18/10/2026
LWF leaders meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt met with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul on Friday expressing gratitude for the growing consensus between Lutherans and Orthodox at both theological and grassroots parish levels. The Ecumenical Patriarch is the spiritual head of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
LWF Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations, Prof. Dr Dirk Lange and the co-chair of the Lutheran Orthodox International Commission on Theological Dialogue, Bishop Johann Schneider, were also present at the encounter, together with Metropolitan Kyrillos of Krini, Orthodox co-chair of the Commission, and Deacon Œcumenius Amanatidis, Orthodox co-secretary of the Commission.
“We are particularly grateful,” Burghardt said, “for the Lutheran Orthodox dialogue that has been ongoing now for 45 years. It has produced many important statements which highlight the growing consensus between us on a wide range of theological questions from Scripture and tradition, to Salvation: Grace, Justification, and Synergy, the mystery of the Church, Sacramental life and many more.”
Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his gratitude for the dialogue and stressed how important it is to continue working on reception. Burghardt pointed to the two recent joint statements on the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church and the World, and on the 'Filioque', a question which had divided the east and western churches for centuries. The latter, Burghardt said, “has had a profound effect on ecumenical discussions, not only within Lutheran churches but across the denominations.”
Discussions also focused on the Ecumenical Patriarch’s commitment to the issues of climate change and care of creation, noting that 1 September has recently been added to the Revised Common Lectionary as the Day of Creation in Christ. Burghardt said Lutherans continue to condemn the war in Ukraine and the destruction of so many Orthodox churches. Our churches, she said, “are continually called to be voices and places of reconciliation, compassion, truth and hope.” The meeting concluded with sharing of gifts and prayers for strength on “our common way to visible unity.”
