Geneva — The Lutheran World Federation LWF has reaffirmed its commitment to ecumenical dialogue, the general secretary Dr Ishmael Noko said here, adding that ecumenism is not optional but essential to the Church,

Noko was responding to the Vatican document, Dominus Iesus - On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church, published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on September 5, and a "Note" on the expression of "Sister Churches" issued on June 30.

In a statement issued on September 8, the LWF official recalled that the signing by the Vatican and the LWF of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification on October 31 last year was an important milestone in the history of Christian unity.

He further pointed out that the word "church" in the Joint Declaration, is used to reflect the self-understanding of the particular churches, without intending to resolve all the eccelesiological issues related to them.

The LWF general secretary expressed disappointment that 35 years of ecumenical dialogue between Roman Catholics and Lutherans seem not to have been considered in the formulation of the letter and documents issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

He added that the impact of the recent statements from the Vatican was more painful because they reflected a different spirit "than that which we encounter in many Lutheran-Roman Catholic relationships".

Lutheran churches, together with other churches of the Reformation are not ready to accept the categories now emphasised by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith nor the definitions and criteria underlying them, Noko stated.

Below is the full text of the statement issued by the LWF general secretary on the Vatican document Dominus Iesus:

"The Lutheran World Federation has received news of the document, Dominus Iesus - On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church, published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Roman Catholic Church on September 5, 2000.

"This document pertains primarily to the inter-faith relations of the Roman Catholic Church in the wide framework of the world's religions. The Lutheran World Federation has seen this document and will want to carefully study and fully discuss it with our Roman Catholic partners.

"The Lutheran World Federation has also seen a letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith sent on June 30, 2000 to the presidents of the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conferences around the world.

"This letter and its accompanying document, 'Note' on the Expression 'Sister Churches' says, in effect, that the word 'church' should not be used by the Roman Catholic Church when addressing Protestants.

"The fact that the Roman Catholic Church is only ready to speak of Orthodox churches as 'sister churches' is not new to us. According to this understanding of the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran churches and other churches of the Reformation are not referred to as churches, but - in line with the principles now restated - as 'ecclesial communities'.

"The document, Dominus Iesus, contains the observation that 'ecclesial communities which have not preserved the valid Episcopate and the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery, are not Churches in the proper sense'.

"Lutheran churches, together with other churches of the Reformation, are not ready to accept the categories now emphasised by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith nor the definitions and criteria underlying them.

"We are disappointed that 35 years of ecumenical dialogue between Roman Catholics and Lutherans seem not to have been considered in the formulation of the letter and documents issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

"The impact of these statements is more painful because they reflect a different spirit than that which we encounter in many other Lutheran-Roman Catholic relationships.

"On October 31, 1999, the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church took a significant ecumenical step by signing a Joint Declaration that nullified centuries of conflict between our churches regarding the Doctrine of Justification.

"This was an important milestone in the history of Christian unity. In the Joint Declaration, a clarifying note states that the word 'church' is used in the Declaration 'to reflect the self-understanding of the particular churches, without intending to resolve all the ecclesiological issues related to them'.

"This approach is also helpful in the wider ecumenical relationship between churches. Without it, problems arise, not only on the world level of churches and communions but also on the local level where pastors and believers are developing relationships as genuine ecumenical partners as they seek to faithfully serve God in their communities.

"The Lutheran World Federation remains committed to ecumenical dialogue. We believe that ecumenism is not optional but essential to the Church. Temporary setbacks should neither be allowed to cloud or darken our vision for Christian unity as willed and prayed for by Christ himself".