This Committee was established following the Special Commission of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches in Thessaloniki in 2005 to oversee the relations of the Orthodox Churches with the Protestant and Anglican Communions within the WCC, especially in light of the consensus process adopted for decision-making which insures, to the satisfaction of the Orthodox participants, equality among member churches.
The permanent committee reviewed evaluations received from the Central Committee in Crete (29 August – 5 September) and other feedback related to the lived experience of using consensus process for decision-making, particularly in meetings of the central committee. In the main, the committee observed that the consensus model of decision-making has led to more effective decision-making and to deepening the fellowship of the World Council of Churches. The ethos of consensus has been facilitated greatly by attention to assuring wide diversity of points of view among delegates nominated to committees and small groups, as well as in preparation of reports.
Co-moderated by His Eminence Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and His Grace the Most Rev. Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi of the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi, the meeting was attended by members: Bishop Samuel Robert Azariah (Church of Pakistan), His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy (Coptic Orthodox Church), His Grace Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand (Serbian Orthodox Church), Mrs Anne Glynn-Mackoul (Patriarchate of Antioch), Bishop Dr Martin Hermann Hein (Evangelical Church in Germany), Dr Agedew Redie (Ethiopian Orthodox Church), Rev. Graham Gerald McGeoch (Church of Scotland), His Eminence Metropolitan Prof. Dr Nifon of Targoviste (Romanian Orthodox Church), and Archpriest Mikhail Gundyaev (Russian Orthodox Church). The work of the committee was facilitated by WCC staff Mr Georges Lemopoulos (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Rev. Sabine Udodesku (Evangelical Church in Germany), and Rev. Dr Daniel Buda (Romanian Orthodox Church).
The Permanent Committee appreciated very much the location for its meeting and the generous hospitality of His Eminence Metropolitan Vasilios. Members of the Permanent Committee attended the Sunday Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by Metropolitan Vasilios and Bishop Irinej, assisted by Archpriests Mikhail Gundyaev and Daniel Buda and the local clergy in the St George Cathedral in Paralimni. Together with the host community, the members of the PCCC had the opportunity to participate in a local spiritual and cultural event in the context of a book fair organised under the auspices of His Eminence Metropolitan Vasilios, with the theme, "Orthodoxy and Europe".
During its meeting, the permanent committee was received by His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus and heard more about the continuing occupation of the northern part of the island as well as the current economic difficulties borne by the people of Cyprus.
During a visit to the women's monastery of St Heracletius, disciple of Sts Paul and Barnabas, and first bishop ordained by them on the island of Cyprus, the members of the committee experienced the deep historical roots of Christianity that continues as a living presence through the lives and work of the nuns at the monastery. Received by His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos, members of the committee were agreeably surprised to find in his care a community of Romanian Orthodox Christians which has build a traditional, wooden church in traditional Romanian style from wood transported from Romania.
The work of the Permanent Committee also was enhanced by the warm embrace and generous hospitality of the Church of Cyprus and traditional dinners hosted by local municipalities.
Source: www.soc.org.au
