In the ecumenical dialogues, the churches in the area that is sacred to them are out of the way by mutual agreement, writes the East Church scientist emeritus of the University of Halle-Wittenberg in a contribution for "Publik Forum".
In this central area of their existence, the churches had remained distant, "namely, where the unity of the churches would have to become visible: in the service in the face of the triune God".
Thus an "ecumenism without a sanctuary" was created: "Despite many dialogue texts and well-intentioned declarations of intent, the churches have remained foreign in their divine hearts."
The ecumenical movement and the papers, explanations and greetings created in the context of ecumenical dialogues represent only a "church-politically controlled courtesy ecumenism" for Thöle.
This can be seen, for example, in the fact that ecumenical services are "de facto second-class worship services": "They must not replace the regular services of the separated."
A jointly developed and formulated, "perhaps even assumed" theology of the ecumenical service was not done. Ecumenical services breathed "the efforts of moderated rallies."
No mutual understanding of worship traditions
According to the theologian, the various traditions of worship stand unconnected side by side.
"The fact that one could also confront the same God in the services of the other churches does not come into view. One cannot understand or understand the liturgical grammar of the other churches."
The ecumenism of the churches has so far not managed to reduce their mutually felt strangeness in the service.
Thöle regrets that the potentials of joint celebrations are not revealed for ecumenism. The unity of the Church could not be "made" or "constructed" theologically, historically or liturgically, but it was something "that can be received in the encounter of God of prayer and in worship."
Last year, representatives of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) in Rome signed an updated version of the Charter Oecumenica.
The updated version contains the self-commitment of the churches involved to "know and appreciate the worship service and the other forms of the spiritual life of other churches".
In 1997, KEK and CCEE decided to draft guidelines for ecumenical cooperation and the convergence of Christian churches. This text, the Charter Oecumenica, was signed and published in 2001.
Since then, other ecumenical associations have joined the Charter.