Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification: Ecumenical Milestone & Ongoing Challenge | One Body

Sr. Donna Geernaert, SC

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

On June 16, 2019, leaders and members of the Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Reformed, and Anglican Communions gathered in St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva, Switzerland to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. Photo by the Lutheran World Federation/S. Gallay.

Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification: Ecumenical Milestone & Ongoing Challenge

by Sr. Donna Geernaert, SC

Ecumenical Milestone

Re-examining Mutual Condemnations

Just as individuals make use of passports or birth certificates to say who they are, creeds or confessions of faith are used to establish Christian identity. Where the earliest Christians were interested in identifying themselves as distinct from the followers of other religions, later controversies led to the development of creeds, confessions or conciliar texts in which one church defines its specific teaching in relation to that of another. When differences are seen as serious enough to affect the Gospel, churches may seek clarity by condemning the teachings of the other.

In the 16th century, Lutherans and Roman Catholics were involved in a dispute about certain aspects of the New Testament teaching on justification, how Christ’s saving action is received by those who are saved. They issued mutual condemnations which have continued to influence how each church sees the other. Edmund Schlink, a Lutheran observer at the Second Vatican Council, published his analysis of the Decree on Ecumenism in 1965. In it, he maintains that the statements of faith formulated in the 16th century, and their corresponding anathemas, are “the greatest stumbling block against reunion.” He notes as well that the Council Fathers had expressly reiterated their acceptance of Trent’s dogmatic decisions and did not intend to address those issues at that time. But, within the context of the Council, at a transition point between old and new attitudes, he identifies the present task of Protestant and Catholic theology as that of reinterpreting these old dogmatic statements and “explaining them in their historical setting” (J. A. Radano, Lutheran & Catholic Reconciliation on Justification Grand Rapids, MI, Eerdmans, 2009, p. 190).

Dialogue on Justification

For Lutherans, the doctrine of justification is the article on which the church stands or falls, the crux of all the disputes. It was held to be the “first and chief article” and at the same time the “ruler and judge over all other Christian doctrines.” From the beginning, therefore, it was an important topic in official Lutheran–Roman Catholic Dialogues. A study of various dialogue reports (e.g., The Gospel and the Church from the 1972 Joint Lutheran–Roman Catholic International Study Commission; Justification by Faith from the 1983 USA Lutheran–Roman Catholic Dialogue; Church and Justification from the 1994 Joint Lutheran–Roman Catholic International Study Commission) showed a high degree of agreement in both approach and conclusions, so participants began to ask whether the beliefs that were condemned in the heat of controversy are actually held today. This question was central to a study published in 1986 by a working group of Protestant and Catholic theologians in Germany entitled, The Condemnations of the Reformation Era – Do They Still Divide? In this context, members of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) agreed to summarize the results of these dialogues so that the two churches could make decisions about the degree of agreement that had been achieved.

In February 1995, a draft Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) was prepared by the LWF and PCPCU. After a preliminary circulation, the text was revised in June 1996 and again circulated. At the request of the LWF, some sections of the text were revised and a Final Proposal of the Joint Declaration was published in January 1997. On June 16, 1998, following worldwide consultation of its member churches, the LWF Council unanimously approved the JDDJ. Nine days later, the Vatican issued its official response in a two-part statement consisting of a “declaration” which affirmed the existence of a consensus in basic truths of the doctrine of justification, and a series of additional comments or “clarifications” which identified points for further study. Since the JDDJ could be signed only if both the LWF and the Vatican had the same understanding of the significance of the signing, the two parties, in the late spring of 1999, developed an Official Common Statement declaring that “a consensus in basic truths of the doctrine of justification exists between Lutherans and Catholics,” and an Annex which outlines the consensus achieved and states that the “condemnations of former times do not apply to the Catholic and Lutheran doctrines of justification as they are presented in the Joint Declaration.”

On October 31, 1999 representatives of the LWF and the Vatican met in Augsburg, Germany to formally sign the final text of the JDDJ. This was the first time such a significant ecumenical agreement would be officially recognized and mutually received by Western church bodies. The signing testifies to the commitment of both Lutherans and Catholics to the dialogue process and to the ongoing search for Christian unity. It also highlights the value of the concept of “differentiated consensus” as a method of reconciling longstanding differences not only for this but for all bilateral dialogues.

