Gaeta Ecumenical Council

[Condottiero]

Just in case the events run so fast that the Ecumenical Council Starts...

[DuQuense]

Catholic
Cardinal Francis of Ottawa
Cardinal Trudeau of Montreal

Angolan
Bishop Wilfred Augustine

Lutheran
Arch Bishop Keegan Wilburn

Orthodox [Greek and Russian]
Patriarch Claudius Damion

These are the men that traveled to Havana to meet the Pope, and traveled on with him to the Conference. They are sending reports back to Canada. While their reports are being sent to their Denominations, somehow lots of the reports are ending up in the Newspapers.

[Justin Pickard]

Greek Orthodox:
Gregory IV, Archbishop of Athens

Has travelled by steamer to the Vatican, across the Med. Has four bishops with him, representing the various wings of the Greek Orthodox Council.

[Imajin]

Armenia-Trebizond
Archbishop of Trebizond (Greek Orthodox): Alexander Euphranor
Catholicos (Armenian Apostolic): Arsen Ari

Karelia
Archbishop of Viipuri And All Karelia (Karelian Church): Aarne Henrici

[Glen]

OOC: Okay, I really need to spend some time and effort in r/l, but I want to get this stuff wrapped up in time for the fastforward, so here is the idea:

Pope Beneficent Vth is proposing an updated version of the old pre-schism ecumenical council, with the participating denominations being all part of what we refer to as the "Christian Communion". This refers to the fact that all the participating denominations will consider each in communion with the other (this means you can walk into each others' services and participate, get married together, etc.). All the participating denominations will retain their separate identities, structures, and practices. There will be a Christian Communion Council which will be required to meet at least once a year but may meet as many times as the Chair or the majority of Councillors deem appropriate. The Councillors (think Patriarchs or Representatives) will be chosen by each respective denomination as they see fit. The only powers ceded to the Council from the member denominations are the power to excommunicate, declare heresies, or declare holy wars. The Chair only has the power of the gavel, veto, and 'the Bully Pulpit'. Chairs will not always be from the same denomination. We would like Beneficent the Vth to become the first Chair of the Christian Communion Council.

Leo XIII and Beneficent V have been talking and have proposed that Beneficent take the title of Patriarch of the Americas, a position co-equal with that of the Pope within the Catholic Church. Leo XIII will be the Bishop of Rome.

That's the rough gist of it. I have spoken to many of you already about this. The few I've missed have been due to time pressures, and I assure you Beneficent has been reaching out to ALL Christians sincerely to have this happen, so consider that you were personally asked by Beneficent the Vth to consider this proposal.

[Condottiero]

Pope Leo XIII wants to propose using his newly acquired territories to build a christian theocratic republic that would be an example of how a nation should be work, but he is going to need economical and political help. It could be the first step for a united world under the new catholic-ecumenical church or at least of pressing certain nations about doing reformations (end of slavery, better conditions for workers...).

[Glen]

Pope Leo XIII wants to propose using his newly acquired territories to build a christian theocratic republic that would be an example of how a nation should be work, but he is going to need economical and political help.

Beneficent V is willing to support such efforts.

It could be the first step for a united world under the new catholic-ecumenical church or at least of pressing certain nations about doing reformations (end of slavery, better conditions for workers...).

While it is certainly the dream to see a united Christendom, Beneficent feels this will be the work of generations, perhaps centuries, to come to fruition.

[Lauranthalas]

Patriarch Claudius Damion is willing to support these efforts and looks forward to a good co-operation.

[Glen]

Patriarch Claudius Damion is willing to support these efforts and looks forward to a good co-operation.

Beneficent is thankful beyond words to hear that his Brother in Christ, Patriarch Damion gives his support to this step towards reconcilliation between the denominations. God has truly graced Russia to have such visionaries in this time of great change.

[Condottiero]

October, 1st
Rome

The horror caused by the rebellion in Tuscany had changed Leo's point of view. He felt tired, sick of having misunderstood the message given by God through the Event. But he felt he could do things to amend his errors. Maybe the Event was to show them that ecumenism should be their main aim, that they should forget all their petty rivalties between churches. Maybe having had the opportunity of annexing the Tuscany was not a way of enlarging the Patrimonium Petrii but of showing the world how a nation could be ruled according to the Evangelion.

[Glen]

October, 1st
Rome

The horror caused by the rebellion in Tuscany had changed Leo's point of view. He felt tired, sick of having misunderstood the message given by God through the Event. But he felt he could do things to amend his errors. Maybe the Event was to show them that ecumenism should be their main aim, that they should forget all their petty rivalties between churches. Maybe having had the opportunity of annexing the Tuscany was not a way of enlarging the Patrimonium Petrii but of showing the world how a nation could be ruled according to the Evangelion.


Beneficent puts a brotherly hand on the shoulder of his counterpart. Misunderstood, or was guided by God to this moment? You are the heir to Peter as much as I in my own world's history. This idea you have of a land governed by the light of the Evangelion, as a beacon to the world, truly it must be of Christ. Perhaps the Catholic Church of Beneficent's world was hasty in relinquishing control of the Papal States? Perhaps this too is part of God's plan in uniting our disparate histories and traditions. Together we all learn from each other, as Christ commands....

[Glen]

November 1st, 1886

Finally, after months of discussion, speeches, haggling, and pleading, the dead was done. The Christian Communion was born.

The Catholic and Orthodox Churches no longer considered the others excommunicated, but now in communion with one another. It was not a full reunion of the two, of course, but after over 800 years, that was asking for too much. Maybe some day in a far future, but for now it was enought that the churches acknowledged each other as true bretheren in Christ.

Similarly many of the Protestant denominations from throughout Europe and especially the Americas, were also in communion with the Catholic and Orthodox churches, even some of the Mauri churches had agreed to participate in this loose fellowship. Beneficent hoped more would follow in the years and decades to come.

He was now Patriarch Beneficent I, first Patriarch of the Americas, a new position co-equal with the Pope in Rome within the Catholic church. Beneficent had chosen to make Cartagena as the Patriarchial seat as one of the most central points in the Americas. And Beneficent's had another new title, first Chair of the Christian Communion Council. They would meet every September and more frequently as needed, each meeting hosted in a different city by a different Councilor of the Communion.

The delegation of the Americas, after almost half a year together, had grown into a rather collegial group. They might have heated debates into the night during their travels or between meetings, but Beneficent's message of theology as theory and truth being the domain of God alone, along with the reminder of 'the many rooms in my Father's mansion' spoken of by Christ himself, had done much to keep them just that, debates, and not disputes.

The ships set sail and Patriarch Beneficent I was going home.