METROPOLITAN EMMANUEL OF FRANCE IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN CHURCHES

Metropolitan Emmanuel of France (Patriarchate of Constantinople) is the new president of the Conference of European Churches (CEC-KEK), ecumenical body with headquarters in Geneva. KEK coordinates about 120 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches which are present in the European continent. The Metropolitan was elected in the Swiss city yesterday, by the Central Committee of KEK; he holds the office covered by Protestant Pastor Jean Arnold de Clermont until now. Together with the Orthodox Metropolitan, Rev. Cordelia Kopsch from the Protestant Church of Germany, and Anglican Bishop Christopher Hill were elected vice presidents. Metropolitan Emmanuel was born in the Greek island of Crete, in 1958. He studied theology in Paris and in the United States. He was ordained priest in 1995; the Ecumenical Patriarchate appointed him director of the "Orthodox Church's liaison office with the European Union", located in Brussels. In the following year he was elected bishop, and in 2003 he became metropolitan of France's ecclesiastical province. He is president of the Assembly of the Orthodox bishops of France, co-president of the Council of Christian Churches of France, as well as co-president of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP). He was member of the Central Committee of KEK since 2003.
In his speech of acceptance, Metropolitan Emmanuel fixed two priorities: working on KEK reorganization and coordinating the activities of several Commissions and offices. The primary mission of KEK – he added later on – is strengthening “the link between Eastern Europe and Western Europe"; and “improving the involvement of Orthodox Churches, as well as encouraging their constructive presence in the life of KEK is of the utmost importance”. Another priority pointed out by the Metropolitan: “working on the re-integration of the Russian Orthodox Church in the life” of the Conference. The Russian Orthodox Church actually suspended its membership in the month of October 2008, owing to the missed admission of the Estonian Orthodox Church linked with the Patriarchate of Moscow into the KEK. Moreover, the new president insisted on the importance of fostering dialogue with European institutions, taking advantage of the Treaty of Lisbon opportunity. He also pointed out the need to develop inter-religious dialogue, as well as – it is written in a notice – “a better and more organized cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church in Europe”.

© SIR - sept 17th, 2009