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Documents related to the WCC programme on Interreligious dialogue and cooperation

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Title EffectiveDate document_type Description
Communique from the 2019 Annual Meeting of PCID and WCC 14 January 2019 Message The Staff-members of both the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) and the Office of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation (IRDC) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) met together for their annual meeting at the PCID premises on 10-11 January 2019.
Greetings from general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit on the occasion of Diwali 2018 06 November 2018 Message
Bishop John Victor Samuel 03 September 2018 Tribute Letter from WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit to the family of Bishop John Victor Samuel, one of the pioneers of the Church of Pakistan, paying tribute to his commitment for peace, unity and harmony, and his tireless work for interfaith relations, as well as for the unity of Christians in Pakistan and beyond.
Greetings for Eid Al Fitr 2018 from the WCC general secretary 13 June 2018 Letter As the worldwide Muslim community celebrates the feast of Eid Al Fitr this week, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit offered written greetings of peace.
Celebration of Vesakh 29 April 2018 Background document As Buddhists in some countries of the world celebrate Vesakh and others prepare to celebrate Vesakh the Office of Interreligious Dialogue of the World Council of Churches reached out to the Venerable Dhammanandha Bhikkuni, the first fully ordained female Bhikkuni in the Theravada tradition in Thailand for her reflections on Vesakh. Venerable Dhammananda, previously known as Chatsumarn Kabilsingh, was previously a Professor at Thammasat, a prestigious university in Thailand. She is currently the Abbess of Songdhamkalyani monastery in the outskirts of Bangkok. We are grateful to Ven Dhammnandha for her reflections.
Vesakh 2018 25 April 2018 Statement: letter On Vesakh - a day commemorating the life and legacy of Gautama Buddha - WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit extended his greetings to Buddhists across the world.
Catholicos Aram's message to KAICIID conference of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders from the Arab region 25 February 2018 Message The 26-27 February 2018 conference was organized by the Vienna-based International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID).
Al-Azhar Al-Sharif International Conference on Supporting Jerusalem 17 January 2018 Lecture - Speech Address at the opening session by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, in Cairo, 17 January 2018.
Interfaith Statement to the Plenary of the High Level Ministerial Segment of COP23 16 November 2017 Statement: public statement Entitled “To Bonn and Beyond: Act Now with Justice and Peace”, the statement was read by Frances Namoumou, representing the WCC and the Pacific Conference of Churches, to the plenary of the High Level Ministerial Segment of the 23rd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23), in Bonn, Germany, where the United Nations Climate Change Conference took place under the presidency of Fiji.
One God, one humanity 07 November 2017 Lecture - Speech Speech by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit at a Muslim World League symposium in Geneva entitled “The Role of Religions on the Strengthening of World Peace.”
Greetings to Hindus on the occasion of Diwali 2017 18 October 2017 Statement: letter Continuing the tradition of offering greetings to interreligious partners during festive seasons, the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit offered greetings to Hindu religious partners on the occasion of Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights.
Rosh Ha-Shanah greetings to Jewish partners 20 September 2017 Message "This ‘New Year’ falls at a difficult time, when assumptions that have governed life in significant parts of our world for a generation or more have, during the last year or so, suddenly been called into question", the WCC general secretary rights in a greeting to Jewish partners on the occasion of Rosh Ha-Shanah and the High Holy Days.
WCC expresses grave concern for Rohingya people in Myanmar 14 September 2017 Statement: public statement The World Council of Churches (WCC) expresses its concern about the situation of the Rohingya people and the circumstances in Rakhine state that have forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes and country. According to UN and reputable media reports, some 379,000 Rohingya people have sought refuge in Bangladesh since 25 August, fleeing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state.
Vesakh 2017 08 May 2017 Statement: letter On Vesakh - a day commemorating the life and legacy of Gautama Buddha - WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit extended his greetings to Buddhists across the world.
Is religion discriminatory? 14 February 2017 Lecture - Speech Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit's panel contribution during a conference at a cultural center in Trondheim, Norway.
Statement of the Participants in the Consultation on “Voices of Hope in a New Era” 26 January 2017 Statement: public statement Statement of the Participants in the Consultation on “Voices of Hope in a New Era”, Yangon, Myanmar, 16-20 January, 2017.
WCC policy on Palestine and Israel 1948-2016 (summary) 01 January 2017 Background document This document is a summary and synthesis of policy positions on key issues pertaining to the situation in Palestine and Israel adopted by governing bodies of the World Council of Churches (WCC) from 1948 to 2016. It addresses major themes in these policy positions, but does not pretend to full comprehensiveness. The document has no official standing itself; for the official authoritative positions, the original policy documents referred to should be consulted directly.
