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Orthodox Churches who are called to participate actively and continually in
them, so that the unanimous witness of Orthodoxy to the glory of the Triune
God may not be hindered. In the event that a certain local Church chooses not
to assign a representative to a particular dialogue or one of its sessions, if this
decision is not pan-Orthodox, the dialogue still continues. Prior to the start of
the dialogue or of the session, the absence of any local Church ought to be
discussed at all events by the Orthodox Committee of the dialogue to express
the solidarity and unity of the Orthodox Church. The bi-lateral and
multi-lateral theological dialogues need to be subject to periodical evaluations
on a pan-Orthodox level.
10. The problems that arise during the theological discussions within Joint
Theological Commissions are not always sufficient grounds for any local
Orthodox Church unilaterally to recall its representatives or definitively
withdraw from the dialogue. As a general rule, the withdrawal of a Church
from a particular dialogue should be avoided; in those instances when this
occurs, inter-Orthodox efforts to reestablish representational fullness in the
Orthodox Theological Commission of the dialogue in question should be
initiated. Should one or more local Orthodox Churches refuse to take part in
the sessions of the Joint Theological Commission of a particular dialogue,
citing serious ecclesiological, canonical, pastoral, or ethical reasons, this/these
Church(es) shall notify the Ecumenical Patriarch and all the Orthodox
Churches in writing, in accordance with pan-Orthodox practice. During a
pan-Orthodox meeting the Ecumenical Patriarch shall seek unanimous
consensus among the Orthodox Churches about possible courses of action,
which may also include—should this be unanimously deemed necessary—a
reassessment of the progress of the theological dialogue in question.
11. The methodology followed in the theological dialogues aims at both the
resolution of the received theological differences or of possible new
differentiations, and to seek the common elements of the Christian faith. This
process requires that the entire Church is kept informed on the various
developments of the dialogues. In the event that it is impossible to overcome a
specific theological difference, the theological dialogue may continue,
recording the disagreement identified and bringing it to the attention of all the
local Orthodox Churches for their consideration on what ought to be done
henceforth.

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