Patriarch Bartholomew Outlines the Pan-Orthodox Council at Scholars' Meeting

During a meeting with 30 scholars at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople from 4-5 January,reflections and responses were solicited from the heads of Orthodox seminaries and institutions;professors in non-Orthodox institutions;theologians serving in mission,religious education and publishing;and scholar-practitioners in the natural and social sciences,human rights and social justice,in order to become better acquainted with their interests and aspirations for the Church,especially in the light of the Holy and Great Council,and strengthen the bonds between the hierarchal ministry and lay diakonia.
Indeed,on the afternoon of 5 January,there was an open discussion on the preparations for the Holy and Great Council.His Eminence Senior Metropolitan John of Pergamon chaired two extensive sessions and addressed the participants,engaging in wide-ranging discussions with them about the goals,challenges and opportunities of the Council.
Among those participating were His Eminence Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima;Father John Behr of St.Vladimir's Seminary,USA;Will Cohen,Scranton University,USA;Konstantinos Delikostantis,Athens University,Greece;Tamara Grdzelidze,Vatican City,Italy;Nathan Hoppe,Resurrection Seminary,Albania;Philip Kariatlis,St.Andrew's Theological College,Australia;Dionysios Skleris,Sorbonne University,France;and Gayle Woloschak,Northwestern University,USA.*
We will convene the Holy and Great Council this year on the Feast of Pentecost (June 19),bringing together all of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches in order to meet in the same place (in the Church of Haghia Irene,where the Second Ecumenical Council was held in 381) and to deliberate with one mind on issues that the Church has confronted in more recent times,His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said in his address to the scholars on 5 January.We will address internal issues on the unity and administration of the Church,but also matters such as relations with other churches and other faiths,in order to present a unified voice and credible witness for the life of the world.In this regard,we invite the support of pious Orthodox scholars,who are concerned about the unity of our Church and its role in the public square,where there are so many competing opinions and where the word of Orthodoxy can contribute positively and constructively through dialogue.Our faith should not be regarded as stagnant or even obsolete.It must not be conveyed as verbose or perhaps artificial.And it cannot be dismissed as merely cerebral or uninspired.Our word must express the hope and joy,the light and life of the risen Lord.It must be renewed and renewing,reviving and refreshing.That is how the Holy and Great Council must speak to the whole world.That is how we are all called to minister,even after the Great Council takes place,Patriarch Bartholomew told the scholars gathered at the Phanar in Istanbul,Turkey just a short while ago.