Meaning of "Differentiated Consensus"

The JDDJ is not a “new, independent presentation” but an attempt to “summarize the results of our dialogues on justification so that our churches may be informed about the overall results of this dialogue with the necessary accuracy and brevity, and thereby be enabled to make binding decisions.” (#6) The understanding of justification found in the JDDJ shows that a consensus in basic truths of the doctrine exists between Lutherans and Catholics. This is identified as a “consensus in basic truths” not the basic truths. It is a differentiated consensus in which remaining differences in language, theological reflection, and emphasis in the understanding of justification are acceptable. This is because the Lutheran and Catholic explanations of justification offered in the text “are in their difference open to one another and do not destroy the consensus regarding the basic truths.” (#40) The concept of differentiated consensus means that a differentiated position represents a distinct theological emphasis which can be understood within the framework of the consensus attained. In this context, the doctrinal condemnations are not taken lightly, but are still regarded as “salutary warnings” (#42). But, the text affirms, what was condemned in the 16th century is not what is held today by the subscribing Lutheran churches and the Roman Catholic Church.

The differentiated consensus reads: “In faith we together hold the conviction that justification is the work of the triune God. … Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.” The text refers to the centrality of the doctrine of justification as “an indispensable criterion which constantly serves to orient all the teaching and practice of our churches to Christ.” (#15) Thus, “When Lutherans emphasize the unique significance of [justification] they do not deny the interrelation and significance of all truths of faith. When Catholics see themselves as bound by several criteria, they do not deny the special function of the message of justification. Lutherans and Catholics share the goal of confessing Christ, who is to be trusted above all things as the one Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5-6) through whom God in the Holy Spirit gives himself and pours out his renewing gifts.” (#18)

A chapter on “Explicating the Common Understanding of Justification” discusses seven topics: “Human Powerlessness and Sin in Relation to Justification,” “Justification as Forgiveness of Sins and Making Righteous,” “Justification by Faith and through Grace,” “The Justified as Sinner,” “Law and Gospel,” “Assurance of Salvation,” and “The Good Works of the Justified.” Each section contains three paragraphs: a summary of common belief, and explanations of both the Catholic and the Lutheran positions. The Official Common Statement identifies areas for further study such as the biblical foundations of justification and issues identified in #43 of the JDDJ: “the relationship between the Word of God and church doctrine, as well as ecclesiology, authority in the church, ministry, the sacraments, and the relation between justification and social ethics.” The Annex clarifies the differentiated consensus achieved on challenging topics such as simul justus et pecator (“at the same time justified and sinner”) and highlights the significance of the doctrine of justification as a touchstone for the Christian faith. In its final section, the Annex affirms the equal rights of the participants, and that “each partner respects the other partner’s ordered process of reaching doctrinal decisions.”

Ongoing Challenges

Expanding the Consensus

Since the signing of the JDDJ, attention has been given to extending the differentiated consensus that has been achieved to other world communions, and to clarifying specific points identified in the text. On July 23, 2006, the World Methodist Council officially affiliated with the JDDJ and on July 5, 2017 the World Communion of Reformed Churches signed a statement officially associating itself with it. While not signing a formal statement of association, the Anglican Consultative Council, noting the 1986 ARCIC II agreed statement on Salvation and the Church, welcomed and affirmed the substance of the JDDJ in a resolution passed at its Lusaka Assembly in April 2016. Other world communions may also be ready to join the JDDJ consensus. In 2021, a Baptist theologian suggested that the world Baptist Alliance could assent to the JDDJ. Although many of the ideas involved in the Catholic-Protestant disputes on justification do not resonate with Orthodox thought, a 1998 Lutheran-Orthodox study document Salvation, Grace, Justification and Synergy, notes “central points of agreement between Lutherans and Orthodox with differences in emphasis and terminology.” At the same time, it is important to note that groups in both Lutheran and Catholic churches as well as members of other Christian communions continue to challenge the validity of the consensus claimed in the JDDJ.

