English translation:

 

Cooperation Agreement

 

The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (hereinafter, The Estonian Church) and The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria on the Territory of Russia (hereinafter, The Church of Ingria), hereinafter referred to as the Parties, made this cooperation agreement (hereinafter, the Agreement) regarding the continuation of the earlier started interchurch cooperation.

 

The Churches give thanks to God for the fact that now their cooperation takes place in new historical conditions and for the ability to proclaim the Gospel legally in accordance with the teaching of the Evangelical Lutheran confession, in conformity with the laws of their respective states.

 

Considering the following factors that make The Estonian Church and The Church of Ingria close to each other:

– membership in the Lutheran World Federation, other Lutheran associations and church unions,

– willingness to cooperate with other Christian churches and confessions,

– the fact that their respective flocks include members of ethnic groups who traditionally confess Lutheranism,

– positive relationship experience, including the canonical participation of The Estonian Church in the activities of Ingrian Lutheran congregations in the Soviet time,

– respectful attitude to each other’s theological positions,

 

the Parties made this Agreement.

 

Article 1

 

The Parties agree to cooperate in the following areas:

– theological and church education and training,

– spiritual work on the territory of the Russian Federation, first of all among ethnic groups who traditionally confess Lutheranism,

– spiritual work among Ingrians who are on the territory of Estonia,

– spiritual work among Estonians who live on the territory of the Russian Federation,

– fostering friendships among congregations and paying reciprocal visits,

– diaconal work in congregations and in society.

 

Article 2

 

In order to develop their cooperation, the Parties shall:

– inform each other about their main church and church-significant events,

– organize meetings of representatives of the Parties and their respective congregations,

– hold consultations involving representatives of the Parties.

 

Article 3

 

In their work, the Parties shall take into account the spiritual interests of Lutherans who belong or may belong to the flock of either Church which signed the Agreement, but are on a territory where the other of the Parties of this Agreement canonically operates.

 

Article 4

 

The Parties agree that workers of the Parties, doing ministry in each other’s subdivisions, commit to comply with the Parties’ church laws and the effective legal norms.

 

Article 5

 

The Parties shall refrain from any action that can lead to the establishment of congregations on the territory of the other Party’s canonical operation, except the restoration of historical congregations.

 

Article 6

 

Matters of economic cooperation shall be the subject of special agreements of the Parties.

 

Article 7

 

The Parties shall provide information support for their cooperation.

 

Article 8

 

In order to coordinate work under this Agreement, the Parties may create commissions from among their representatives. Possible differences of opinion regarding the interpretation of the Agreement and application of its articles shall be resolved by means of negotiations of the Parties.

 

Article 9

 

The Agreement shall be approved by the Synod of The Estonian Church and the Synod of The Church of Ingria.

 

Article 10

 

This agreement shall be effective from the date it is signed. The Agreement is made for a period of five years and can be prolonged. One year prior to the expiry of the Agreement, the Parties shall exchange their evaluations of the work done and develop proposals regarding possible changes or additions to the text of the Agreement. This Agreement is made in the Estonian and the Russian languages and both texts shall have equal force.

 

St. Petersburg, February 19, 2011

 

Andres Põder, Archbishop, The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Arri Kugappi, Bishop, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria on the Territory of Russia

 

 

 

St. Petersburg, February 21, 2016

 

Urmas Viilma, Archbishop, The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Arri Kugappi, Bishop, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria on the Territory of Russia

 

***

 

Based on Article 10 of the Cooperation Agreement and decisions of the Consistory of The Estonian Church and the Consistory of The Church of Ingria, the above cooperation agreement is prolonged for five years (till 2027).

 

Tallinn, May 27, 2022

 

[signed]

 

Urmas Viilma, Archbishop, The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Ivan Laptev, Bishop, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria on the Territory of Russia