Final report from the "Walking Together" meeting 2016 19 December 2016 Report As part of an ongoing, multiyear project called “Walking Together,” an international and interreligious group met in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 6-8 December to explore different facets of the theme “Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace,” which undergirds the World Council of Churches' programmatic focus.
Greetings to Hindus on the occasion of Diwali 2016 31 October 2016 Message Continuing the tradition of offering greetings to interreligious partners during festive seasons, the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit offered greetings to Hindu religious partners on the occasion of Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights.
Public Statement in Support of the Multilateral Negotiation of a Nuclear Weapons Ban in 2017 12 October 2016 Statement: public statement Submitted to the 2016 UN General Assembly First Committee by Faith Communities Concerned about the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons
Speech by Ahmed al-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, 1 October 2016 04 October 2016 Lecture - Speech Speech by Ahmed al-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey on 1 October 2016.
Speech by Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the WCC Central Committee, 1 October 2016 01 October 2016 Lecture - Speech Speech by Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the WCC Central Committee, on 1 October 2016.
Joint Communique issued by the delegations representing the World Council of Churches and the Muslim Council of Elders 01 October 2016 Statement: public statement Joint Communique issued by the delegations representing the World Council of Churches and the Muslim Council of Elders at the meeting held 30 September – 1 October 2016 Geneva, Switzerland.
Presentation by Dr Agnes Abuom, 30 September 2016 30 September 2016 Lecture - Speech Presentation by Dr Agnes Abuom, 30 September 2016.
People and Faith on the Move 25 August 2016 Message Message from the Bossey Interreligious Course August 2016.
The joint pilgrimage of justice and peace 20 August 2016 Lecture - Speech Speech by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit at the launch of the International Centre for Inter-Faith Peace and Harmony, 19 August 2016 in Kaduna, Nigeria.
Eid Al Fitr Greetings 2016 06 July 2016 Message Greetings to the worldwide Muslim community as they celebrate Eid Al Fitr after keeping the fast of Ramadan for the past month.
Call to Action from Faith Communities 07 June 2016 Statement: public statement At an interfaith prayer service on the eve of a UN High Level Meeting on AIDS, people from diverse faith communities issued a call to action to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The Relationship between Religion and the Public Square 01 February 2016 Lecture - Speech Presentation by Dr Clare Amos, WCC programme executive for Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation, at the Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs 2016.
Caring for Our Common Home: An Ecumenical and Interreligious Concern 15 January 2016 Lecture - Speech Comments on the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ of Pope Francis: The encyclical – earth as common home
COP21 High Level Dialogue 08 December 2015 Lecture - Speech An address by the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit on behalf of Faith-Based Organizations at the United Nations climate summit in Paris.
An Interfaith Call for Justice and Compassion in Finance 29 November 2015 Statement: public statement Statement by participants of a Workshop on Faith and Finance reflecting upon the role of money and finance in the current economic and social order from their perspectives as Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims.
Called to Dialogue 19 November 2015 Background document Inter-religious and Intra-Christian Dialogue in Ecumenical Conversation - A Practical Guide.
CID-WCC Joint Communique 17 November 2015 Statement: public statement 8th Meeting for Dialogue between the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue (CID) from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the WCC
Statement on terrorist attacks in Paris 14 November 2015 Statement: public statement The WCC has strongly condemned the latest terror attacks in Paris and Beirut, in a statement issued on 14 November by its executive committee during their meeting in Bogis-Bossey, Switzerland.
Diwali 2015 11 November 2015 Pastoral letter Greetings of peace and prosperity to Hindus on the occasion of Diwali.
In the Sandals of the Other – Christians and Muslims working together in Nigeria 29 September 2015 Report Communique from a meeting at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, 27 to 28 September, to plan for the setting up of an inter-religious Centre in Nigeria.
Rosh Ha-Shanah greetings 2015 15 September 2015 Message A message on Jewish New Year "Rosh Ha-Shanah" from the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit for the members of the Jewish community.
Reducing the gap - Interfaith riches 13 August 2015 Message Reducing the gap: Interfaith riches, a common message prepared by participants of Building an Interfaith Community Summer Course, held from 27 July – 14 August 2015, Chateau de Bossey, Switzerland
Statement from Buddhist-Christian Consultation in Bangkok 06 August 2015 Statement: letter Statement from a Buddhist-Christian consultation on the theme “En-Gendering Justice: Christians in Conversation with Buddhists on Religion, Gender, Sexuality and Power”, in Bangkok, Thailand, 26-30 July, on relationship between religion and gender from an interreligious perspective.
