Home --> About Us --> Centennial Celebration
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10. Protestant - Orthodox relations |
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The most recent milestone in the Council’s history was the acceptance of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Boston into membership in January, 2002. This formally ended 100 years of pan-Protestantism in the Council, but relationships with Orthodox churches are not new. |
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It has been a long time since the Massachusetts Council described itself as seeking Protestant Unity. |
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In 1963, at the height of the cold war, the churches in Massachusetts received a delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church. | ||||||||
In 1969 the installation of the new Massachusetts Council General Secretary was co-officiated by Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox church leaders. |
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When the Orthodox community held a significant commemorative worship that same year, Protestants and Roman Catholics were involved in a way that was described as “tradition-shattering”. |
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Our tradition today is quite different. Since the 1970s, the Greek Orthodox Diocese has appointed a member of the Council’s Board of Directors. Any significant event in the life of the churches – whether Protestant, Orthodox or Roman Catholic – is shared in solidarity by the others. We have become members one of another, such that the formal membership of the Greek Orthodox Diocese in the Council marks a reality which we already know and enjoy. |
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If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. This is the way of the ecumenical movement, for this is the way of the church. | ||||||||
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