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STUTTGART 2019 CONFERENCE:“STOLEN CHURCHES” OR “BRIDGES TO ORTHODOXY”?
IMPULSES FOR THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN ORTHODOX AND EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
About the Conference
In many respects, the history of Christianity is as much a history of division as it is of unity. In the past two
millennia all too many Christian churches and traditions moved away from one another and went their own
individual paths. We are living in exciting times in which these paths are beginning to intersect once again in
multiple ways. Through recent developments in ecumenical dialogue, separated Christian churches have
begun to appreciate anew that what they share in common is, or at least should be, far more important than
what divides them. While ecumenical dialogue has not resulted in full visible ecclesial unity (and more recent
debates have questioned whether this is even necessary or desirable, and have spoken instead of closer
union and partial communion as alternatives ends for ecumenism to pursue), what has emerged is a new
climate of improved relations between churches which once were sworn enemies.
Beside the important gains made through multilateral dialogues between multiple churches, which have
made much progress due to ecumenical organizations such as the World Council of Churches (WCC),
churches have also gained a great deal through bilateral dialogues. This can prove especially fruitful in
healing wounds of the past. Today, there is almost every possible combination of bilateral dialogue that might
be imagined.
And yet, one of the rare yet vital exceptions is dialogue between the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic
Churches. These Churches have endured a very complex and at times tense relationship with one another
(not simply theological but also political and ethnic).
In many cases these tense relationships remain still to this day. Indeed, they have even in some cases
increased in difficulty in various contexts (e.g. in the Ukrainian context). One of the key stumbling blocks
between these churches concerns the widely differing perceptions of what these Eastern Catholic Churches
represent and their disparate views. Regardless of historical accuracy, many Orthodox Christians refer to
these churches as “stolen” (despite the fact that most of these churches did not even emerge from so-called
processes of ‘uniatism’ nor ‘proselytism’), while on the Catholic side they are seen as bridges to the Orthodox
traditions (a perspective which, again, many Orthodox strongly reject).
Acknowledging this situation, we decided to name our conference “Stolen Churches” or “Bridges to
Orthodoxy”? Impulses for Theological Dialogue Between Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches.
We are aware that this title theme may strike some as somewhat provocative but it serves to illustrate the
differing and polarized positions on both sides with regard to the ecclesial status of Eastern Catholic
Churches. We hope that this conference will help draw out the subjectivity of differing ecclesiological
standpoints with regard to the status of these churches and therefore help move toward an ecumenicallyoriented
breakthrough in understanding. It is our intention to provide the opportunity for theological impulses
to emerge that we hope would result in advancing bilateral dialogue between these two traditions (while
acknowledging of course that, de facto, the Eastern Catholic Churches are part of the Roman Catholic
Church).
The intention behind this conference, therefore, is to encourage and promote much needed theological
engagement for the furtherance of dialogue between Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. We seek to
gather together official representatives of both these Christian traditions, as well as scholars (especially
theologians and historians) and political representatives from the differing contexts where the tensions are
greatest to see if we can help move dialogue and relations forward in this area. Delving deeper into what
shapes and maintains differing ecclesiological perspectives, partners in dialogue might come to appreciate
the sources of divisions and the sensitivities involved in helping to overcome ecclesial stand-offs of key
historical moments as well as in recent decades.
STUTTGART 2019 CONFERENCE:“STOLEN CHURCHES” OR “BRIDGES TO ORTHODOXY”?
IMPULSES FOR THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN ORTHODOX AND EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
About the Conference
Call for Papers
In many respects, the history of Christianity is as much a history of
division as it is of unity. In the past two millennia all too many
Christian churches and traditions moved away from one another and went
their own individual paths. We are living in exciting times in which
these paths are beginning to intersect once again in multiple ways.
Through recent developments in ecumenical dialogue, separated Christian
churches have begun to appreciate anew that what they share in common
is, or at least should be, far more important than what divides them.
While ecumenical dialogue has not resulted in full visible ecclesial
unity (and more recent debates have questioned whether this is even
necessary or desirable, and have spoken instead of closer union and
partial communion as alternatives ends for ecumenism to pursue), what
has emerged is a new climate of improved relations between churches
which once were sworn enemies.
Beside the important gains made through multilateral dialogues
between multiple churches, which have made much progress due to
ecumenical organizations such as the World Council of Churches (WCC),
churches have also gained a great deal through bilateral dialogues. This
can prove especially fruitful in healing wounds of the past. Today,
there is almost every possible combination of bilateral dialogue that
might be imagined.
And yet, one of the rare yet vital exceptions is dialogue between the
Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. These Churches have endured a
very complex and at times tense relationship with one another (not
simply theological but also political and ethnic).
In many cases these tense relationships remain still to this day.
