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Ecumenical Council: Roman Church
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The canons of the Ecumenical Councils are regarded within the Orthodox Church as universally authoritative, though not in a strictly constructionist sense. Their canons have often been repealed or revised by the decisions of local synods or even of later Ecumenical Councils. Nevertheless, their legislation is central to the Orthodox canonical tradition, and appeals to such canons are more frequently made than to any other source of canonical legislation.
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An Ecumenical council (or oecumenical council; ... general council) is a conference of the bishops of the whole Church convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice. The word derives from the Greek language "Οικουμένη", which literally means "inhabited", and was originally a figure of speech referring to the territory of the Roman Empire since the earliest councils were all convoked by Roman Emperors. In later usage it was applied in a more general way to mean all places that are inhabited by human beings, therefore "world-wide" or "general." The acceptance of historical councils varies widely between different branches of Christianity.
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The history of this Constantinopolitan Council, which has left its mark on the career of Ecumenical Patriarch Photios, one of the greatest Patriarchs of the Great Church of Christ, has been thoroughly researched by modern historians. Dvornic's pioneering work has restored the basic facts.10 Meijer in 1975,11 Phidas in 199412 and Siamakis in 199513 have refined these facts. There is no doubt to anyone who surveys this literature that the Roman Catholic position is untenable. The Photian Council of 879/880 is that which: i) annulled the Ignatian one (869/70), ii) enumerated the Seventh (787) adding it to the previous Six, iii) restored unity to the Church of Constantinople itself and to the Churches of Old and New Rome, which had been shattered by the arbitrary interference of the popes of Rome in the life of the Eastern Church especially through the Ignatian Council, and iv) laid down the canonical and theological basis of the union of the Church in East and West through its Horos.
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"The New Jersey Council of Churches, comprised of member denominations, seeks ways to do together what we are not able to do separately. This includes recognition of member denomination programs of outreach and ministry and assisting in identification of areas of commonality in theological traditions which might provide a foundation for shared life and witness. The specific mission of the Council is to work with its denominational members in order to engage society and its culture through ministries of compassion and justice. Based on areas of commonality and discerned social needs, the Council may suggest specific information to be distributed through member denominations and/or action to be taken by member denominations. The Council, by vote of the Board or the Steering Committee, may address concerns which are consistent with its purpose but not as an obligation on individual member denominations."
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Ecumenical councils began in 325 in Nicaea, in which bishops from all over the Christian world were represented. Since then, such meetings have been held numerous times. In this context, the 7 ecumenical councils of early Christianity are dealt with. The Roman Catholic Church lists 21 ecumenical councils; Protestants and Orthodox churches only accept the 7. Martin Luther even came to accept onlyu the first 4.
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The Second Vatican Council opened on October 11th, 1962. More than two thousand five hundred Fathers were present at the opening Mass -- the greatest gathering at any Council in the history of the Church. After the Mass, Pope John addressed the Fathers, showing them the way in which the Council must move, and the spirit which must animate it. The way was to be a renewal, the spirit was to be that of men who place all their trust in God. In the past, Pope John said, the Church felt it necessary to use severity and condemnation. What is required now is mercy and understanding and, above all, an outpouring of the riches which the Church has received from Christ. The task of the Council must be to find ways by which the Church can present itself to the world of today, and can reach into the minds and hearts of men.
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