Common Christological Declaration

Common Christological Declaration
Name	Common Christological Declaration
Type	Theological statement
Date	20th century
Authors	Ecumenical theologians and church leaders
Location	Ecumenical councils and commissions
Language	Greek, Latin, English

Common Christological Declaration

The Common Christological Declaration is an ecumenical statement articulating shared affirmations about Jesus Christ, drafted to bridge doctrinal differences among Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Anglican Communion, Lutheran World Federation, and World Council of Churches constituencies. It emerged from dialogues involving participants from institutions such as the Vatican II, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Commission on Faith and Order, the International Theological Commission, and national churches like the Church of England and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Declaration influenced conversations among theologians associated with Karl Rahner, Hans Küng, Edward Schillebeeckx, John Meyendorff, and Alexander Schmemann, and was circulated during meetings in venues like Aachen, Geneva, and Rome.

Introduction and Origins

The Declaration originated from bilateral and multilateral dialogues initiated after World War II and accelerated by the ecumenical impetus of Second Vatican Council and the formation of the World Council of Churches; commissions included representatives from the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Protestant Churches, and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Early drafts were influenced by patristic scholarship referencing figures such as Athanasius of Alexandria, Augustine of Hippo, Cyril of Alexandria, and Athanasius, while modern contributors invoked the work of Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin. Key negotiation sessions took place under the auspices of institutions like the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, and academic centers such as The Ecumenical Institute of Bossey and Princeton Theological Seminary.

Text and Formulation

The text of the Declaration synthesizes creedal language from the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed, and the formulas of the Council of Chalcedon while avoiding polemical terminology found in controversies like the Nestorian Schism and the Monophysite controversy. Drafting committees referenced primary sources including the Acts of the Council of Nicaea, the writings of Gregory of Nyssa, the homilies of John Chrysostom, and modern confessions such as the Augsburg Confession and the Thirty-Nine Articles. The final formulation balances Christological assertions about Incarnation, Hypostatic union, two natures, and soteriological claims made by Anselm of Canterbury and Gregory Palamas, while also engaging the methodological approaches of Liberation theology, Feminist theology, and Process theology in footnoted commentary circulated in companion documents.

Theological Significance and Interpretations

The Declaration delineates consensus on the divinity and humanity of the Jesus, invoking patristic exegesis from Origen, Irenaeus, and Tertullian and medieval synthesis by Bonaventure and Duns Scotus, which informed reinterpretations in modern theology by figures like Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Paul Tillich. It served as a reference point for theological debates within the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran World Federation and contributed to doctrinal clarifications in dialogues between the Roman Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The Declaration's language has been variously interpreted by scholars affiliated with University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Yale Divinity School, and Notre Dame University; some emphasize continuity with the Chalcedonian Definition while others stress pastoral convergence inspired by Ecumenism and pastoral documents from the World Council of Churches.

Historical Adoption and Ecumenical Use

Adoption of the Declaration occurred through synods, councils, and bilateral agreements such as accords between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, statements from the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, and joint declarations involving the Orthodox Church in America and the Coptic Orthodox Church. It was received in ecumenical settings including the Lambeth Conference, Pan-Orthodox Council preparatory meetings, and plenary sessions of the World Council of Churches. National churches like the Church of Sweden, the Evangelical Church in Germany, and the Episcopal Church (United States) issued teaching notes referencing the Declaration, while theological faculties at Harvard Divinity School and Union Theological Seminary used it in curricula.

Reception and Controversies

Reception ranged from enthusiastic endorsement by ecumenists such as Nicholas Lash and Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) to critique from conservative journals like First Things and traditionalist sectors within the Society of St. Pius X and segments of the Russian Orthodox Church. Controversies centered on perceived ambiguity about Theotokos formulations, the status of Patristic exegesis, and implications for sacramental theology debated in venues like the Synod of Bishops, national synods, and scholarly journals published by Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. Legal and canonical questions prompted responses from bodies such as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and provincial canons in the Anglican Communion.

Influence on Liturgy and Devotion

Elements of the Declaration influenced liturgical revisions in rites associated with the Roman Rite, Byzantine Rite, Coptic Rite, and the Anglican Use through collected anthems, eucharistic prayers, and homiletic guidance appearing in service books from Catholic Bishops' Conferences and commissions of the Anglican Communion. Devotional practices among congregations connected to Taizé Community, Iona Community, and monastic houses such as Mount Athos incorporated language reflecting the Declaration's Christology in sermons, hymnody by composers like John Bell (hymn writer), and catechetical materials produced by universities such as Boston College and Georgetown University. Its impact is evident in statements issued by ecumenical organizations including the Conference of European Churches and continuing dialogues mediated by the National Council of Churches (USA).

Category:Christian ecumenical documents