Eid al Fitr greetings 17 July 2015 Message Eid al Fitr greetings to the worldwide Muslim community from Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary.
Clare Amos ICCJ presentation 03 July 2015 Lecture - Speech Presentation at the conference of the International Council of Christians and Jews, Rome, by Dr Clare Amos, WCC programme executive for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.
Congratulations to Bishop Angaelos on receiving OBE 26 June 2015 Statement: letter Congratulations letter to Bishop Angaelos on receiving the honour of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services in promoting human rights and religious freedom.
Statement condemning attacks on religious sites in West Bank and Jerusalem 27 February 2015 Statement: public statement Statement from WCC acting general secretary Georges Lemopoulos condemning the recent attacks against a mosque in the West Bank and a Christian centre in Jerusalem.
Statement condemning attacks on Christians in Syria 25 February 2015 Statement: public statement Statement condemning attacks and atrocities by the so-called “Islamic State” perpetrated against Assyrian Christians in Syria.
Statement on Niger attacks 22 January 2015 Statement: public statement WCC statement condemning attacks on churches in Niger
Statement on Nigeria attacks 12 January 2015 Statement: public statement WCC statement expressing shock over the attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria, which is said to have cost the lives of more than 2,000 people, including children used in suicide bomb attacks.
Faith Communities on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons 09 December 2014 Statement: public statement Interfaith statement at the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons delivered by Kimiaki Kawai (SGI)
Statement on Nigeria mosque attack 03 December 2014 Statement: public statement Statement from the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit following the attack on the Great Mosque of Kano in Nigeria on 28 November.
Concern over Asia Bibi case 28 October 2014 Statement: public statement Statement from the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit over over recent decision on Asia Bibi case.
Greetings to Hindus on the occasion of Diwali 22 October 2014 Message Greetings from the WCC general secretray Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit to Hindus on the occasion of Diwali.
Rosh Ha-Shanah greetings to members of the Jewish community 24 September 2014 Message A message on Jewish New Year "Rosh Ha-Shanah" from the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit for the members of the Jewish community.
Interfaith statement on climate change 21 September 2014 Statement: public statement The statement produced at the Interfaith Summit on Climate Change 2014, presented to the deputy-secretary general of the UN, Jan Eliasson. The Interfaith Summit on Climate Change was hosted by the WCC and Religions for Peace in New York.
WCC-RABIIT joint statement on the bombings in Jos, Nigeria 21 May 2014 Statement: public statement Joint statement from the WCC and the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought (RABIIT) on the bombings in Jos, Nigeria.
Communiqué: Called to Dialogue 16 May 2014 Report Communiqué on ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue in conversation, produced at a meeting organized by the WCC’s Commission on Faith and Order and the WCC programme for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation, from 12 to 14 May 2014
Address to meeting of European Council of Religious Leaders 13 May 2014 Lecture - Speech Address to 11th annual meeting of European Council of Religious Leaders by the WCC general secretary at the Round Table on Societies in Transition: The Role of Inter-Religious Dialogue and Cooperation, held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Communiqué from WCC and CID inter-religious dialogue meeting 2014 17 February 2014 Joint Communique from the 7th round of dialogue between the Center for Interreligious Dialogue (CID) from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the World Council of Churches (WCC), 15 to 16 February in Tehran, Iran.
Ecumenical Conversations Report 10 February 2014 Report Reports, Affirmations and Challenges from the Ecumenical Conversations at the WCC 10th Assembly
Reflections on World Day of Peace 20 January 2014 Lecture - Speech WCC general secretary's reflections on Pope Francis' message for the World Day of Peace at the inter-religious service at the St. Nicolas de Flue church, on 20 January 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Address to Religions for Peace 9th World Assembly 21 November 2013 Lecture - Speech Speech of the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit at the Religions for Peace 9th World Assembly - Vienna, Austria, 21 November 2013.
Statement on the Politicization of Religion and Rights of Religious Minorities 08 November 2013 Statement: public statement Adopted by the WCC 10th Assembly as part of the Report of the Public Issues Committee.
Greetings of Peace from an inter-religious guest 06 November 2013 Message Professor Ram Puniyani, a former professor of biomedical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, is chairperson of the Centre for the Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai, India.
Greetings from the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations 04 November 2013 Message Delivered by Rabbi David Fox Sandmel to the WCC 10th Assembly Mission Plenary.
Message from Rissho Kosei-Kai 01 November 2013 Message Delivered by the Rev. Yasutaka Watanabe, chair of Rissho Kosei-Kai's Board of Trustees, to the WCC 10th Assembly Asia Plenary.
