A recent Information Service publication of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) includes news that the PCPCU has sent a letter to the Mennonite World Council “proposing a round of conversations.” The council suggests that this new round of dialogue begin in late 2010 or early 2011, and that discussions center on “the theology and practice of baptism in our communities”.
The news is part of an article reporting on last year’s Mennonite World Conference assembly in Paraguay:
FIFTEENTH GLOBAL ASSEMBLY OF THE MENNONITE WORLD CONFERENCE
Asuncion, Paraguay, 14-19 July 2009
The Mennonite World Conference (MWC) defines itself as a communion of Anabaptist-related churches linked to one another in a worldwide community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness. The new president of the MWC is Danisa Ndlovu of Zimbabwe.
There are approximately 1.6 million members of MWC churches worldwide. The assembly had more than 6,200 participants, of which about half of those in attendance were Paraguayan Mennonites. Paraguay has the largest Mennonite population of South American countries, as a result of an immigration from the Soviet Union of ethnic German Mennonites 80 years ago. Paraguayan Mennonites still mostly speak German and live in their own communities. Paraguay is home to approximately 31,000 Mennonites, and they are well regarded in Paraguay. The immediate past President of Paraguay is a Mennonite.
In addition to the Catholic observer, there were several ecumenical observers present for the assembly, including representatives from the World Council of Churches, World Evangelical Alliance, Seventh Day Adventists, Lutheran World Federation, World Baptist Alliance and African Instituted Churches. All the observers were warmly received by the MWC staff and participants.
The ecumenical highlight of the assembly was an address by the Lutheran World Federation general secretary, Dr. Ishmael Noko, in which he announced the result of a study by the LWF which will go before their next general council meeting. This study recommends that Lutherans apologize for the persecutions of Anabaptists in the 16th century. This was warmly received by the MWC assembly.
Greetings from Cardinal Walter Kasper on behalf of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) were offered to the gathering at an evening plenary session of the assembly. Each of the ecumenical observers also extended their communities greetings.
The Catholic observer participated in a meeting of the MWC General Council, the MWC governing body of about 150 members, a reception for Christian World Communion and Paraguay national church observers, the opening celebration of the global assembly, and in two workshops:
1. “Meet the Global Church” Getting Acquainted with the Churches of the World. Brief presentations by Larry Miller (MWC General Secretary) and leaders of other global Christian churches and organizations.
2. “Catholics and Anabaptist-Mennonites in Con-versation” Catholics and Anabaptists in Dialogue in Colombia. Leader: Cesar Garcia (Mennonite Brethren Church Colombia), Catholics and Mennonites in Dialogue in Germany. Leader: Fernando Enns (German Mennonite Church and University of Hamburg).
Each of these workshops was well attended, with full rooms of 50-75 for each session, two sessions for each workshop.
In addition to participating in the workshops and plenary sessions of the assembly, the Catholic side held meetings with Larry Miller (MWC General Secretary), to discuss the possibility of initiating another round of conversations between the MWC and the PCPCU.
The PCPCU will send a letter proposing a round of conversations with specific suggestions as to a topic and timetable to begin, tentatively in late 2010 or early 2011, with discussions centered on Baptism ‘the theology and practice of baptism in our communities’.
— PCPCU Information Service no. 132 (2009/III-IV)