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Richard Chartres on Salvation in Relation to Humanity and Nature
November 3, 2009
Ban Ki-moon on Supporting a Comprehensive Climate Deal at Copenhagen
November 3, 2009
Ban Ki-moon on Partnerships to Protect the Environment
November 3, 2009
November 3, 2009
Ban Ki-moon on Supporting a Comprehensive Climate Deal at Copenhagen
November 3, 2009
Ban Ki-moon on Partnerships to Protect the Environment
November 3, 2009
PUBLICATIONS (62)
Anchorage Declaration
April 24, 2009
United Methodist Council of Bishops' Response to A Common Word Between Us and You
January 5, 2009
Baptist World Alliance Response to "A Common Word Between Us and You"
December 19, 2008
April 24, 2009
United Methodist Council of Bishops' Response to A Common Word Between Us and You
January 5, 2009
Baptist World Alliance Response to "A Common Word Between Us and You"
December 19, 2008
Interreligious Dialogue
Organizations (108)
Interfaith dialogue describes exchanges among religious practitioners and communities on matters of doctrine and issues of mutual concern in culture and politics. Explore the engagement of the world's religious traditions around theological questions and in their efforts to collaborate on questions of peace, human rights, and economic and social development.
The product of the June 2010 merger of the Reformed Ecumenical Council and World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) unites, represents, and facilitates cooperative action among 230 Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, and United denominations from 108 countries. The WCRC Office of Theology and Communion promotes reconciliation across theological and interreligious lines; the Office of Justice and Partnership supports partnerships against poverty,...
The Children of Abraham Institute (CHAI) focuses on finding ways through which religion can become a source of peace and harmony rather than violence and conflict. Its threefold purpose is to facilitate cooperative scholarship among Christian, Muslim, and Jewish scholars; to help religious leaders identify areas of common understanding that can contribute to peacebuilding in their home communities; and to establish study centers in existing educational institutions. CHAI serves as the...
Founded in 1966 by the Duke of Edinburgh and then-Dean of Windsor, Robin Woods, St. George's House offers leaders a place to explore and discuss challenges to human society and possible solutions; the organization is especially geared towards religious leaders seeking space for theological reflection. St. George's House frequently hosts consultations, conferences, and workshops, encouraging innovation and risk-taking through the use of the Chatham House Rule. These events have addressed...
Companions in Dialogue is a group of interfaith leaders dedicated to interreligious dialogue and understanding. The group was founded by journalist Peter Kirkwood as a way to continue the productive conversations inspired by the document A Common Word Between Us and You. In addition to providing a forum for dialogue for members, the organization supports creative advocacy efforts in support of interfaith dialogue. The formal launch of the organization in May 2009 was combined with a short...
Launched in 2006, the Asia-Pacific Centre for Inter-Religious Dialogue (APCID) promotes collaborative scholarship, dialogue, and community engagement that builds respect and mutual understanding between Christianity and other faith traditions. Located at the Melbourne campus of Australia Catholic University, APCID supports and promotes interreligious work based on the resources of the Catholic intellectual tradition and the work of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue. Specific...
The Roman Catholic Church's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is tasked with promoting mutual understanding between Catholicism and other religions, the study of other religions, and the "formation of persons dedicated to dialogue." Though briefly downgraded by Pope Benedict XVI, the council has been reinstated under the leadership of His Eminence Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran. The council was created in 1964 as the Secretariat for Non-Christians under Pope Paul VI and...
The International Council of Christians and Jews is an umbrella organization based in Germany that links 38 nationally-based Christian-Jewish dialogue organizations around the world. Yearly conferences and other events help promote remembrance of the Holocaust, facilitate constructive dialogue on current issues across religious divides, and renew and remake historical Christian-Jewish relations. The Martin Buber house serves as an educational and resource center for promoting interfaith...
Founded in 1875, Saint Joseph University in Beirut is a Jesuit institution of higher education offering instruction in French, Arabic, and English. The university offers courses in five areas: religious sciences (theology and interfaith study), medical sciences (from dentistry to physical therapy and obstetrics), science and technology (predominantly engineering), social sciences (law, politics, and business), and human sciences (education, language, and regional studies). Facilitating and...
The Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (Leuenberg Fellowship) includes over 100 churches that practice mutual pulpit exchange and Eucharistic sharing. The organization emerged out of post-WWII dialogue initiatives involving Lutheran and Reformed churches and now includes a variety of Protestant traditions. CPCE is an important forum for theological discussion and ethical debate, and it has issued key reports on Protestant understandings of ecclesiology and the relationship between...
Established in 1934, the Christian Council of Tanzania (Jumuiya Ya Kikristo Tanzania, CCT) is a network of churches and Christian organizations that promotes unity among its members and helps them increase their effectiveness in responding to HIV/AIDS and other challenges, such as climate change and gender inequality. These capacity building efforts extend to emergency relief, good governance, interreligious dialogue, and youth issues. Their Peace and Justice program fosters a network of...
The World Methodist Council (WMC) began in 1891 and is dedicated to deepening fellowship within the global Methodist community while supporting ministries of justice and greater ecumenical unity. The organization currently has 500 members worldwide, with headquarters in North Carolina in the United States. WMC has been in dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church since 1967, and other dialogue efforts include conversations with the Lutheran World Federation, the Anglican Church, the World...
After a 5-year planning and organizational period, Christian Churches Together in the USA (CCT) launched in 2006 as a truly ecumenical national body where denominations spanning the theological spectrum could focus on developing a common Christian social witness. Currently 34 churches and national Christian organizations ranging from Pentecostal to Roman Catholic are members, with more either considering membership or present as observers. In addition to facilitating dialogue and building...
Founded in 1963, the Protestant Council of Rwanda (Conseil Protestant du Rwanda, CPR) works to foster unity among the churches of Rwanda, drawing on the Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, and Evangelical Friends traditions. CPR promotes unity and holistic ministry in service to the people of Rwanda; its education department supports comprehensive schooling in preschool through post-secondary institutions, while other initiatives address gender and public policy issues. The Council also...
The Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council (DECC) facilitates dialogue and cooperation among its 18 member churches from 17 countries, drawing on denominations within the Churches of Christ tradition. The DECC maintains an official partnership with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches; the two bodies are linked by numerous joint church memberships that are the result of the United and Uniting Churches movement. A similar relationship is maintained with the Reformed Ecumenical Council....
The Ecumenical Committee of Panama (COEPA) is an ecumenical organization that brings together Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox representatives for cooperative activities, such as its coordination of an interreligious dialogue committee with Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i, and Ibeorgun organizations. COEPA sponsors interreligious dialogue events and sponsors charitable activities, and it participates in the Panamanian Civil Society Assembly, a broad coalition of NGOs that provide informal...
The Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC) unites canton-level churches to facilitate ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, coordinate relief and development activities, and examine ethical and theological issues. The FSPC holds membership in the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches, and Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (Leuenberg Fellowship); it also engages in dialogue with Roman Catholic and Old Catholic...
The Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) brings together representatives from the various meetings of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) to promote fellowship and provide a unified Quaker voice on international issues. In this spirit the FWCC head office coordinates support for Quaker offices at the United Nations and participates in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue through membership in the World Council of Churches, with the subsidiary International Membership Office...
The International Missionary Council (IMC) encouraged ecumenical cooperation in support of world evangelization during the first half of the 20th century. Impetus for founding the IMC came from the 1910 Edinburgh World Mission Conference; the organization linked the agencies and councils of sending countries with organizations representing those involved in on-the-ground missionary work. The IMC proved especially valuable in mediating potential territorial disputes and collating...
A World Council of Churches affiliate, The Latin-American Council of Churches (Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias, CLAI) is an ecumenical Christian organization that promotes reconciliation, cooperative evangelism, and dialogue among the churches of Latin America. CLAI programs address issues like gender justice, the environment, health, faith and the economy, and peacebuilding, along with ministries for women, youth, and indigenous communities; more specifically, it includes both a regional...