Christian Council of Nigeria address at Kirchentag 07 May 2013 Lecture - Speech Address by Rev. Dr Ibrahim Yusuf Wushishi, general secretary of the Christian Council of Nigeria at the Kirchentag, Hamburg
Meeting on reception of guidelines 01 January 2013 Article - News item Christian witness in our multi-religious world: Report from a PCID-WCC-WEA meeting on reception of guidelines
Communiqué from WCC and CID inter-religious dialogue meeting 18 September 2012 Background document Joint Communique of the 6thMeeting for Dialogue between the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue (CID) from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the World Council of Churches (WCC) Geneva, 17-18 September 2012
Statement urging non-violence and respect for religions 14 September 2012 S WCC statement urging non-violence and respect for religions following the release of an Anti-Islamic film on YouTube.
St Egidio Panel Discussion of Love of the Poor 14 September 2012 Lecture - Speech WCC General Secretary's contribution to a panel discussion "Love of the Poor: The Path to Ecumenism" St Egidio - International Meeting for Peace Sarajevo, 10 September 2012
St Egidio Panel Discussion Experts in Humanity 14 September 2012 Lecture - Speech WCC General Secretary's contribution to a panel discussion "Experts in Humanity: The social and political challenge to believers" at the International Meeting for Peace, St Egidio, Sarajevo, 10 September 2012
Joint statement Christian Muslim delegation to Nigeria 25 May 2012 Statement: public statement A joint statement issued on 25 May at the press conference in Abuja, by the WCC and the Royal Jordanian Aal Al Bayt Institute delegation's visit to Nigeria.
Report on the inter-religious tensions in Nigeria 01 May 2012 Report Report of the International Joint Delegation of the World Council of Churches and the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought
Good Practices Series: Massa-Massar, the Journey 31 December 2011 Background document Programmes on interfaith learning are important in Israel because they fill a gap in the educational system. Published in part by Arigatou Foundation.
Christian Self-Understanding in Relation to Hindu Religion 18 October 2011 A A consultation with the participation of thirty persons from most of the major traditions of the Christian church met at the Ecumenical Institute, Bossey, Switzerland, from the 12-15 October 2011 under the auspices of the World Council of Churches to explore the issues of Christian self-understanding in relation to their Hindu neighbours and to Hinduism as a religious tradition.
200th anniversary of the University of Oslo 20 September 2011 Lecture - Speech The Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, spoke at the University of Oslo in the context of a series of presentations on justice, peace and the role of religion in global perspective marking the university's 200th anniversary.
Call for action by Geneva Interfaith Forum on Climate Change, Environment and Human Rights 20 September 2011 The Geneva Interfaith Forum on Climate Change, Environment and Human Rights is an informal group of faith-based NGOs that gathered to reaffirm the responsibility of each faith and spiritual tradition to care for the environment and play a role in addressing climate change and its impact on the human rights of the world's population.
Minute on Peace and Security in South Asia 16 September 2011 S Public statement by the WCC Executive Committee at its meeting held 12-16 September in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
End of Ramadan 2011 31 August 2011 S Message from the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit to Muslim partners on the occasion of the end of Ramadan.
Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World 28 June 2011 Study document A landmark document addressing the conduct of Christian witness around the world was released 28 June 2011 by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) of the Roman Catholic Church, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) after five years of work. With an expressed awareness of inter-religious tensions and the difference in religious convictions, the document, "Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct" is meant as a tool for churches, ecumenical organizations and mission agencies rather than a policy or theological statement.
Condolence letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon 05 April 2011 P Condolence letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon over the killing of eight staff members of the United Nations Operation Centre in northern Afghan.
Minute on the Presence and Witness of Christians in the Middle East 22 February 2011 S The WCC Central Committee, meeting in Geneva 16-22 February 2011, approved this Minute on Christians in the Middle East.
Report of the General Secretary 16 February 2011 Report Report by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit to the WCC Central Committee at its February 2011 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
Presentation to the World Islamic Call Society 10 January 2011 Lecture - Speech Presentation by the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, to the World Islamic Call Society, Tripoli, Libya, 10 January 2011
Inter-faith Initiative to End Violence Against Children in Swaziland 19 November 2010 Background document Members of 8 faith organisations met to discuss the role of religious organisations in the national response to violence against children.
Condemnation of attack on church in Baghdad 03 November 2010 S Joint statement issued by the participants of the consultation "Transforming Communities: Christians and Muslims Building a Common Future" condemning the criminal attack on the Church of Our Lady of Najat (Sayidat al-Nejat) in Baghdad.
