
the Roman Catholic Church in agreement on the divisive theological
issue of justification.
Years of discussion led to the consensus document on the Joint
Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification signed by the Lutherans
and Catholics in Augsburg, Germany on Oct 31, 1999.
Now, after some years of seeking the consensus of the world Methodist
family, Methodists have decided to join with the two partners
already in agreement.
So on July 23, at the Ecumenical
Service of the 19th World Methodist Conference in Seoul, the World
Methodist Council joined the Lutheran World Federation and the
Roman Catholic Church in signing the Methodist Statement in response
to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.
The signing was greeted with loud applause from conference delegates.
It was a historic and significant occasion.
In a Methodist Statement, the WMC and its member churches affirm
their fundamental doctrinal agreement with the teaching expressed
in the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification signed
at Augsburg on Oct 31, 1999.
Building on their shared affirmation of basic truths of the doctrine
of justification, the three parties have committed themselves
to strive together for the deepening of their common understanding
of justification in theological study, teaching and preaching.
Their achievement and commitment are viewed as part of their pursuit
of the full communion and common witness to the world which is
the will of Christ for all Christians.
The historic signing of
the Methodist Statement by Methodist, Lutheran and Roman
Catholic leaders. Standing at left is the Rev Dr Geoffrey Wainwright,
the World
Methodist Council's co-ordinator of ecumenical dialogues.