The Luxembourg Council of Christian Churches is an umbrella organization for all Christian denominations in Luxembourg, including Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches. It is a national partner of the World Council of Churches. The organization's goals focus on fostering inter-denominational understanding and cooperation and coordinating joint action on public issues, such as the condemnation of torture and global climate change. The council has also emphasized that a healthy society...
Since 1974 the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has grown to include Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Rite Catholic, and Protestant churches. In the Muslim-majority region, the Council works to establish a peaceful Christian presence by initiating dialogue, which it has done in post-war Lebanon and Iraq, as well as in Israel/Palestine. Other MECC programs support services that meet the material needs of people in the region, including partnerships with the Lebanese...
The Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC) is a Burmese ecumenical organization that promotes understanding and cooperation among different Christian denominations, sharing of resources among churches, a unified engagement with the state and other faith traditions, and coordinated effort in social welfare activities. MCC departments also focus on Christian education and literacy, women's empowerment, and youth leadership training. The organization originated in 1914 as the Burma Representative...
The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCCUSA) brings together 35 denominations with a combined 45 million members to promote cooperation in service, education, advocacy, and witness. Members represent the Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican, and African-American church traditions. NCCUSA actively engages in public debates on civil rights and social justice, environmental stewardship, interreligious dialogue, and fair representation of religion in the mass media; since...
The Council of Protestant Churches of Nicaragua (CEPAD) is an umbrella organization for churches and Christian institutions in Nicaragua and primarily supports interreligious peace through collaborative development efforts and emergency relief. Programs address environmental management, secondary and theological education, grassroots advocacy, and support for health families. CEPAD also operates a radio station and program; the Nehemiah Program encourages reconciliation across national...
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) has been the locus of ecumenical activity within the Roman Catholic Church, encouraging ecumenical activity among other Catholic bodies and coordinating ecumenical dialogue with other churches and ecclesial communities. Created in 1960 as the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, it began as an effort to include ecumenical observers in the Second Vatican Council; Pope John Paul II rechristened it the Pontifical Council for...
The Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) promoted international ecumenical dialogue among its 39 members, many of whom also participated in the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and in June 2010 the two organizations merged to form the World Communion of Reformed Churches. They also jointly participated in a Reformed-Pentecostal dialogue. REC began in 1946 as an organization of Dutch heritage churches and quickly expanded to include variety of Reformed and Presbyterian denominations. After...
The Sudan Inter-religious Council (SIRC) strives to strengthen tolerance and cooperation within the divided country while also serving as a conduit for conflict mediation in local communities divided along religious lines. SIRC also strives to protect religious freedom and increase ties between various religious leaders, as well as encourage implementation of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement. In 2007, SIRC hosted the International Conference on Muslim-Christian Dialogue in Khartoum, Sudan;...
The World Convention of Churches of Christ brings together denominations in the Christian Churches, Churches of Christ, and Disciples of Christ traditions to rebuild and reinforce the Christian unity central to the movement's founding. Global conventions take place every four years and have been held primarily in the United States, Great Britain, and Australia; convention participants engage in worship, biblical study, evangelism, and fellowship. Since 1992 there has been revived interest in...
The International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD) uses faith-based diplomacy to resolve conflict and promote interreligious understanding. Its work addresses identity-based conflicts, particularly those taking the form of ethnic conflict, tribal warfare, or religious hostilities. By linking religious reconciliation with official or unofficial diplomacy, ICRD seeks modes and mechanisms of peacemaking that can minimize the need for military intervention and support sustainable economic...
The Roman Catholic Church is the world's largest Christian Church, with over 1 billion members, and currently headed by Pope Francis. Since becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century, it has been persistently influential in Western and world culture, politics, and history. The Catholic Church's involvement in contemporary world affairs varies widely and has often embroiled it in controversy. Politically, it has denounced both communism and unrestrained capitalism...
Founded to provide Sunday school teachers with summer education courses, the Chautauqua Institution offers programs ranging from arts and entertainment to children's day camps and outdoor recreation activities. The Chautauqua Institution runs primarily during a nine week summer session, though some learning programs continue throughout the year. The Department of Religion continues to honor the Institution's ecumenical Christian heritage while also supporting interfaith dialogue on a range of...
The Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College supports theological research and educational initiatives that promote understanding and mutual enrichment between the Christian and Jewish traditions. The Center pursues its mission by sponsoring conferences and lectures, supporting the Christian Scholars Group on Christian-Jewish Relations, and offering history and theology courses based on interreligious learning techniques. An endowment funds the Corcoran Visiting...
Founded in 1959, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) brings together 126 Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, and Old Catholic churches to promote fellowship across confessional, linguistic, and national lines and demonstrate a common Christian witness to European society. With the growth of the European Union, CEC has begun to examine and monitor social, economic, and environmental issues in the European context. The organization has especially devoted resources to the theological and...
The Russian Orthodox Church, also known as the Christian Orthodox Church of Russia, is an autocephalous Orthodox church under the authority of the Moscow Patriarchate. The current leader is Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who is in communion with other Patriarchs of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Reviving after decades of Soviet rule, the Russian Orthodox Church has experienced a resurgence in participation. At present, the Church has over 145 dioceses worldwide and is the...
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, located in Istanbul, is the senior see of Orthodox Christianity. The current Ecumenical Patriarch is Bartholomew, who presides alongside the other Orthodox Primates, though tradition grants him "first among equals" status and responsibility for initiating and coordinating action between the churches. The Patriarchate's geographic jurisdiction includes Turkey and several small outlying territories, including Crete. In addition to continued dialogue...
The Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) provides a forum for internal and external dialogue and facilitates cooperation in areas of ministry, such as joint events. Ten traditions are represented, including Greek Orthodoxy and the Moscow Patriarchate. In addition to agencies focused on education, prison ministry, and scouting, SCOBA also has bilateral theological consultations with Lutheran and Roman Catholic partners. International...
The International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference brings together representatives of the Union of Utrecht to foster community among member churches, discuss issues of doctrine and church order, and oversee relationships with external religious communities. The Conference also manages membership requests for the Union of Utrecht. Member bishops are responsible for facilitating communication between their churches and the broader Old Catholic community, as well as implementing the decisions of...
The Unitas Fratrum is the worldwide expression of the Moravian Church, which receives its overarching direction from the Moravian Unity Board and the Unity Synod. The Unity Board supervises the daily work of the international church, with the Unity Synod meeting every seven years to discuss the general operation of the church. As the name suggests, the church considers Christian unity a primary goal and prizes both its internal unity in diversity and its broader ecumenical relationships; this...
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has over 15 million members worldwide who adhere to distinctive practices such as worshipping on Saturday and lifelong vegetarianism. The denomination's tripartite focus combines preaching with teaching and healing for the sick and oppressed and is coupled with an overarching emphasis on mission and unity. Through the Office of Adventist Mission, networks of Adventist educational and health care institutions provide services around the world, while the...
Theologically rooted in 19th century English Methodism, the Salvation Army (SA) combines a quasi-military religious hierarchy with an emphasis on evangelism and care for the poor. It has approximately 1.5 million members worldwide and operates in 115 countries and territories, and the organization has become widely known and respected for its locally based development work. Salvation Army institutions offer services related to health care, education, and shelter, and they frequently provide...
Founded in 1905, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) currently includes more than 200 Baptist conventions and unions. Since the 1980s BWA has engaged in dialogue with the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the World Mennonite Conference, and the Anglican Consultative Council, and it is actively pursuing possible dialogue with the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul. It also recently renewed talks with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity...
The Anglican Communion is the international association of Anglican churches, under which each national church exercises full autonomy. The Archbishop of Canterbury (presently Rowan Williams) serves as the symbolic leader for the Communion's over 77 members worldwide; in recent years conflict over homosexuality and theological orthodoxy have threatened this unity. The Communion maintains a strong presence in global ecumenical movements and is a primary member of the World Council of Churches...
The United Evangelical Mission (UEM) includes 34 churches in Africa, Asia, and Germany who cooperate on evangelism, social services outreach, and justice advocacy. An emphasis on partnership permeates all UEM activities, with financial assistance and personnel exchanges flowing across North-South and South-South linkages; improving the status of women and children is another overarching objective. UEM partner initiatives focus on education and human rights advocacy, as well as health care...