Opening address at Muslim-Christian consultation 01 November 2010 Lecture - Speech Opening Address by the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit at the Muslim-Christian consultation, Geneva, 1 November 2010
Message on the occasion of Eid al Fitr (end of Ramadan) 1431 H. / 2010 a.d. 08 September 2010 Message Sent to Muslim leaders and dialogue partners on 8 September 2010
Bible study: Christ alone? 16 May 2010 Bible study on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit (WCC general secretary)
Congratulations to Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana 22 April 2010 S Congratulation letter to Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, after he was awarded the medal of “Skanderbeg” by the Albanian president, together with the three spiritual leaders of the Muslim, Roman Catholic and Bektashi communities.
South African response to Kairos Palestine Document 31 March 2010 M A South African Christian response to the Palestinian Kairos Document: An Easter 2010 message from South Africa to Palestine
Religious Leadership in Response to HIV 23 March 2010 Lecture - Speech Speech by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit at a Summit of High Level Religious Leaders on Religious Leadership in Response to HIV.
Sheikh Mohammed Sayyid Tantawi 12 March 2010 Tribute In this condolence letter to the al-Azhar University, WCC general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit expresses great respect and appreciation for Sheikh Tantawi's remarkable contribution to Islamic scholarship, for his prominent role and genuine commitment to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue.
Guidelines on Dialogue with People of Living Faiths and Ideologies 01 February 2010 P In 1977 at a meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand a group of Christians representing many different ecclesiastical traditions drew up Guidelines on Dialogue. These guidelines serve as the basis of interreligious dialogue sponsored by the WCC and many churches around the world.
International Conference for Dialogue, Geneva 01 October 2009 Lecture - Speech Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Conference of the Initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Inter-Religious Dialogue and its Impact in Disseminating Human Values by Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia.
International Conference for Dialogue - Speech by Olav Fykse Tveit 01 October 2009 L Speech by Olav Fykse Tveit at a panel of the conference "Initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on dialogue and its impact in disseminating human values" organized by the general secretariat of the Muslim World League.
Minute on the responsibility of churches for communities enduring anti-Christian violence 02 September 2009
Bible study on reconciliation among religions 28 August 2009 L Bible Study by the Right Reverend Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka, for the WCC Central Committee, which met from 26 August to 2 September 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.
3rd Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions 01 July 2009 Lecture - Speech Speech of WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia at the Kazakhstan Third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
Report of the March 2009 CCIA meeting 19 June 2009 R The second meeting of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), following the 2006 Porto Alegre Assembly took place in Cuba from 15-20 March 2009.
Statement on the Gaza war 20 February 2009 S
Iraqi church representatives statement 11 February 2009 S In a meeting organized by the World Council of Churches in Dar Sayedat Al Jabal, Fatka, Lebanon, between 10 and 11 February 2009, twelve church leaders from all over Iraq discussed the current situation of its Christians community. Representatives from different Iraqi churches participated in the meeting together with bishops from the Syrian and Armenian Orthodox Churches and the Chaldean Church in Lebanon, and the General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches.
Joint communiqué of the symposium on "Religion and peaceful co-existence" 14 December 2008 M This communiqué was issued by the The World Council of Churches (WCC, Geneva, Switzerland) and the Centre for Inter-religious Dialogue of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (Tehran, Iran) at the end of their fifth symposium that took place in Tehran on 13-14 December 2008.
Faith in Human Rights 10 December 2008 S At the International Inter-religious Conference in The Hague, The Netherlands on the 10th December 2008 ten invited supreme authorities of the different world religions signed a Statement Faith in Human Rights.
Christian Self Understanding in Relation to Islam 20 October 2008 R
Address by Catholicos Aram I: Living as a community with Islam 18 October 2008 Lecture - Speech This is the text of a keynote lecture delivered by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I at an ecumenical consultation, organized by the World Council of Churches, together with Secretaries of Christian World Communions 18-20 October 2008, Geneva, Switzerland.
Letter to the churches in Iraq 14 October 2008 S
Statement on violence and intolerance in India 26 September 2008 S This statement on religious violence and intolerance in India expressing concern about the alarming trend of growing communal violence and religious intolerance in India was approved by the WCC executive committee in Luebeck, September 2008
The World Conference on Dialogue: a reflexion 29 July 2008 A Rev. Dr Shanta Premawardhana, director of the WCC programme on Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation comments on the World Conference on Dialogue, which took place in Madrid, Spain, 16-18 July 2008.
