Notes from meeting in Moscow, 15th of January 2001

Rt Rev Biörn Fjärstedt, Church of Sweden
Dr Hilarion Alfeyev - Russian Orthodox Church
Mrs Elena Speranskaya - Russian Orthodox Church
Mr Andrei Elisseev - Russian Orthodox Church
Rt Rev Ilkka Kantola - Church of Finland
Rev Kestutis Rugevicius - Roman Catholic Church in Lithuania
Father Varsanofiusz Doroszkiewicz - Orthodox Church in Poland
Rev Ragnar Svenserud, secretary - Church of Sweden

Basic facts

1. Dates for the conference

Shorten the conference to end on Sunday evening. Everyone is, however, expected to stay till the end with the possibility to catch the first plane on Monday morning. The closing dinner will be an important part to round up the fellowship of the conference. This should be specially stressed in the invitation.

2. Invitations

Same churches as were invited to Theobalt IV should be invited this time, plus the orthodox churches in Finland, Lithuania and Poland.

3. Delegations

OK with three persons in the delegation including one junior delegate. Nothing was said about the age of a junior delegate.

4. Reflections related to the theme

Important to give a common value base for all people that are going to move around within the union.
Christian faith is not necessarily a fellowship, but there is a fellowship around Christ
The word 'fellowship' is too strong to be used for a network - can give the impression of a united structure.

5. Sub-headings

· First sub-heading is OK
· The second is changed into: 'Christ in our Christian traditions'- the approach should be on the basis of the three Church traditions

6. Lecturer

Short presentation of David Kirby
Metropolitan Kyrill will not be able to come to the conference. (Instead he may come 29th - 31st of May 2001). The metropolitan Chrysostom from Vilnius is suggested for the second sub-heading. A letter signed also by the Swedish archbishop should be sent asking him with a copy to the Hilarion.
The moderator in each workshop - selected from the different Church traditions - acts as opening speakers in his/her group. Five minutes introduction about the subject according to information in advance.
Close co-operation - if possible prepared in advance - between the moderators and secretaries for the sake of documentation. Secretaries must be available and of high class for documenting also the plenary meetings

7. Memo from the delegations

The idea is OK. However, the memo should not be only a personal opinion. A delegation - appointed by its church - has the authority to make a statement on its own. This is what should be asked for. Preferably, it should be a joint statement from the participants in the delegation.

8. Next steps

The priority is to follow up and realise what already has been decided about the future of Theobalt:
General conferences with three years intervals
Introduce the website (Note the need for enough people being responsible)
Develop the work among young people
Exchange programme - coming down to parish/individual level
Study programme

With specific reference to the coming conference:
Send the documentation to key persons (national MP:s, Union MP:s)
Defining basic values - discussion in the conference to be continued in the steering committee and with the contact persons. (Reflection on the way: Do we really want a common value base or are we satisfied with present diversity among the church traditions?)
Handing over the Memos from the participants to the EU-meeting via the Swedish government.
Programme

9. Basic facts

"For each sub-heading there should in principle be a lecture, a workshop and a plenary meeting".

The workshops should be introduced not by different opening speakers but by the moderator selected from the different Church traditions.

10. Services

Symbolic act - Alt I: Something coming from the sea on a boat met by the conference people at the seaside and carried in procession to the Cathedral. Colud be something symbolizing the Church traditions: an icon, a bible and a cross. Children could receive it from the boat stressing the importance to give Christian faith further to younger generations. - Alt II: Plant a cross somewhere in Visby, for example at a suitable spot by the seaside.

Orthodox service - A high ranked orthodox participant should be asked to prepare for the service and also bring necessary details. The reservation of the Methodist Church should be kept.

Practical aspects

11. Languages

German could probably be dropped for the translation. Some hesitation though!!

12. Workshops

Maximum 12 - 15 persons in each group. Arrange "language groups" as far as possible. As on the application form for 1st and 2nd language plus a third alternative (It was not clarified how the third alternative could be used)

13. Invitation and registration

Invitations will be sent in the end of January signed by KG Hammar, Biörn Fjärstedt and Jonas Jonsson. It goes to the head of each church with a copy to the contact persons. Registration should be requested to the 1st of April.

14. Accommodation

Ask on the application form for the possibility of sharing rooms