We, the representatives of member Churches of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and Bishops' Conferences of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) from twenty-six countries, have met at Ottmaring from 7 - 10 September 2002 to reflect upon the reception of the Charta Oecumenica in our countries throughout Europe. We have come together to look at what is happening to the Charta, to listen to one another, and to serve our Churches as they seek to make it their own and adapt it faithfully to their national circumstances. We have felt inspired in our task by the life of the ecumenical community here in Ottmaring and by recalling the history not only of division but also of reconciliation witnessed in nearby Augsburg. We have felt encouraged by one another to "speak the truth in love". (Ephesians 4:15)

We have remembered the blessed occasion in Strasbourg on 22 April 2001 when the Churches in Europe issued their call to unity in faith and to commitment to a common proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This commitment was to act, pray and continue in dialogue together so as to participate in the building of a just Europe, reconciling peoples and cultures, safeguarding creation, strengthening the bonds with Judaism, developing relations with Islam and welcoming encounter with other religions and world views. Today, in gratitude to the Lord, we are able to see that on the whole the Charta has been positively received in many countries and by many Churches.

The Charta has been called "a text, a process and a dream". We have been greatly encouraged by so much that we have heard from across the countries of Europe, where Churches have engaged together with the Charta in deepening and maturing relationships, and we give thanks for the evident work of the Holy Spirit. But we are also aware that the work of the Holy Spirit is even present within the difficulties and challenges which we face together, and so we can be realistic about problems already encountered or foreseen.

Among the specific issues addressed at our Consultation we wish to bring the following in particular to the attention of our Churches:

In most places we are still at the beginning of the process of reception and it is in this light that we interpret the uneven pattern emerging from our reports. However, now is the time for us to use the Charta more than ever as a tool which is honed for the needs of our particular circumstances. The process of reception reflects the distinctiveness of our experiences and the life of our Churches together. In places where there is long-standing co-operation between the Churches the Charta can act as spur to help us avoid complacency and re-vitalise our mission and service. In other places where relations between the Churches may be tense or uneasy the Charta can help to restore trust and deepen friendship.

We urge that the Charta be used with sensitivity to the theological, cultural and historical particularities of our countries and Churches, and that it may be the inspiration for continuing dialogue on the interpretation of history and help the Churches to reach a common mind and to seek the healing of memories. It will then be seen that the function of the Charta varies according to the different contexts in which it is used and realised.

We recognise that in many parts of Europe the Charta is one of the few documents being discussed by the Churches and we wish to encourage others to use it as a focus for critical discussion and a stepping-stone toward new stages in dialogue. We note also a feeling of estrangement from the Charta Oecumenica process among some of the Churches and would seek to address that by encouraging further use and development of the text. We do not regard the Charta as the "last word" for our ecumenical journey but an important step along the way.

We invite the Churches to identify their additions to the Charta and concrete examples of its implementation arising out of their own context, to discuss these with other Churches and to bring them to CEC and CCEE for future consideration. In particular we encourage the Churches of Eastern tradition to identify their experiences and expectations of the Charta so that it may be fully owned and effectively used.

We are grateful that the Charta has been widely and effectively used to stimulate and focus dialogue among the Churches, and we believe that the more it is regarded as something offered but not imposed the more fruitful it can be at the service of our common mission in the time to come.

As we leave Ottmaring on the eve of the first anniversary of 11 September we pray that the Charta will contribute to peace and justice in the world. We believe that in the course of the ecumenical journey the Holy Spirit is leading us in many ways, and that in our common exploration and implementation of the commitments of the Charta Oecumenica we are seeking to follow. Through our prayer and work here we hope to take one more step towards the visible unity of the Church and the fulfilment of Christ's prayer "that they may all be one." (John 17:21)

Ottmaring, 10 September 2002