Metropolitan Emmanuel of France's address to the World Conference on Dialogue 18 July 2008 Lecture - Speech Madrid, Spain
The challenge of inter-religious dialogue and praxis to the African theological community - Dr. Emmanuel Martey (CATI) 06 June 2008 L
Learning to Explore Love Together 20 March 2008 S On 13 October 2007 a group of 138 Muslim scholars addressed an open letter to Christian leaders. Among those addressed was the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches. Based on initial responses from member churches, the WCC initiated a process of responding to the letter. Since November 2007 the WCC commenced consultation with its member churches and ecumenical partners, a number of whom responded with great enthusiasm. This was followed by a meeting of scholars and church experts engaged in the field of Christian-Muslim relations. Their deliberations produced the following commentary on the letter entitled "Learning to Explore Love Together". The commentary is intended to assist the churches in reading and responding to the letter "A Common Word". The document includes suggestions to encourage member churches and ecumenical partners in their reflection on the Letter and in its invitation to explore together with Muslim fellows the love of God and the love of neighbour in their respective contexts. Churches and ecumenical partners are then invited to share their reflections with the WCC as a contribution to a common understanding of and a common response to this initiative.
Learning To Live Together 01 January 2008 Background document An Intercultural and Interfaith Programme for Ethics Information. Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children, Global Networks of Religions for Children, Arigatou Foundation.
Kirchentag 07 June 2007 Lecture - Speech Keynote lecture by Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
Letter to the Grand Rabbin Izhak Dayan, Geneva 24 May 2007 Statement: letter Please refer to the original text in French.
Expression of concern on religious tension in Palu, Central Sulawesi 18 October 2006 S
Recognition by Israel of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus III 29 September 2006 S
Minute on Kosovo 06 September 2006 Statement: minute WCC Central Committee, Geneva, 30 August-6 September 2006
Minute on Sudan 06 September 2006 Statement: minute WCC Central Committee, Geneva, 30 August-6 September 2006
Appeal for respect of right to religious freedom 02 August 2006 S
Grand rabbin Alexandre Safran 28 July 2006 Tribute Condolence letter to the Jewish community of Geneva by the WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia (in French).
The Mandate and Work of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion 01 June 2006 S
Executive Committee May 2006 Statement on the Conflict in Israel/Palestine: The Time Is Ripe To Do What 19 May 2006 S
Report from Inter-Religious Consultation on Conversion 16 May 2006 R
The Right to Education in Pakistan 21 April 2006 S
7. Minute on mutual respect, responsibility and dialogue with people of other faiths 23 February 2006 S
Minute on Mutual Respect, Responsibility and Dialogue with People of other Faiths 23 February 2006 S
Rowan Williams presentation 17 February 2006 Lecture - Speech WCC Assembly plenary on Christian identity and religious plurality
Katsunori Yamanoi 17 February 2006 L
Prince El Hassan bin Talal 14 February 2006 L
Deborah Weissman 14 February 2006 L
Brazilian Inter-religious Group 14 February 2006 L
Religious plurality and Christian self-understanding 14 February 2006 R "Religious plurality and Christian self-understanding" : The question of the theological approach to religious plurality had been on the agenda of the WCC many times, reaching a certain consensus in 1989 and 1990.1 In recent years, it was felt that this difficult and controversial issue needed to be revisited. The present document is the result of a study process in response to suggestions made in 2002 at the WCC central committee to the three staff teams on Faith and Order, Inter-religious Relations, and Mission and Evangelism, and their respective commissions or advisory bodies.
Reiteration of concern at declarations by Iranian President 22 December 2005 S
Expression of concern at recent statements by Iranian President 03 November 2005 S
Message on the Episcopal Silver Jubilee year of Dr Alexander John Malik 27 October 2005 S
Right to religious freedom 31 August 2005 S
Background Information to Evaluate the Gaza Pullout 22 August 2005 B
INF 4 Hearings 22 February 2005 R
Statement on the Iraq Crisis: Enhancing Peace, Accountability and the Rule 22 February 2005 A
Partnerships between churches and people living with HIV/AIDS organizations 01 January 2005 Policy document Guidelines (working document) 2005
Partnerships between churches and people living with HIV/AIDS organizations 01 January 2005 Policy document Guidelines (working document) 2005
Cairo declaration 13 December 2004 S
Inter-religious dialogue 05 August 2004 Lecture - Speech Presentation at the Faith and Order Plenary 2004, by the Rev. Dr Jacob Kurien, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Inter-religious dialogue 05 August 2004 Lecture - Speech Presentation at the Faith and Order Plenary Commission meeting 2004, by Rev. Prof. S. Mark Heim, American Baptist Churches in the USA
Muslim Workshop on HIV/AIDS 09 July 2004 S
Question of Religious Intolerance: Pakistan, Indonesia 23 April 2004 S
Religious Plurality and Christian Self-Understanding 01 January 2004 S This unofficial text is the result of a unique collaboration among WCC Interreligious Relations, Mission and Evangelism, and Faith and Order staff, and their respective commissions or advisory bodies. It seeks a new approach to the difficult and controversial issues related to Christian self-understanding in a religiously plural world. The text, which is provisional as it has not been submitted to or adopted by any official WCC body, is shared here as a document for discussion and debate.
