Posted on 09/20/2012 4:58:09 AM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
The Russian Orthodox Church has said it no longer accepts baptisms carried out by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark, according to Kristeligt Dagblad.
The announcement from the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate in Moscow comes as a reaction to the introduction by the Danish church of marriages between homosexuals.
“We do not officially recognise Danish or Swedish baptism,” says Archpriest Dimitry Sizonenko, the Patriarchate’s secretary for inter-Christian relations. “The practice whereby someone is accepted without being re-baptised will be impossible for us, as homosexual relationships are a sin in Orthodox theology,” he adds.
The move will only affect those members of the Danish Lutheran Church who seek to convert to the Russian Orthodox Church, or want to marry in the church. For these, the new rule will mean re-baptism.
While the move may only have limited application, its symbolic effect is seen as being a major step backwards in religious circles.
“Previously (Christian) churches could at least agree that there was one baptism. If you cannot agree that a baptism is the entrance to the Christian church, there is not much left of ecumenical cooperation,” says Southern Denmark University Religious Studies Ass. Prof. Annika Hvithmar.
It is not the first time that the Russian Orthodox Church has displayed an intransigent view on homosexuality.
In 2006, the church broke all relations with the Swedish Church when a blessing ritual for registered partnerships was introduced.
“We normally have a strong and good relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church – so representatives for the Danish Lutheran Church will have to discuss the issue with Sizonenko or other senior representatives before I will recognise a total breakdown (in relations),” says Dean Anders Gadegard, the Danish church’s representative in the World Council of Churches.
Very good point.
quite frankly, these guys are no longer Lutheran, not even Christian.
When you think of it, it may have sent a message to that branch of the Lutheran church as a reminder to reject sin and accept the good news of the Gospel.
That is true about the Catholic that it does accept the baptisms of the Lutherans as valid.
Opps, forgot to add the word “Church:”.
Yeah, you’re right Vlad, as much as I sympathize with the stance, I am not clear how the ROC justifies this.
Perhaps there are now defects introduced in the sacrament itself? Like the Danes will now baptize a child under the sponsorship of two men, or something? I’m not sure if even that would do it, but I would think the ROC take sacramental theology too seriously to dive headfirst into Donatism.
This is hardly the only problem the Orthodox have with the Danish Luthern church.
Exactly. Thank you for saying this.
But would the Obama Administration TRY to force them to do so? I believe dennisw is correct.
When you think of it, it may have sent a message to that branch of the Lutheran church as a reminder to reject sin and accept the good news of the Gospel.
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while i applaud the idea... since in Christian theology, homosexual acts are clearly sinful...
i believe the ROC also refuses to accept most sacraments,
even of the Roman Catholic Church.
(even though, the Catholic church accepts all ROC sacraments as valid.)
You wrote:
“This is hardly the only problem the Orthodox have with the Danish Luthern church.”
I’m sure that’s true. This is also true, however:
“This is hardly the only problem the Orthodox have.”
In other words, to return to Thesis # 1 of the 95 Theses:
The Christian life is to be one of repentance.
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