Friday, November 13, 2009

Russia to End 50-year Lutheran Dialogue

The Russian Orthodox Church will soon sever its 50-year dialogue with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany (EKD), because a woman bishop was elected to chair the EKD's council. The Orthodox Church does not accept female clergy.

The woman bishop, Margot Kaessmann, was elected the leader of the EKD at a Synod meeting held on October 28, 2009, according to Russia's daily online newspaper, Kommersant. The EKD unites more than 20 Lutheran and Reformed Churches.

Russian Lutherans supported the Moscow Patriarchate's decision to sever relations with the EKD, and agreed that female episcopate is a sign of crisis in Western society.

Because it is considered a violation of Christian Doctrine, both the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches do not allow females to be clergy; however, some Protestant denominations do allow women to be clergy.

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