Ecumenical considerations for dialogue and relations with people of other religions 01 January 2004 Report Ecumenical Considerations for Dialogue and Relations with People of Other Religions, Geneva, WCC, 2003. Paper received by the Central Committee and sent to churches for study.
Religious Freedom and Liberty in the Emerging Context 18 December 2003 S
Hearings 02 September 2003
Statement on Iraq 02 September 2003 A
Statement on Europe 02 September 2003 B
Statement on the War in Iraq 20 March 2003 S
Report on an international consultation on "Christians and Muslims in dialogue and beyond" 18 October 2002 R An international consultation on "Christians and Muslims in Dialogue and Beyond" took place in Geneva, 16-18 October 2002, hosted by the World Council of Churches. It brought together representatives of major international Muslim and Christian organisations, scholars and people active in the work of local Christian and Muslim communities.
Pakistan - Condemnation of the assassination of human rights defenders 01 October 2002 S
Guidelines for dialogue and relations with people of other religions 02 September 2002 Guidelines for dialogue and relations with people of other religions
Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement article on Interfaith Dialogue 01 September 2002 B The following article is the entry on Interfaith Dialogue (Dialogue, Interfaith) from the revised edition of the Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement published jointly by the World Council of Churches and the Wm. Eerdmans in 2002.
India - Condemnation of inter-communal violence in Gujarat 05 March 2002 S
Indonesia - Appeal on sectarian violence in Central Sulawesi 10 December 2001 S
Education in religion for the community 04 December 2001 R How can religious education promote good relationships in the community? Consultation for educators in religion Aya Napa, Cyprus 29 November - 4 December, 2001
Expression of deep concern about the safety and security of the Christian minority in Pakistan 29 October 2001 S
Statement presented to the media by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on behalf of the Ecumenical Caucus 05 September 2001 Statement: public statement World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Durban, South Africa, 26 August - 7 September 2001
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March 2001 08 March 2001 Statement: public statement Statement issued by Konrad Raiser
Minute on Indonesia 06 February 2001 M
List of major meetings: 1969-2001 01 February 2001 Background document WCC programme on Interreligious dialogue and cooperation
Striving Together in Dialogue 01 November 2000 S This document has been published by the World Council of Churches and other partners, including Islamic organisations and specialised journals. It is the fruit of a Muslim-Christian meeting held in Amersfoort, Netherlands in November 2000. Convened by the World Council of Churches, it took stock of the various Christian-Muslim dialogue initiatives of this organisation since 1991. During the last nine years, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, educators and activists have discussed the thorny and sometimes divisive issues of religion, law and society, human rights, religious freedom, community rights, mission and da'wa and communal tensions. This document draws largely on their questions, reflections and conclusions.
Teaching Christianity in dialogue with other faith traditions 23 October 2000 Report Consultation report of a 19-23 October 2000 consultation in Geneva on "Concepts of teaching and learning in religions: teaching Christianity in dialogue with other faith traditions", held in cooperation with the German Comenius Institute "At this point in history, two main trends - globalization and pluralism - are the focus of the ecumenical movement, and are decisive elements influencing societies and all areas of education all over the world. Both trends present challenges and opportunites for intercultural and interreligious exchange and learning."
Multifaith consultation on religious education 15 October 2000 S Letter from the participants in a multifaith consultation on religious education held in Bangkok 11-15 October, 2000, to colleagues engaged in religious education within all our religious communities and in educational institutions.
indonesia - Appeal on the situation in the Malukus 13 July 2000 S
Appeal to Indonesian Government to end impunity 12 January 2000 S
Yugoslavia [Former] - Condemnation of the destruction of churches 03 December 1999 S
Yugoslavia [Former] - Ecumenical delegation visit to Kosovo 29 June 1999 S
Yugoslavia [Former] - Pastoral letter to the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church 24 June 1999 P
Indonesia - Appeal for decided action to stop inter-communal violence 01 March 1999 S
Indonesia - Ecumenical delegation visit on request of the WCC eighth assembly 03 February 1999 A
Response by Krister Stendahl 10 May 1997 L "Formation of Christian Folks in a Plural World" - a response by Krister Stendahl to the paper "Formation of the Laos".
