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Cyprus Orthodox Church Hosts World Communions' General Secretaries

NICOSIA, Cyprus — The Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions (CS/CWCs), meeting here this year, learned about the history and biblical roots of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. The annual gathering was held October 20-26.

Representatives of 18 world Christian faith groups, including Mennonite World Conference, evangelical and reform Protestant churches, Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox and interchurch bodies, attended. Larry Miller, executive secretary of MWC who was elected last year as the conference chairperson for 2003 and 2004, moderated the meeting.

Each day began with prayers. Like every year, much of the meeting was devoted to oral or written reports from each communion.

Presentations also included: a religious profile of Cyprus by Deacon Chrysostomos Kykkotis of the Kykkos Monastery; a report on the involvement in Cyprus of the World Council of Churches by its executive secretary for the Middle East, Salpy Eskidjian; a paper on ecclesiological issues by David Thompson (Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council and World Convention of Churches of Christ); and a discussion prepared by Richard van Houten (Reformed Ecumenical Council) on how the conference can be a more effective voice in the search for Christian unity while maintaining its primary values and unique character.

Leonidas Pantelidis, ambassador from Cyprus to Greece and a guest at the gathering, shared the history of Cyprus, and Tassos Papadopoulos, president of Cyprus, gave a reception. Other events included visits to Larnaca and Paphos and a dinner honouring Bert B. Beach (General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Church), who last year concluded 32 years as secretary of the conference.

Bishop Nikiforos, Abbot of the Monastery of Kykkos, the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, hosted the event. Organizers were Kykkotis and John Graz (Seventh-Day Adventist), newly elected secretary for the group.

The information sharing that has been a distinguishing mark of the CS/CWCs over the years has brought about a high level of mutual understanding and confidence.

The conference will continue rethinking inter-church relations in our time, promoting dialogues and their reception, and deepening and expanding relationships.