Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations

For databases containing articles and other information, see our Religion, Theology & Philosophy databases page.

Comprehensive Sites

Graduate Theological Union Library, Berkley, California

http://library.gtu.edu/links/ecumenical.html

Contains links to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue resources on the Internet.

Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion

http://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/Internet/dialogue.htm

Supplies course syllabi, bibliographies, and links to e-texts, e-journals, websites and listservs in the broad area of inter-religious dialogue.

Fairgrove Conjureworks

http://www.conjure.com/religion.html

First launched in 1994, this somewhat unconventional site provides links to a large number of websites dealing with multi-faith and interfaith issues, service organizations, and peace movements.

International Organizations and Agreements

Decree on Ecumenism - Unitatis Redintegratio

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html

Proclaimed by the Second Vatican Council, under Pope Paul VI, on November 21, 1964, this document is the charter for active Roman Catholic participation in the ecumenical movement.

World Council of Churches

http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/english.html

Provides information about the activities of the World Council of Churches, a fellowship of nearly 350 church bodies in more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions.

Ecumenical Institute of Bossey

http://www.wcc-coe.org/bossey/index.html

Related to the World Council of Churches, this institute’s mission is to educate and form ecumenical leaders for service in many settings around the world and to shape ecumenical thought through intercultural and inter-confessional encounter.

Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR)

http://www.forusa.org/

Begun in 1914, FOR is an interfaith and international movement with branches and groups in over 40 countries and on every continent. Members include Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, and people of other faith traditions, as well as those with no formal religious affiliation.

Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions

http://www.cpwr.org/

The mission of the council is to cultivate harmony between the world's religious and spiritual communities and to foster their engagement with the world and its other guiding institutions in order to achieve a peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

Institute of Interfaith Dialog

http://www.interfaithdialog.org/

This organization’s primary goal is to bring together global communities in order to promote compassion, cooperation, partnership and community service through interfaith dialog and conversation.

North American Interfaith Network

http://www.nain.org/

A non-profit association of interfaith organizations and agencies in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Porvoo Communion

http://www.porvoochurches.org/

A grouping of churches that are in communion with another. Comprised of the Anglican churches in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and the Lutheran churches in Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. There are links to the websites of the Porvoo churches and translations of the Porvoo Common Statement in many languages.

Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE)

http://lkg.jalb.de/lkg/lkg/start.php

The CPCE (formerly known as the Leuenberg Church Fellowship) is an organization of over 100 Protestant churches in Europe who grant each other pulpit and table fellowship on the basis of the Leuenberg Agreement of 1973.

National Organizations and Agreements

National Council of Churches in the United States of America

http://www.ncccusa.org/

The comprehensive website of The National Council of Churches, which was founded in 1950. The council’s 36 member denominations include almost 50 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in the United States.

National Council of Churches Office for Interfaith Relations

http://www.ncccusa.org/interfaith/ifrhome.html

Resources for Christians to explore the challenges and opportunities of living among people of other faiths.

The Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies

http://www.icjs.org

Exists to address the contemporary challenges of religious pluralism by helping to shape a new relationship between Christians and Jews.

Interfaith Alliance

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/

This alliance, founded in 1994, works to promote interfaith cooperation to promote civic participation, freedom of religion, diversity, and civility in public discourse and to encourage the active involvement of people of faith in the nation’s political life.

Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies

http://www.humboldt.edu/~sbcs/

The purpose of the Society is to provide an ongoing format and organization for those committed to study, reflection, interchange and practice arising out of Buddhist-Christian encounters.

Society for Hindu-Christian Studies

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~shcs/

Information about the Society, its e-mail list (HCS-L), the Hindu-Christian Studies Bulletin, and other material related to Hindu-Christian studies.

Churches Uniting in Christ

http://www.cuicinfo.org/

Churches Uniting in Christ (formerly the Consultation on Church Union or “COCU”) is a relationship among nine U.S. Christian communions that have pledged to live more closely together in expressing their unity in Christ and to combat racism together. Includes a link to the CUIC Newsletter.

Ecumenical and Interfaith Activities of U.S. Denominations

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs

http://www.usccb.org/seia/

Includes reports on official dialogues, other relationships, and resources on Islamic-Catholic relations.

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Council on Christian Unity

http://www.disciples.org/ccu/

Here you will find news of this denomination’s ecumenical office and resources to aid in ecumenical ministry and growth.

Episcopal Church

http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/eir.htm

Provides information on the involvement of the Episcopal Church’s ecumenical and interfaith relations as well as its Interfaith Education Initiative.

Presbyterian Church (USA)

http://www.pcusa.org/interfaith/

Includes links to sections entitled “Faith and Culture” and “Tools for Understanding.”

United Church of Christ

http://www.ucc.org/ecumenical/

Reflecting the ecumenical commitments of the United Church of Christ, this site includes sections on ecumenical resources, partners and councils plus information on interfaith relations.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

http://www.elca.org/ecumenical/

Under the auspices of the Department of Ecumenical Affairs of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is responsible for the ELCA's ecumenical, inter-Lutheran, and interfaith discussions. Links to ecumenical and interfaith dialogs and resources.