The Global Christian Forum aims to bring together churches and Christian traditions who for various reasons have not been engaged together in ecumenical dialogue, especially those rooted in the evangelical and Pentecostal movements. Since 1998 its Continuation Committee has organized a series of regional meetings, culminating in the November 2007 global forum in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants included (but were not limited to) representatives of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the...
The Council for World Mission (CWM) unites 31 member churches to support capacity-building and resource-sharing in the field of missions; building relationships of equality and mutual cooperation across North-South linkages represents another central purpose of CWM. Personnel exchange and missionary training are key features of CWM, and the organization coordinates a number of academic scholarships, cross-cultural seminars, and community development workshops. Its Mission...
Cevaa (a French acronym for Evangelical Community of Apostolic Action) brings together 35 churches worldwide to offer cooperative Christian witness. Members work to combine proclamation of the gospel with concern for the material needs of humanity. In addition to evangelization, Cevaa facilitates resource-sharing and capacity-building among members, as well as the expanded participation of women in mission work; financial cooperation and personnel exchange are two key...
The Lausanne Movement (Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization) facilitates global conversations on evangelism and promotes Christian unity through cooperative action. Lausanne does not run independent mission programs; rather, it organizes conferences and meetings to encourage networking and cooperation among existing organizations and leaders, beginning with the Lausanne I International Congress on World Evangelization. As a result, the Lausanne Movement sponsors regional consultations,...
Founded in 2008, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation is dedicated to promoting interreligious dialogue and understanding, and inspiring interfaith initiatives which address global development challenges. These interfaith anti-poverty efforts are coordinated under the Faiths Act project, one of the organization's earliest initiatives which trains young adults (Faiths Act Fellows) to facilitate interfaith cooperation against malaria. The Foundation also focuses on reaching youth with the message of...
The Micah Network unites approximately 320 evangelical Christian relief and development organizations, along with over 200 associate members, as they help one another more effectively minister to both spiritual and material needs around the world; the network's purpose is cooperation and information-sharing, rather than direct program implementation. Current strategic goals include improving capacity among members, promoting the theology of "Integral Mission," and expanding advocacy efforts...
The Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism (LCJE) coordinates and supports global evangelical efforts to spread the Christian gospel among the Jewish people. Regular regional and global consultations allow scholars and workers in the field to network, share information and best practices, and advocate the importance of Jewish evangelism. Conference papers and the LCJE quarterly bulletin are available online, along with other notable statements like the "Willowbank Declaration on the...
The International Charismatic Consultation (ICC, formerly the International Charismatic Consultation for World Evangelization) unites Christians from all Christian traditions through their commitment to evangelism and experience of the Holy Spirit. Drawing on the metaphor of a "tent of meeting," the organization creates temporary space for prayer, prophecy, fellowship, and proclamation of the Gospel. The 1991 Brighton Consultation formally launched the movement, and ICC continues to organize...
The Viva Network unites 81 initiatives around the world in a commitment to serve children at risk and those who care for them. By helping Christian organizations network and collaborate, Viva Network aims to improve both the quality and quantity of services available. Groups can find partners either by location or issue focus, and the Viva Network's website offers access to contact information and other networking resources. Viva Network projects range from health and education advocacy to...
Disciple Nations Alliance Global (DNA) supports churches worldwide as they seek to transform societies both spiritually and materially. This holistic ministry focuses on the role of the local church and local resources in spreading the hope and healing of Jesus Christ. A network or "school of thought" rather than an implementing body, DNA Global hosts training sessions and helps partners around the globe find new methods of collaboration. After ten years as a U.S.-based movement, in March...
Disciples Nations Alliance, U.S. (DNA) promotes cultural transformation and holistic ministry around the world. A network or "school of thought" rather than an implementing body, the organization primarily hosts Vision Conferences, training seminars, and workshops; its website offers online access to training materials, as well as books and other resources for sale. DNA trainers especially focus on empowering local churches to be change agents in their communities, addressing both spiritual...