At the conclusion of the Official Common Statement, the two partners committed to continued study of the biblical foundations of the doctrine of justification, and to ongoing dialogue on the issues mentioned in #43 of the JDDJ. Fidelity to this commitment is evident in three recent studies. In 2012, a working group of exegetes and experts from Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed traditions published its study document on The Biblical Foundations of the Doctrine of Justification. In 2015, the Catholic–Reformed International Dialogue issued a report of its five-year dialogue on Justification and Sacramentality: The Christian Community as an Agent for Justice, and in 2017, a trilateral Lutheran–Mennonite–Catholic International Dialogue published the report of its five-year conversation on Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, The Church. In each of these studies, the concept of differentiated consensus is central to the dialogue process. Participants begin by carefully identifying what they hold in common, then proceed to consider how distinct denominational positions might be seen as more complementary than conflictual, as enriching rather than church-dividing. Further, each study gives thought to the ongoing relevance of the doctrine of justification, highlighting its pastoral implications and challenge to Christian action on behalf of justice in contemporary society.

Reception of the JDDJ

Reception of the results of bilateral and multilateral dialogues has been an important topic in ecumenical discussions over the past several years. It is a complex process which must involve not only the leaders but also all the members of the church. On December 23, 1999, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) received a letter from the PCPCU enclosing the English, French, and German versions of the three texts signed in Augsburg, the JDDJ, the Official Common Statement, and the Annex. The letter asked the CCCB to support the text, to foster its circulation and assist in its implementation. A booklet, Justification by Faith Through Grace: Study Resources for Congregations and Parishes, was jointly published by the CCCB and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) in May 1999. Designed as a resource for small group reflection, the booklet contains six sessions or workshops. Each session concludes with a selection of articles from the JDDJ. In four of the sessions, reflection is assisted by means of a bible study on related scriptural passages. Intended to promote local ecumenism, these texts are oriented towards joint study in neighbouring Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches. Even when joint study is not possible, the texts may provide a useful tool to develop an awareness of the content of the Reformation debate and its relevance for contemporary Christian life.

From a Catholic perspective, the most sustainable and important consequence of the signing of the JDDJ is that relations with Lutherans have gained a new quality and intensity. This quality and intensity are rather different than in relations with other churches that issued from the Reformation. This change in relations is clearly demonstrated in preparations for a joint commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. In 2013, the International Lutheran–Roman Catholic Commission on Unity took the lead issuing From Conflict to Communion–Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017, marking a first attempt at the international level to describe together the history and the intention of the Reformation. Texts and other elements for ecumenical prayer on the themes examined in that document were circulated in time for the celebration. In addition, a CCCB–ELCIC Working Group prepared a series of five study sessions to highlight aspects of the international text from a Canadian perspective. Designed for flexible use throughout 2017, Together in Christ: Lutherans and Catholics Commemorating the Reformation was circulated electronically towards the end of November 2016. The public face of this change in relations took place in an ecumenical prayer service at the Cathedral of Lund on October 31, 2016, jointly led by Lutheran leaders and Pope Francis. In it, Pope Francis expressed joy and thankfulness for what the Church had received through the Reformation – a change in attitude unthinkable only a few decades ago (cf., Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, The Church #138).

Effectively resolving one of the key Reformation conflicts, the JDDJ is a major milestone in the search for Christian unity. In March 2019, representatives of the five world communions (Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed) that adhere jointly to the JDDJ met at the University of Notre Dame, IN, “drawn by a common urgency to present the message of God’s liberating grace and hope for this world.” Energized by their time together, they issued a Notre Dame Consultation Statement affirming the substance of the JDDJ, and recommending ways to deepen institutional relationships among themselves. They agreed to establish a Steering Committee to promote and monitor progress in their agreements, and to develop “a range of catechetical tools and resources … to be used in all aspects of church life and theological education.” In December 2020, a 20th Anniversary edition of the original JDDJ document, together with associated statements, was published in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian. A first meeting of the Steering Committee, held in March 2021, led to plans to produce a study guide and shared liturgical material to help local parishes to engage with the fruits of the process. This kind of commitment to reception bodes well for the future of the JDDJ and the ongoing search for Christian unity.

Sr. Dr. Donna Geernaert, SC, served for 18 years in promoting ecumenical and interfaith relations for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. She has been a staff member, consultant, and member of numerous multilateral and bilateral theological dialogues in Canada as well as internationally.