"AN ACCOUNT OF THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU": CHRISTIAN WITNESS AND COMMON MINISTRY IN A WORLD OF UNCERTAINTY

The 2nd Meeting of Orthodox and Evangelicals took place between September 10 and 12, 2026, in Agios Lavrentios, Pelion, under the general theme: "'An account of the hope that is in you' (1 Peter 3:15): Christian witness and common ministry in a world of uncertainty." The meeting continued of the initiative for dialogue between Orthodox and Evangelicals, launched two years ago. While the first meeting focused primarily on overcoming historical prejudices and mutual suspicion, this year’s event took the next step: exploring how the building of trust can be transformed into common Christian witness and concrete ministry, without dumping theological differences or diminishing the distinct ecclesial identity of each tradition. The Conference opened with welcoming addresses from Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis, Director of Volos Academy for Theological Studies, and Dr. Myrto Theocharous of the Greek Bible College.

The discussions focused on key challenges regarding the position of Christian communities in the modern world. Addressing the themes of mission and respect for the ecclesial identity of the "other," speakers such as Athanasios N. Papathanasiou (Editor-in-Chief of the journal “Synaxi”) and Kyle McCracken (Professor at the Greek Bible College) raised the issue of distinguishing between Christian witness and proselytism. A second thematic area, featuring speakers Giorgos Kalantzis (Greek Bible College) and Paraskevi Arapoglou (PhD candidate in New Testament Studies), focused on the future of theological studies and the need for a theology that combines academic rigor, ecclesiastical responsibility, and a meaningful presence in the public sphere. A significant part of the gathering was dedicated to the relationship between young people, faith, and the Church, with particular emphasis on doubt, loneliness, emotional vulnerability, and the need for a sense of belonging. Anastasia Zaimi (from the First Greek Evangelical Church of Athens) and Fr. Ioustinos Kefalouros (theologian, specializing in Ecumenical Theology and Mental Health) approached from different perspectives the need for church communities capable of listening, accompanying, and creating genuine spaces for relationship and trust, especially for young people. The transition from theological dialogue to shared ministry was also examined. Poverty and social exclusion, migration, family issues, the care of vulnerable groups, and ecological responsibility were identified as areas where cooperation between Christian communities can take an immediate and tangible form (with presentations by Fr. Klimis Pyrounakis, Coordinator of the Support Network for Incarcerated and Released Women, and Vasilis Meletiadis, historian and tour guide). A significant part of the proceedings was also dedicated to evaluating the experience of the past two years in Volos, featuring contributions from His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias and Almyros and the Reverend Pastor Meletis Meletiadis of the Evangelical Community of Volos, with a focus on whether the bonds of trust forged during the initial meeting could lead to more stable forms of communication and cooperation. 

The final session focused on Christian faith in the public sphere, specifically addressing the challenges of war, militarism, racism, and nationalism (with speakers Paris Papageorgiou, a Presbyter of the Evangelical Church of Katerini, and Nikos Kouremenos, on behalf of  Volos Academy for Theological Studies). The discussion raised the issue of the Churches' prophetic role, as well as the danger of the instrumentalisation of the religious language in support of national or political narratives. The conversation highlighted the need for a public Christian witness that combines peace with truth and justice, and that balances social critique with self-criticism within the church communities themselves.

A distinctive feature of the event was the significant time dedicated to discussion and the exchange of views, allowing both genuine differences and opportunities for joint action to come to light.

The Second Meeting of Orthodox and Evangelicals reaffirmed that a meaningful ecumenical dialogue does not require seeking a vague "lowest common denominator," but rather relies on relationships of trust, mature enough to allow for honest disagreement, mutual self-criticism, and concrete cooperation. In a world characterized by war, polarisation, and social insecurity, a shared Christian witness gains credibility when it is linked to freedom, human dignity, peace, and ministry to others.

The meeting was organised with the generous sponsorship of Agape Hellas (Agape.gr). Warm thanks are expressed to its Director, Manolis Toufexis.

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