Formally established in 1993 after 30 years of informal gatherings, the International Lutheran Council (ILC) fosters cooperation and mutual encouragement among its members. The 34 confessional Lutheran denominations are especially involved in joint theological study and cooperative missionary work, and these efforts often take the form of educational conferences and literature publication. News and information is disseminated through the quarterly ILC News. Every two years a global conference...
Run by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute has facilitated Christian reconciliation and renewal since 1967; it added interreligious dialogue to its portfolio in 1991. In addition to participating in dialogues such as the Faith and Order Commission (National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA), Institute staff offer lectures, conduct workshops, and sponsor the biennial Northeast Ecumenical Institute. The organization also publishes...
Ecumenical Women (EW) brings together Christian denominations and ecumenical organizations to promote gender equality and just power structures within the church and around the globe. EW holds advocacy training workshops, facilitates networking, and coordinates ecumenical representation at the United Nations, including the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The organization's website also provides access to academic articles and...
The successor to the Consultation on Church Union (1962-2002), Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) is an ecumenical body whose members recognize the mutual validity of baptism and the Eucharist as practiced in each church, as well as a joint mission to combat racism in the United States. As evidence of this unity, members pledge to engage in joint worship, sharing of the sacraments, and pulpit exchange whenever possible; continued theological dialogue is also a central activity. Since January...
The Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations (CCJR) facilitates networking and resource-sharing among primarily US-based organizations dedicated to improving interfaith understanding among Christians and Jews. One of its key initiatives is Dialogika, an online database dedicated to archiving information and documents on Christian-Jewish dialogue; the database is co-sponsored with the Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations of Saint Joseph's University. It also supports the...
The Interfaith Center New York (ICNY) is a secular non-profit organization that seeks to foster understanding and respect among religious groups in New York City. Founded in 1997 by James Parks Morton, the Center encourages members of all faiths to participate in civic life. It seeks solutions for social issues in the fields of education, the legal system, social work, and the arts and culture. Activities include symposia that bring together faith leaders and judges in New York City to...
The National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace unites American Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders as they work towards peace and mutual respect, especially for those affected by the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Participants pledge to identify common principles even when areas of disagreement remain, as well as encourage "active, determined U.S. leadership" in support of a long-term solution. The work of the initiative particularly focuses on policy advocacy, and members have...
The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) supports interpersonal, face-to-face dialogue as the best way to promote reconciliation and understanding among ethnic communities. Current president and founder Rabbi Marc Schneier is especially active as a dialogue representative for the American Jewish community. Overall, the Foundation's programs focus on various dialogue efforts involving African-American and Jewish communities. In addition to bilateral dialogue and education programs, other...
The Hommes de Parole Foundation facilitates dialogue by sponsoring meetings and disseminating information that helps individuals identify common areas of thought and action. One of the Foundation's most well-known initiatives has been its sponsorship of the World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, which emphasizes open dialogue uninhibited by media or other pressures; this effort grew out of one of the Foundation's first events, the Congress of Caux. The related blog Shalomalaykum...
Founded in 1906, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) works to combat anti-Semitism and bigotry and promote democratic pluralism across the globe. Concerned with the continued flourishing of the global Jewish community, the AJC advocates for the rights of minorities worldwide and peace and security for the state of Israel. Internationally the organization uses forums, exchange programs, and research initiatives to build networks among policymakers, community leaders, and others with similar...
The American Jewish Congress works to protect the rights of Jews worldwide through policy advocacy and litigation. Organized in 1918 by prominent Jewish leaders, including Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and U.S. Supreme Court Justices Louis Brandeis and Felix Frankfurter, the Congress provided a voice for the Jewish community at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 following World War I. The Congress was among the first Jewish organizations to publicly support the creation of a Jewish state, and as part...
The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) supports traditional Anglican doctrine and practices and rejects theological developments within the Anglican Communion on issues like homosexuality. The organization's dual focus emphasizes proclamation of the biblical gospel and also provides a spiritual home to Anglicans who believe that their original places of membership no longer adhere to orthodox doctrine. Membership is open to all Anglicans, from the individual to province level. The...
