Episcopal Press and News
Ecumenical Agreement Announced
Diocesan Press Service. February 27, 1975 [75085]
REGENSBURG, Bavaria -- Expressing their concern about the worldwide distortion of the Faith, 12 outstanding theologians of the Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches met at a retreat center near Regensburg, Bavaria for what one member described as "a meeting of historic significance." The Rt. Rev. Dr. Rudolf Graber, Bishop of Regensburg was the host for this ecumenical meeting.
Adopted in "complete accord," was a seven point proposal, the emphasis and theme of which was that June, 1975 will mark the 1,650th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. This 4th century Ecumenical Council, held in Nicea, Asia Minor, formed the ancient Church's confession about the full divinity of Christ, and which has become the Creed basic to the Faith of all Christian Churches.
This ecumenical group called upon contemporary Christianity to defend the full divinity of Christ against a heresy which has reduced Christ to a mere creature, the "man for others." The theologians assembled at Regensburg arrived at the conclusion that "notwithstanding some remaining doctrinal controversies, all Bible-believing Christians are called today by their common faith in the Divinity of Christ to make a joint confession. "
The participants were agreed that ecumenical conversations must not be left to those who are not interested in the preservation of doctrinal tradition. Plans were made for enlarging the international ecumenical scope of actions. A transconfessional theological symposium dealing with the relevance of Nicea today is scheduled for June, 1975. "Here the significance of the Nicean Faith will be unfolded in relation to the ecclesiastical and theological confusions of the present time." A publication, the International Network of Confessing Fellowships, was established for communication throughout the world.
At the meeting the Lutherans were represented by: The President of the Theological Convention of the Conference of Confessing Fellowships, Professor Dr. Peter Beyerhaus, Rev. Dr. Ulrich Asendorf, Hannover; Evangelist Dr. Gerhard Bergman, Halver; the Rev. Dr. Friedrich-Wilhelm Kunneth from the Head Office of the Lutheran State Church in Munich, Professor Dr. Ulrich Wickert, Theological Seminary in Berlin. The Roman Catholics were represented by: The Rt. Rev. Dr. Rudolf Graber, Bishop of Regensburg; Prefect Hans-Josef Bosl, Regensburg; Professor Dr. Ferdinand Holbock, Salzburg, Regens Ludwig Scharf, Regensburg; Cathedral Dean Edmund Stauffer, Regensburg; Canon Franz Wesenauer, Salzburg.
The Reverend Canon Albert J. duBois, President of the American Church Union, expects to attend the June Transconfessional Symposium, representing the American Church Union. He has appointed a special A. C. U. Committee to cooperate with the group planning the Nicean Observance. Membership is, The Rev. James P. DeWolfe, Fort Worth, Texas; the Rev. W.T. St. John Brown, Sun Valley, California; Mr. Perry Laukhuff, Norwalk, Connecticut, and the Rev. Dr. H. Karl Lutge, New York City. Canon duBois is acting as Chairman with the Rev. Canon Charles H. Osborn as an Ex-officio member.
Copy of a Resolution adopted by the A.C.U. Executive Committee with reference to the group follows:
"WHEREAS the Executive Committee of the American Church Union has been informed of recent developments arising out of the doctrinal conversations between Lutherans, Anglicans and Roman Catholics at Regensburg in Germany under the leadership of Professor Dr. Peter Beyerhaus of Tubigen University;
"AND WHEREAS we rejoice to learn that plans are going forward for the observance in June of 1975 of the 1,650th anniversary of the assembling of the first Ecumenical Council at Nicea and for a strong world-wide witness to the full Divinity of Christ by a joint confession of Christians who share this Faith;
"NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that the Executive Committee of the American Church Union representing loyal members of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America expresses its support of these observances and of the June, 1975 Transconfessional Symposium, and that a Special Committee of the American Church Union be named by the President to cooperate with Dr. Beyerhaus and the leaders of the Transconfessional Movement in their efforts to stress the significance of the Nicean Faith as opposed to the widespread theological confusion of our time."
