22 Janvier | Walking Together. Common Decision Making in Our Churches

Chapel for Europe invites you on the 22th january for a conference within the framework of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. 

How is the Church best to be governed?

This has been a question from the very beginning:
the entire congregation of Jerusalem deliberated whether former gentiles should be obliged to observe the Mosaic Law. “Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided”, states Acts 15,22. In a letter to the other congregations the result of the deliberations is consequently introduced: “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us …” (Acts 15,28).

The momentum of the Second Vatican Council once more made many lay people aware of their responsibilities and the possibility of participation in the life of the Church. In March 2018 the International Theological Commission of the Holy See published a text on synodality (community involvement in decision-making) in the life and mission of the Church. Pope Francis often uses the image of the path and invites us to move forward together, both within the Church and in society.

The added value of this conference at the Chapel for Europe, organized within the framework of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, is the participation of representatives of the Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican Churches.

What are the foundations of synodality?
What are its advantages and pitfalls? What are the best practices?
What can the different Churches learn from each other?
Finally, what are the paths of conversion for a renewed synodality?

Languages: English and French, with simultaneous interpretation.

Keynote speech:
Mgr Guy Harpigny, Bishop of Tournai (Catholic Church)

Panel speakers:
Rev Laurence Flachon, Pastor Eglise du Musee Bruxelles (Protestant Church)
Rev Paul Vrolijk, Senior Chaplain Pro-Cathedral Holy Trinity Brussels (Anglican Church)
Rev Sorin Selaru, Director of the Representation of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the EU

Moderation:
Prof. Dr Annemarie C. Mayer, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven.

After the conference: simple reception

Version française