Orthodox leader warns of dwindling participation By Parker T. Williamson The Presbyterian Layman Monday, December 7, 1998 HARARE, Zimbabwe - His Holiness Aram I, moderator of the World Council of Churches and a delegate from the Armenian Orthodox Church, highlighted deteriorating relations between the Council and the Orthodox community during his December 4 address to the Assembly. Aram said the situation is "critical" and that unless problems are taken seriously, "Orthodox participation will steadily dwindle." At issue for the Orthodox churches is the fact that they represent a minority voice (approximately 25 percent) in an organization that is dominated by Protestant liberals. The Orthodox take issue with WCC leaders' proclivity to embrace sexual behavior that Scripture calls sin, and they are offended by "evangelistic" visits into their countries by some member churches in the WCC. Referring to resignations from the WCC and refusals to participate as voting delegates at the Harare Assembly, Aram said, "Some of our member Orthodox Churches are not with us in this Assembly. Others are not with us the way they used to be. I am sure that we all realize that there is a problem, and that this is not an Orthodox problem but essentially an ecumenical problem." Human Rights Another concern raised by Aram is the issue of Human rights. "Human rights are integral to ecumenical witness," he said. Aram praised the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, the same year the WCC was founded, but he expressed regret that the UN has "proved its weakness" in redressing human rights violations. He said that in his opinion, the WCC had done a good job in condemning human rights violations, but it must do more to prevent them. This will require, said Aram, that the WCC take into consideration the effects of globalization, religious freedom, and ethno-nationalism on human rights. Religious Pluralism The future of the ecumenical movement will, of necessity, be different than its past, said the Orthodox leader. Christian communities are having to learn how to deal with religious pluralism, and the WCC must help them dialogue with people of other faiths, he said. Aram suggested that materials arising from the WCC-sponsored Gospel and Culture Study might be helpful in this regard. "Institutional ecumenism is in crisis," said Aram. "Much of our constituency is disillusioned with the institutional expressions of the ecumenical movement ... They are longing for fresh air to breath and wider space to live and to express their ecumenical concerns and convictions." Aram said that unless the ecumenical movement shifts its approach from structures to "visions relevant to the life of the people" it could lose its vitality. The Ecumenical Decade Aram noted the fact that the WCC's Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women was coming to an end. He said that the intention of this effort had been to make "each church, and indeed each congregation, into a truly inclusive community," and he expressed regret that "the churches have not been as responsive as was hoped." The Ecumenical Decade program has come under criticism for incorporating into women's liberation themes ideologies that deny Scripture's teaching on the person and work of Jesus Christ. He did give the program credit for having gotten more women ecumenically organized and helping them to find a voice for their frustrations and concerns. Dwindling financial resources Aram called for a sober look at financial realities facing the WCC. Noting that the organization has been told by churches of the "North and West" that "past levels of activity funding could not be sustained in the future," he called for the WCC to develop its investment and real estate revenues, seek higher contribution levels from churches in the Far East, and tighten controls on expenditures. Aram concluded his speech declaring that the Jubilee Assembly calls for a new commitment whose essence is, "We intend to stay together." He said that neither lack of progress, nor setbacks, failures, uncertainties, fears nor threats would weaken the WCC's intention to "walk together on the way to unity."

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