Successor to the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America, Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) is an ecumenical organization dedicated to racial reconciliation among white and black Pentecostal Christians through evangelization, fellowship and dialogue, and common witness to the work of the Holy Spirit. The organization's birth was heralded as the "Memphis Miracle," after the 1994 conference in which black and white participants asked for mutual forgiveness for past...
The Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center (JICRC) promotes interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians, as well as the legal regimes necessary to protect the rights of all to choose their religious beliefs and practices. JICRC has programs targeting youth, women, and imams, and cross-cultural dialogue trips are a key component of its work; for instance, the organization has sent imams to visit the United States and hosted visiting American student...
The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) is a global network of organizations dedicated to helping young Muslims become positively engaged in their societies; they also work to provide an accurate image of Islam in interreligious dialogue. In addition to provide camps and trips for Muslim youth, WAMY holds events on pertinent issues and produces informational materials about Islamic beliefs and practices. It is affiliated with the United Nations. The organization has come under scrutiny...
The Network for Inter faith Concerns (NIFCON) assists the Anglican Communion in building interfaith relationships, easing interreligious tensions, and facilitating theological reflection from the local to international level. NIFCON is especially active in tracking Christian-Muslim relations, including the Anglican dialogue with al-Azhar University; information and analysis is compiled into the Christian Muslim Digest. Led by three bishops, the organization coordinates Anglican representation...
The Interfaith Relations Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) helps members increase their knowledge of other religions, build productive interfaith relationships, and respond to international issues of interreligious significance. Its work especially focuses on Christianity's connections with Judaism and Islam: the annual Interfaith Listening Program brings international Christian-Muslim teams to the United States to share and discuss their interfaith experiences, and the Interfaith...
The African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL), an affiliate of Religions for Peace, brings together religious leaders to identify “deeply held and widely shared” moral concerns and then translate those into cooperative action for the betterment of the continent. The Council is open to all traditions, though many members come out of Christianity and Islam, and serves as a complementary partner to other pan-African organizations like the African Union. Economic development, HIV/AIDS, and...
The Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, based in Hartford Seminary, supports research and academic dialogue that improves interfaith understanding. In addition to academic courses on Islamic history, belief, and contemporary practice, the Center facilitates dialogue among Hartford students and provides resources and expert lecturers to outside groups interested in Christian-Muslim relations. Another Center program prepares...
Based in Pakistan, the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Forum (MCDF) is dedicated to establishing the equality and promoting the security of Pakistan's Muslim and Christian communities alike and has worked to realize this vision since its founding in 1998. MCDF is the product of a roundtable conference on interfaith relations held between Muslim and Christian religious leaders and convened by Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri of Pakistan Awami Tahreek. A 2000 Joint Declaration by MCDF condemned violence...
Based in Vorarlberg, the westernmost state of Austria, the Work of the Gospel community (Werk der Frohbotschaft Batschuns) is a Catholic convent founded after the Second World War by a group of women committed to humanitarian work. Today, the group has established a permanent presence in Austria and sponsors projects around the world to carry out its continued mission of helping the oppressed. The convent maintains a partnership with the St. George Church in Istanbul; together the two...
Muslims in Dialogue (Muslimer i Dialog) is a Danish organization devoted to promoting Sunni Muslim-Christian dialogue and active Muslim participation in Danish society. With centers in Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus, and other cities, the organization organizes educational seminars and courses, publishes news articles and academic material, and hosts a summer camp to increase interaction and common understanding between members of the two faiths. It also sponsors cultural events, activities for...
Founded by Samuel Rizk, the Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue (FDCD) supports interfaith initiatives that promote peace, sustainable development, and interreligious dialogue in the Middle East. FDCD conducts seminars and trainings with marginalized communities throughout the region, with particular attention on Lebanon; the organization also focuses on engaging women and youth in civil society work. Past projects have included trustbuilding exercises conducted in the wake of the...
Founded in 1993, the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (CMCU) engages in teaching, research, analysis, and public outreach designed to improve relations between the Muslim world and the West and enhance understanding of Muslims in the West. Located at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, CMCU has a core faculty of four professors and hosts a large number of visiting scholars-in-residence, researchers, and fellows from the United States and abroad...