Indeed, they have even in some cases increased in difficulty in various
contexts (e.g. in the Ukrainian context). One of the key stumbling
blocks between these churches concerns the widely differing perceptions
of what these Eastern Catholic Churches represent and their disparate
views. Regardless of historical accuracy, many Orthodox Christians refer
to these churches as “stolen” (despite the fact that most of these
churches did not even emerge from so-called processes of ‘uniatism’ nor
‘proselytism’), while on the Catholic side they are seen as bridges to
the Orthodox traditions (a perspective which, again, many Orthodox
strongly reject).
Acknowledging this situation, we decided to name our conference “Stolen Churches” or “Bridges to Orthodoxy”? Impulses for Theological Dialogue Between Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches.
We are aware that this title theme may strike some as somewhat
provocative but it serves to illustrate the differing and polarized
positions on both sides with regard to the ecclesial status of Eastern
Catholic Churches. We hope that this conference will help draw out the
subjectivity of differing ecclesiological standpoints with regard to the
status of these churches and therefore help move toward an
ecumenically-oriented breakthrough in understanding. It is our intention
to provide the opportunity for theological impulses to emerge that we
hope would result in advancing bilateral dialogue between these two
traditions (while acknowledging of course that, de facto, the Eastern Catholic Churches are part of the Roman Catholic Church).
The intention behind this conference, therefore, is to encourage and
promote much needed theological engagement for the furtherance of
dialogue between Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. We seek to
gather together official representatives of both these Christian
traditions, as well as scholars (especially theologians and historians)
and political representatives from the differing contexts where the
tensions are greatest to see if we can help move dialogue and relations
forward in this area. Delving deeper into what shapes and maintains
differing ecclesiological perspectives, partners in dialogue might come
to appreciate the sources of divisions and the sensitivities involved in
helping to overcome ecclesial stand-offs of key historical moments as
well as in recent decades.
We invite individual papers as well as panel proposals (panels to contain a maximum of four speakers) on the following themes
1. The History of the Eastern Catholic Churches from different perspectives
2. Theological differences and similarities 3. Ecclesiological differences and similarities
4. Liturgical differences and similarities 5. Doctrinal differences and similarities
6. Political aspects and differing geographical and ethnic contextual factors 7. Ecumenical efforts, progress, studies and documentation – historically and in recent and contemporary times
8. Experiences of other churches in the bilateral dialogue as well as other ideas that would help move dialogue, understanding, interaction and engagement between the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches forward.
2. Theological differences and similarities 3. Ecclesiological differences and similarities
4. Liturgical differences and similarities 5. Doctrinal differences and similarities
6. Political aspects and differing geographical and ethnic contextual factors 7. Ecumenical efforts, progress, studies and documentation – historically and in recent and contemporary times
8. Experiences of other churches in the bilateral dialogue as well as other ideas that would help move dialogue, understanding, interaction and engagement between the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches forward.
We would, of course, welcome further suggestions on additional themes, topics and relevant questions.
The proceedings of the conference (that, of course, meet the required
editorial and scholarly requirements) will be published with Palgrave
Macmillan in the “Pathways for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue”
series (which has published 16 important volumes since its inception in
2015 – including recent volumes exploring Pope Francis and Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican II’s Impact on Ecumenism and the Church’s engagement with the wider world, and Vatican II and Catholicism Engaging other Faiths and the Ecumenical Legacy of the Cappadocian Fathers).
Please submit your paper here: https://oec.dialogue.group/stuttgart2019-paper-submission/
Submission deadline: 31.03.2019
Speakers
We will list only plenary speakers on this page (alphabetical order). The other speakers will be listed on the program page in April 2019.- Radu Bordeianu, Associate Professor of Theology, Duquesne University
- Mark Chapman, Vice-Principal and Academic Dean, Ripon College, Cuddesdon, Professor of the History of Modern Theology, University of Oxford, Canon Theologian of Truro
- Hacik Rafi Gazer, Professor for History and Theology of the Christian East at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
- Pantelis Kalaitzidis, Director, Volos Academy for Theological Studies
- Thomas Kremer, Endowed Chair for Theology of the Christian East, KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
- Vladimir Latinovic, Lecturer in Patristics at the Catholic Theological Faculty of University of Tübingen, Head of the Project “Schatz des Orients” at the Akademie DRS.
- Gerard Mannion, Amaturo Professor in Catholic Studies, Department of Theology, Georgetown University, Senior Research Fellow, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs
- Peter De Mey, Professor of Roman-Catholic ecclesiology and ecumenism at the Research Unit Systematic Theology and the Study of Religions, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven
- PD Dr.Dr. Thomas Mark Németh, Universität Würzburg, Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät
- Oleh Turiy, Vice Rector for Vice Rector for External Affairs, Associate Professor of Church History, Chair of Church History Department, Ukrainian Catholic University
