On 3-8 July 2013 the 14th General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches was held in Budapest. General bishop Miloš Klátik and pastor from the congregation in Veľký Krtíš Ján Ruman were representing the ECAC in Slovakia and the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Slovakia.
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a communion of 115 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all European countries, and 40 associated organisations.
The theme of the 14th Assembly was “And now what are you waiting for?“ CEC and its Mission in a Changing Europe. The theme is drawn from the Book of Acts 22:14-16.
The assembly was opened by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, president of the Conference of European Churches. Cardinal Péter Erdő, chairman of the Council of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences in Europe and Rev. Olav Tveit, general secretary of World Council of Churches greeted all participants. More than 300 delegates from Lutheran and Orthodox churches and representatives from associated organisations took part in this assembly. Representatives from Catholic Church were also present as observers.
The main task in Budapest was to renew the constitution of CEC as an expression of a commitment to a deepened ecumenical fellowship and visible unity in Christ that provides a common witness to Europe and to the world, experiencing impacts of the socio-economic crises. This new constitution of CEC is meant to guide the Conference of European Churches into a future of more closely consolidated operations and makes provision for CEC to move its Secretariat from Geneva to Brussels. The new Governing Board of the Conference of European Churches chose the Anglican Bishop of Guildford, the Rev. Christopher Hill as the President of CEC.
The 14th CEC Assembly took note of the recent developments that took place in Egypt and Syria and appealed for an end to the violence and human right violation in these countries. In the final report the assembly invited people of all Christian churches to join in intensifying ecumenical relations in order to strengthen our respect for each other as sisters and brothers in Christ and to engage with mission, promoting respect for human dignity, freedom of religion or belief, and efforts for social, economic, and environmental justice.
The Conference of European Churches continues to be an open platform for co-operation of churches and partner organisations across the continent.
The theme of the 14th Assembly was “And now what are you waiting for?“ CEC and its Mission in a Changing Europe. The theme is drawn from the Book of Acts 22:14-16.
The assembly was opened by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, president of the Conference of European Churches. Cardinal Péter Erdő, chairman of the Council of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences in Europe and Rev. Olav Tveit, general secretary of World Council of Churches greeted all participants. More than 300 delegates from Lutheran and Orthodox churches and representatives from associated organisations took part in this assembly. Representatives from Catholic Church were also present as observers.
The main task in Budapest was to renew the constitution of CEC as an expression of a commitment to a deepened ecumenical fellowship and visible unity in Christ that provides a common witness to Europe and to the world, experiencing impacts of the socio-economic crises. This new constitution of CEC is meant to guide the Conference of European Churches into a future of more closely consolidated operations and makes provision for CEC to move its Secretariat from Geneva to Brussels. The new Governing Board of the Conference of European Churches chose the Anglican Bishop of Guildford, the Rev. Christopher Hill as the President of CEC.
The 14th CEC Assembly took note of the recent developments that took place in Egypt and Syria and appealed for an end to the violence and human right violation in these countries. In the final report the assembly invited people of all Christian churches to join in intensifying ecumenical relations in order to strengthen our respect for each other as sisters and brothers in Christ and to engage with mission, promoting respect for human dignity, freedom of religion or belief, and efforts for social, economic, and environmental justice.
The Conference of European Churches continues to be an open platform for co-operation of churches and partner organisations across the continent.