Rome (NEV), September 6, 2017 – “North and South coexist in cities, in ecclesiastical assemblies and ecumenical bodies. It is an epoch-making change that stresses the need of a complex and urgent intercultural re-balancing”, said pastor Eugenio Bernardini, reelected moderator of the Waldensian Board for the sixth consecutive year by the Waldensian and Methodist Synod, assembled in Torre Pellice (Turin) from August 20th to 25th last.
In the speech that closed the proceedings of the Synodal Assembly, the moderator reaffirmed: “We can no longer conceive ourselves outside an ecumenical, international and intercultural context. Protestants ‘invented’ ecumenism at the end of the Nineteenth century; today we are aware that we cannot live and witness the Christian faith without taking into account that we are not its only repository. This would enable us to value the gifts of God present in other churches, to promote new collaborations, fraternity and also constructive and reciprocal correction”.
In particular, Bernardini mentioned Pope Francis “who took upon himself the challenge of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, setting aside the thesis of the schism and of the division, to examine the perspectives of the common path, together with the churches of the Reformation”.
In its final day, the Synod elected, like every year, its own executive and administrative bodies. In addition to the moderator, were elected members of the Waldensian Board (executive organ of the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches) Luca Anziani (vice-moderator), Jens Hansen, Italo Pons, Laura Turchi, Greetje van der Veer and Manuela Vinay.
The Synod confirmed pastor Mirella Manocchio as president of the Methodist Churches’ Work Organization in Italy (OPCEMI) and professor Fulvio Ferrario as Dean of the Waldensian Faculty of Theology. The Synod ended with the usual Communion service at the Temple of Torre Pellice.
, September 11, 2017 - "North and South coexist in cities, in ecclesiastical assemblies and ecumenical bodies. It is an epoch-making){kind=link}