During the Sixteenth Conference of the Ecclesiological Investigations International Research Network held in Thessaloniki from September 17-20, 2025, several Protestant theologians addressed the relevance of the Council of Nicaea and the future of creeds and councils.
Council of Nicaea: Inspiration for Unity
Susan Durber, an English Reformed theologian and President for Europe of the World Council of Churches, highlighted the WCC’s core mission of calling churches to visible unity. She posed whether we can rediscover the Council of Nicaea’s creed as a unifying symbol. Unity is sometimes feared as synonymous with uniformity and oppression, yet Christian unity, rooted in the Trinity, embraces differences in love. Durber explained Christianity’s diverse voices about Jesus are encompassed by deeper unity: the unity of God, Trinity, and Christ. Nicaea reminds us that Church division is scandalous and unity must be visible and incarnate. The creed is a doxological and poetic expression of faith, not a legal text.
Creed Essential for Unity
Pastor Sotiris Boukis of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Greece stressed the creed’s role in ecclesial communion. With only a few communities in Thessaloniki, he emphasized Nicaea’s call for unity: “the world needs examples of communities living in peace and unity.” Diversity, embraced in love, is not an obstacle. In families, unity stems from deeper bonds rather than complete agreement. The 144-word creed offers a simple, shareable common base, “perfect for social media.” Without a creed, unity is impossible. Boukis noted the Nicene Creed’s two forms, ‘we believe’ and ‘I believe,’ illustrating faith’s personal and communal aspects. He shared his family’s refugee story: “We see Christ in refugees and want to be Christ to them.” His testimony demonstrates compassion’s challenge that only a united Church can meet.
Continuing Value of the Creed
In his address titled “The continuing relative value of the classical Christology of the Creed,” Finnish theologian Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen showed that the creed isn’t a closed definition but a horizon and perspective. It sets boundaries, the regula fidei, that open deeper understandings of the mystery of Christ. Christological dogma remains a metaphor for mystery. However, Kärkkäinen noted the Nicene Creed overlooks Jesus’ concrete humanity, covering healing, closeness to the poor, and fighting evil, as pointed out by Jürgen Moltmann. It skips from “he became man” to “he suffered under Pontius Pilate,” omitting Christ’s public life. Jesus, the ‘true man,’ teaches rest, accepting limits, and relational living. Therefore, dogma has practical implications. Nicaea stated essentials, providing a sufficient faith basis.
An Ecumenical Council in Post-Christianity?
Charles Shaw from Advent Lutheran Church asked provocatively, “Convene an ecumenical council in post-Christianity?” Such a council raises authority questions: who convenes it, who participates, and what constitutes authority? Ecclesial convergence with the Roman Catholic Church must be addressed: do Reformation churches have enough Church elements to be recognized as full partners? Shaw suggested revisiting Nicaea’s ‘synodality,’ or ‘walking together’ to discuss differences within a shared framework. He identified pressing issues for a future council: ordaining women, priestly marriage, and sexual identity.
In conclusion, he quoted Pope Leo XIV: “I would like our first great desire to be that of a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.”
Conclusion
Protestant theologians’ contributions indicate the Council of Nicaea is not merely a historical relic. Its legacy remains vital for faith unity and Church communion. The creed is an essential reference, not a dogmatic enclosure, but an open horizon demanding fidelity and creativity. In a divided world, it reminds us that Christian unity is not just an ecumenical movement but is rooted in God’s love in the Trinity. The future of creeds and councils is being shaped by:
- Confessing together the faith from Scriptures and the Fathers, making it relevant today,
- Creating synodal spaces for Churches to discern how to witness Christ in a divided yet reconciliation-seeking world.
The Council of Nicaea remains a compass. The Church’s visible unity is not optional but an essential Gospel sign, offering hope for both Church and world.
Martin Hoegger is a Swiss Protestant Theologian
Photo: First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325), fresco
Leave a Reply