On a daily basis people risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean sea; people walk long distances to cross into Europe because they do not have any other choice; also in parts of Europe, for example, houses have been set alight, so that refugees do not find a home; and there is a rising anxiety in some parts of Europe that democracy is being eroded by intimidation towards strangers seeking refuge and security.

The Primates and Presiding Bishops were unanimous in reiterating that we should not stand back and remain silent, but must both speak and act, remembering the words of Jesus; " For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matt. 25:35). They were also unanimous in their concern and prayers for Christians and other minority groups threatened by extinction in the Middle East.

A number of Primates and Presiding Bishops spoke of practical initiatives already underway in churches and communities in consultation with governments. Primates acknowledge the complexity and difficulty of the crisis unfolding also in Europe. They recognise that many countries have made and are making enormous efforts in hospitality, aid and finance. Accepting the pressure on political leaders they called for prayer and support for them and for those who resist the destructive calls of extremist groups that reject all support for the migrant stranger and those seeking refuge.

Churches continue to have a critical role:

They are called to understand and evaluate what is happening and to provide spiritual and pastoral leadership. For example, when those who are already vulnerable are on the frontline of receiving those who are even more vulnerable than themselves, the churches must act to encourage and support such communities to meet the challenge facing them.

Churches are called to witness to the distinctive Christian values of mercy, forgiveness, justice, reconciliation and human dignity. This testifies to the essential dignity of the human person and recognises that refugees arrive in an alien place traumatised with their experiences. One example of this witness is showing solidarity with those whose genuine needs and aspirations are diminished and who are stigmatised as enemies.

They are called to promote a vision of relationships and reconciliation beyond the immediate conflicts and challenges. This is needed because the world should not become locked into a situation where powerful nation states compete for assertion and dominance, leading to hopelessness and despair. In Jesus barriers are overcome, giving opportunity for the mature and compassionate recognition of difference. Power and dignity to the victims who seek protection, comfort and support as well as to the perpetrators who dare to change their action and dare to ask for forgiveness and reconciliation.

The Primates also discussed the report of the Porvoo consultation on Perspectives on Economics and Ethics -- Behaviour Under Scrutiny. They thanked the Porvoo Contact Group for a document containing key biblical and theological insights, important sections on human rights, engaging with the economic system and reflections on, for example, the Jubilee imperative that points us to ethically based economic principles and behaviour, the question of who is our neighbour and our relationships as God's gift to us, so that there is life and the world may believe. Primates recommended that the document be widely circulated as an additional resource to churches to reflect upon and use as appropriate.

The Primates took note of the successful Porvoo Pilgrimage from Porto to Santiago de Compostela and requested the Porvoo Contact Group to explore ways of replicating this pilgrimage model to enable mutual learning and sharing inter-generationally. The value of pilgrimage remains an essential part of the spiritual life of the churches.

The Primates meeting was rooted in the Celtic spirituality of worship and prayer as a way of living with God, creation and our neighbours. It was hosted by the Scottish Episcopal Church that provided the meeting with insight into the aspects of national identity, the issues around Scottish independence and Scotland's relationship to the European Union. The Primates expressed their gratitude for their warmth and hospitality.

The presence of Primates from all Churches of the Porvoo Communion was indeed a sign of the gift of unity given in Christ being joyfully received. Primates were keen to encourage the Porvoo Contact Group to carry the Porvoo vision of being together in mission and ministry into the 20 year Porvoo anniversary meetings in 2016.

The Porvoo Communion of Churches is the result of the single most important ecumenical agreement that brought together a wide range of Anglican and Lutheran Churches who have been sharing a common life in mission and service for the past 19 years. The Presiding Bishops of the churches of the Porvoo Communion meet every other year to discuss matters of mutual concern, receive reports of activity within the Communion and to guide the future shared work of the churches. The Churches of the Porvoo Communion, based mostly in Northern Europe, are Lutheran and Anglican Churches that have signed an agreement to "share a common life in mission and service". The name Porvoo comes from the Finnish diocese and city in whose Cathedral the Eucharist was celebrated on the final Sunday of the conversations in 1992 leading to the Common Statement and thus to the Porvoo Communion of Churches.

The Bishops closed the meeting with a commitment to meet again in two years in Lithuania, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania from 12-14 October 2017.

List of participating Primates and Presiding Bishops:

Rt Revd Peter Skov-Jakobsen, Bishop of Copenhagen, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark;

Most Rev'd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Church of England;

Most Revd Urmas Viilma, Archbishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia;

Most Revd Kari Mäkinen, Archbishop of Turku, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland;

Rt Revd Martin Lind, Bishop, Lutheran Church in Great Britain;

Rt Revd Agnes M Sigurðardóttir, Bishop of Iceland, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland;

Most Revd Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Church of Ireland;

Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland, Archbishop of Dublin;

Most Revd Jānis Vanags, Archbishop of Riga, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia;

Most Revd Lauma Zusevics, Archbishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia Abroad;

Rt Revd Mindaugas Sabutis, Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania;

Most Revd Helga Haugland Byfuglien, Presiding Bishop, Church of Norway;

Rt Revd Jorge Pina Cabral, Bishop, Lusitanian Church, Portugal;

Most Revd David Chillingworth, Primus, Scottish Episcopal Church;

The Rt Revd Carlos Lopez-Lozano, Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain;

The Rt Revd Ragnar Persenius, Bishop of Uppsala, Representing the Archbishop of Church of Sweden; and

Most Revd Barry Morgan, Archbishop, Church in Wales; who could not attend.

The website of the Porvoo Communion of Churches is at porvoocommunion.org.

*****

Primates call for prayers for political leaders under pressure on refugee crisis
Primates and Presiding Bishops of the Porvoo Communion of Churches met in Edinburgh

ACNS
October 22, 2015

The primates and presiding bishops of the Porvoo Communion of Churches have called for prayers for political leaders as they recognise the "pressure" they face in trying to reach a solution to the refugee crisis. The church leaders made the call in a communique issued after their biennial meeting this week in Edinburgh as guests of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The Porvoo Communion brings together Anglican and Lutheran churches from northern Europe to "share a common life in mission and service."

The primates and presiding bishops met under the theme of Prayer, Spirituality and Pilgrimage, and discussed issues ranging from national identity to the refugee crisis.

On refugees, the primates said in their communique, that "On a daily basis people risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea; people walk long distances to cross into Europe because they do not have any other choice; also in parts of Europe, for example, houses have been set alight, so that refugees do not find a home; and there is a rising anxiety in some parts of Europe that democracy is being eroded by intimidation towards strangers seeking refuge and security. . .

"We should not stand back and remain silent, but must both speak and act, remembering the words of Jesus; 'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me' (Matt. 25:35)."

The leaders also expressed their unanimous concern and prayers for Christians and other minority groups threatened by extinction in the Middle East.

The primates and presiding bishops recognised the pressure faced by political leaders as they sought to find a solution to the crisis; and they called for prayers for political leaders "and for those who resist the destructive calls of extremist groups that reject all support for the migrant stranger and those seeking refuge."

"The Scottish Episcopal Church is honoured to host the meeting of the primates of the churches of the Porvoo Communion," the Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane, the Most Revd David Chillingworth, Primus of Scotland, said. "We have been enthusiastic members of the Porvoo Communion from the beginning of its life and we look forward to a strengthening of relationships during our meeting this week."

The Porvoo Primates and Presiding Bishops will next meet when they gather as guests of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania in October 2017.

END