Last week, a story (written by Andy Roman) about an Adventist pastor signing an ecumenical document in Italy—The Bologna Ecumenical Charter—began circulating on the internet. Fulcrum7 received over two dozen inquiries about this story.
We researched the story through a friend in Europe. Here’s what we know:
The ceremony took place on a Sabbath (January 25) in Bologna, Italy at the basilica of San Paolo Maggiore Roman Catholic Church.
The individual who signed the document is an Adventist pastor by the name of Giovanni Caccamo.
Giovanni Caccamo was the Secretary of the Italian Union from 2011—2014. He was also the Stewardship Ministries director during that same period.
Giovanni Caccamo received a degree from Collonges 1991. His theses was on the “The Silence Of Women In The Assemblies: History of the Interpretation of 1 Cor. 14.34,35.”
We reached out to the Italian Union and the Inter- European Division (EUD) for a statement on this ecumenical action in Italy. We haven’t heard back from them yet.
Mario Brito, President of the EUD informed the Romanian Union that the EUD does not support or recognize this Bologna Ecumenical Charter document. At the same time, Brito asked the Adventist Church in Italy for “an official point of view that would be drafted in the next period.”
On January 31, the Romanian Union issued a statement on their webpage. Here is what they had to say:
“In the last days, several images and information have appeared in the public space regarding the signing of an interfaith document by Giovanni Caccamo, pastor of the Adventist Church in Bologna, Italy. There was talk of this moment being the first step towards the establishment of an Inter-denominational Council of Churches in Bologna.
Following the information published online, the Communication Department of the Adventist Church in Romania has discussed the subject with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Italy, but also with the Inter-European Division.
Following this dialogue, the Adventist Church in Romania can make the following details:
The Inter-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, through the voice of President Mario Brito, declares that it does not support or recognize such a document. At the same time, he asked the Adventist Church in Italy for an official point of view that would be drafted in the next period.As for the Adventist Church in Italy, she informed the Adventist Church in Romania, through the secretary of the Adventist Church in Italy, Andrei Crețu, that the document signed by the pastor of Bologna contains several decisions arising from discussions between the local leaders in different churches, by on a restricted territory, in which the Adventist pastor also participated on his own initiative, but not as an official representative of the Adventist Church. The signed document does not represent a position of the Italian Union. Also, says the representative of the Adventist Church in Italy Andrei Crețu, this is a document that does not condition the Adventist Church and wanted to be an element for future discussions, as it appears written in it. Pastor Giovanni Caccamo, present at the incriminated event, does not currently hold a leadership position in the Adventist Church in Italy, being a pastor in the Bologna area. Eight years ago he held the position of secretary of the Italian Union.
We also mention that the Adventist Church in Italy does not prohibit pastors from participating in the "Week of Prayer" of all the cults. In Italy this is a practice for 30 years, and each pastor is free to choose whether or not to participate. This does not involve signing certain documents, as happened in the present case.
Also, the Committee of the Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church wishes to make clear the position of the Adventist Church in Romania, delimiting itself with all kinds of ecumenical events. The Seventh-day Adventist Church remains true to the truths presented by Scripture regarding the prophetic interpretation found in the books of Daniel and Revelation. Adventists have always been in favor of developing good relationships with other churches or religious groups, remaining faithful to their own mission and belief. Although Adventists respect other Christians, they believe that God has called them to fulfill a specific mission and to proclaim a special message for the last days. They do not feel threatened in meetings with other Christian leaders, but on the contrary, they offer them a great opportunity to make themselves better known and to share their mission, without compromising their identity or faith. We reiterate that the Adventist agenda does not provide for ecumenism, but we build good and decent relationships. In recent years, Adventist leaders and theologians around the world have had the opportunity to dialogue with representatives of other churches. These experiences have been beneficial, giving rise to mutual respect. On these occasions new dimensions were recognized and new missionary perspectives opened up. But first, the faith in the Adventist message of those who participated in these dialogues was strengthened. Adventists do not have to have inferiority complexes. It is a privilege to be a Seventh-day Adventist and to know that the theological and organizational foundations of the church are secure and firm.
The Department of Communication of the Adventist Church in Romania.”
Our Response
It appears that under the guise of making friends, some individuals in the SDA Church are forming interfaith alliances with other Churches and organizations, including the Roman Catholic Church, and the United Nations. We believe that these people are playing with fire. The Romanian Union appears to recognize this danger.
What concerns me the most about these individuals, is that they have (to my knowledge) issued no warning to the Church about the fire they are playing with. Such a warning is needed, to remind Adventist people of our task of calling people out of Babylon, and the danger of mingling with them.
These ecumenical churches and organizations are not merely separated brethren with whom we can curry favor and share truth. These are dangerous people, with a cosmology that is at variance with the Three Angel’s Messages. Some questions,
What is the goal of involving yourself with them?
To learn what their motives are? We know what their ultimate motive is already.
To share biblical truth with them?
To befriend them? If so, how will you avoid becoming like them? (Proverbs 22:24; 1 Corinthians 15:33).
Many of these ecumenical leaders are promoting progressive (mystical) spirituality as a universal solvent that dissolves differences between religions. Is this something that Adventists should expose ourselves to?
If your purpose is to stay abreast of religious liberty actions, what will you do if/when the Papacy begins turning against religious liberty? Will you give them a Bible study and a Great Controversy book, or will you turn to the civil arm of government for help? Or will you join them?
How is turning to the civil arm for help in religious matters different from creating an image to the beast? Does not the Bible warn us against turning to Egypt, when we should be turning to God for help? (Psalm 46:1; 54:4; Isaiah 31:1; Jeremiah 42:15-19).
If your purpose is to get inside knowledge on attacks towards religious liberty, why are you helping to promote an agenda that poses potential threats to religious liberty? (United Nations Agenda 2030).
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“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).