Issues in Christian-Muslim Relations: Ecumenical Considerations 01 January 1992 S In 1979 the WCC produced a document entitled "Guidelines on Dialogue with People of Living Faiths" which sought to identify and discuss the major practical and theological issues in interfaith relations. While it addressed some of the overall aspects, it recognized the need for more specific "guidelines" or ecumenical considerations on Christian relations with each of the major faith communities in the world. This document results from the attempt to follow this up in the area of Christian-Muslim relations. It draws on the experience gained from the considerable work carried out over the years. All the meetings between Christians and Muslims organized by the sub-unit on Dialogue during the past twenty years have been documented in the WCC publication "Meeting in Faith". These meetings, however, are only a small part of a much richer history of relations and numerous dialogue encounters in many places. The document that follows is itself based on five regional meetings between Christians and Muslims organized in different parts of the world. These meetings helped to identify some of the important issues which Christians and Muslims need to reflect on and continue to consider together in the years ahead. Many qualified persons in the field of Christian-Muslim relations were consulted in the process.
Prayer for Peace by Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy 01 January 1991 L The following prayer authored by Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy was used in many places in inter-religious worships around the time of the Gulf War in 1991.
Baar Statement: Theological Perspectives on Plurality 15 January 1990 S The Dialogue sub-unit of the WCC undertook a four-year study programme on 'My Neighbour's Faith and Mine - Theological Discoveries through Interfaith Dialogue'. As the apex of this study, delegates from the Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions were brought together to reflect on some of these issues. A week of intense discussions centred on questions such as the significance of religious plurality, christology, and the issues in understanding the activity of the Spirit in the world. The document which follows is a statement made by the members of this consultation, which was held in Baar, near Zurich, Switzerland in January 1990. It is hoped that the statement will help to animate and facilitate the discussion of these important issues as we face the Seventh Assembly in Canberra in February 1991.
Study I: Living in a Religiously Plural World 01 January 1986 S
Study VIII: Community 01 January 1986 Study document The study guide My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue, was published by the WCC in 1986. Since then it has been translated into numerous languages and used widely.
Study VII: Spirituality 01 January 1986 Study document The study guide My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue, was published by the WCC in 1986. Since then it has been translated into numerous languages and used widely.
Study VI: Witness in a Religiously Plural World 01 January 1986 Study document The study guide My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue, was published by the WCC in 1986. Since then it has been translated into numerous languages and used widely.
Study V: The Experience of Salvation 01 January 1986 Study document The study guide My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue, was published by the WCC in 1986. Since then it has been translated into numerous languages and used widely.
Study IV: Jesus Christ 01 January 1986 Study document The study guide My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue, was published by the WCC in 1986. Since then it has been translated into numerous languages and used widely.
Study III: Scriptures 01 January 1986 Study document The study guide My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue, was published by the WCC in 1986. Since then it has been translated into numerous languages and used widely.
Study II: Creation 01 January 1986 Study document The study guide My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue, was published by the WCC in 1986. Since then it has been translated into numerous languages and used widely.
Introduction 01 January 1986 Study document The study guide My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue, was published by the WCC in 1986. Since then it has been translated into numerous languages and used widely.
Study guide: My Neighbour's Faith and Mine 01 January 1986 Study document The study guide, My Neighbour's Faith and Mine: Theological discoveries through interfaith dialogue, was published by the WCC in 1986. Since then it has been translated into numerous languages and used widely.
Ecumenical Considerations on Jewish-Christian Dialogue 16 July 1982 P In 1975 the Consultation on the Church and the Jewish People (CCJP) voted to begin the process that has borne fruit in these Ecumenical Considerations on Jewish-Christian dialogue. The first step was to request preparatory papers from the various regions with experience in Jewish-Christian dialogue. When the Central Committee adopted "Guidelines on Dialogue" in 1979, work on developing specific suggestions for Jewish-Christian dialogue began and, after a period of drafting and revisions, a draft was presented for comments to the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC), the CCJP's primary Jewish dialogue partner. After discussion in the DFI Working Group in 1980, a revised draft was circulated among interested persons in the churches and comments solicited. Many and substantial comments and suggestions were received. When it met in London Colney, England, in June 1981, the CCJP adopted its final revisions and submitted them to the DFI Working Group, which adopted them at its meeting in Bali, Indonesia, 2 January 1982, having made its own revisions at a few points. On the advice of the February 1982 WCC Executive Committee, various concerned member churches and various members of the CCJP were further consulted in order to revise and re-order the text. The result, "Ecumenical Considerations on Jewish-Christian Dialogue", was "received and commended to the churches for study and action" by the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches at Geneva on 16 July 1982.
Concerns of the churches - The Christian approach to the Jews 01 August 1948 Report Amsterdam Assembly 1948 Extracts from Report of Committee IV CONCERNS OF THE CHURCHES: 3.· THE CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO THE JEWS