On Monday, May 13, 2024, the sixth online event of the series “Time for Action” took place. It was the round table on the theme “Synodality and Ecumenical Dialogue in the 21st century”. Speakers were Prof. Dr. Christophe Chalamet (Associate Professor of Theology, University of Geneva, Switzerland) and Rev. Dr. Demetrios Bathrellos (Visiting Professor of Dogmatic Theology, Holy Cross Orthodox School, Boston, MA; Visiting Professor, Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK, Volos Academy BoD member). The discussion was moderated by Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Moschos (Professor of Church History, Faculty of Theology, University of Athens, Volos Academy BoD member).
Speaking first, Dr. Christophe Chalamet highlighted the fact that all Churches include some forms of synodality, and that synodality is not an easy task, as the Churches include within them very different trends, some of them conservative, some favouring renewal, etc. He underlined the fact that most religious communities are not aware of the global dimension of Christianity and the diversity that this global dimension implies, while a eurocentrism is obvious in a certain level; plus the fact that often people end up believing in the Church instead of believing in God. He emphasized that all the Christian denominations have a lot to learn from each other and that they should all try to work together, in a spirit of truly “going together”, in order to achieve unity.
Taking the ground, Rev. Dr. Dimitrios Bathrellos analyzed the characteristics of synodality and its origin in the Apostolic canons, stressing that synodality must be applied at local, regional and global level as well. He provided clarifications on the relationship between the Synod and the “First”, and the need for consensus in all important decisions. He referred to the problems experienced in both the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church and the need for a balance between primacy and synodality, concluding with the question of whether it is possible today to have some kind of universal synodality, at least in certain levels of church life.
In the discussion that followed, questions were raised about the historical understanding of synodality and the way in which synodality and ecumenical dialogue are taught, often just as a sterile repetition of medieval concepts that are totally obsolete today, while it was made clear that regarding synodality, there are issues that remain thorny and painful for all the Christian confessions.
The video recording of the event is available on the YouTube channel of Volos Academy, in English
and in Greek.
The next event of the “Time for Action” series will be the round table “Religion in the Public Sphere: Between Fundamentalism, Populism and Democracy”. The speakers will be Dr. Effie Fokas (Principal Researcher at the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy ELIAMEP) and Prof. Dr. Ηaralambos Ventis (Assistant Professor Faculty of Theology, University of Athens), on Monday, May 27.
