Page 186 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

Ecumenical Engagement 187

Most of the teachings of the Armenian
Church referred to are shared both by the
Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches.
In spite of existing divergences, however,
theological dialogue and ecumenical colla-
boration must continue in the spirit of
fraternal love and spiritual fellowship.

Relations with the
Anglican Communion

The participation of the representatives
of the Armenian Church in the Lambeth
Conferences of the World Anglican Com-
munion over the last five decades set a new
course for the relationship between the two
churches that goes back to the 18th Century.
At the same time, the World Anglican Com-
munion increased its bilateral and multila-
teral ecumenical encounters with the churches
of the Oriental Orthodox family within the
framework of a variety of ecumenical struc-
tures. These encounters led the Anglicans to
initiate a process of organized theological
discussions in 1985; this process was given
the status of a formal dialogue in 1993.

Relations with the Protestant churches

Relations with the churches of the Pro-
testant tradition started in the 18th Century.
As the western Protestant missions penet-