The Institute of Islamic-Christian Studies (Institut d'études islamo-chrétiennes) at St. Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon, seeks to increase inter-religious understanding in order to foster a greater tolerance for religious differences. The institute was established in response to the religious strife that occurred in the course of Lebanon's civil war. Today the University remains dedicated to making Islam accessible to Christians and Christianity accessible to Muslims...
The Islamic-Christian Research Group (Groupe de recherches islamo-chrétien, GRIC) is a network of scholars around the Mediterranean who specialize in interfaith dialogue. Comprised solely of Muslim and Christian scholars, the group is primarily based out of France and Morocco and hosts regular events in various locations on matters of theology and interfaith relations. GRIC's website has a wide range of publications that touch on various matters of religion and public life.
Founded in 1997, the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) is an interfaith forum of Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian leaders dedicated to providing community-based mediation, advocacy, and peace-building activities to conflicts in northern Uganda (Acholiland). Initially chaired by the Anglican Bishop in Uganda, ARLPI first launched a peace conference discussing the causes and effects of the war and ways to resolve it; as a result ARLPI has supported a...
The Society for Family Health (SFH) helps youth, low-income groups, and vulnerable high-risk groups in Nigeria choose healthy behaviors related to HIV/AIDS, malaria, reproductive health, and child survival. SFH especially focuses on mothers, pregnant women, and children under 5 years. Anti-malaria programs distribute bed nets and easy-to-use, affordable medical treatment packages; water purification and hygiene initiatives reduce diarrheal disease. HIV/AIDS-related efforts include counseling...
Dedicated to service, charity, and the Roman Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus are a Catholic male fraternal order. The Georgetown Knights regularly sponsors spiritual, service, and social-oriented programs on campus, including Jesuit Heritage Week and the Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life. In particular, the Hoya Council focuses its efforts on pro-life advocacy, the encouragement of religious vocations, weekly Eucharistic devotion, and weekly community service projects; formed in...
The Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land is an independent organization of Palestinian and Israeli religious leaders founded in late 2007 with the objective of helping to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through dialogue. Comprised of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian members, the council promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance through vigilance against inflammatory and hateful speech and encourages the Government of Israel and the Palestinian National...
The Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme at Cambridge University takes an academic approach to inter-faith dialogue across the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). By focusing on theology and religious studies, the organization hopes to create a strong base of religious understanding and respect within each of its students. In addition, students are exposed to religious history, practices, law, philosophy, politics, and sociology in order to gain a fuller understanding of...
Dedicated to promoting dialogue and understanding among the three Abrahamic religions, the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel is a national umbrella organization with institutional members rooted in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The Council's projects include research, dialogue, and action initiatives designed to promote long-term reconciliation and relationship-building, as well as immediate respect and understanding. Religious leaders, women, and youth are the...
The Coexist Foundation is a London-based charity that undertakes education, dialogue, and research in order to promote knowledge among the Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The foundation seeks to educate the public concerning the particular as well as shared beliefs, teachings, practices, and history of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths, thereby engendering "friendship, goodwill, and mutual trust." To these ends the Coexist Foundation has partnered...
The Buxton Initiative promotes interfaith dialogue by encouraging individuals to develop relationships with those of other faiths. Founded by Dr. Akbar Ahmed and Ambassador J. Douglas Holladay and inspired by their own friendship, the organization focuses on uniting adherents of the Abrahamic faiths. Regular conferences bring opinion leaders in politics, business, media, and the military together for dialogue based on mutual trust. The Buxton Initiative also targets young people through its...
Named after the 13th-century Sufi philosopher-poet Mawlana Jalaladdin Rumi, the Rumi Forum for Interfaith Dialogue (RFID) promotes research, education, and debate that fosters interfaith dialogue and support for democracy and peace. The forum hosts a wide variety of events, including conferences, study trips to Turkey, working lunches, and lectures featuring ambassadors from around the world; event multimedia resources are available on the forum's website. It also awards annual RUMI Peace and...
Founded in 1997 by leaders of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities of Great Britain, the Three Faiths Forum (TFF) seeks to bring together, represent, and support believers of the Abrahamic faiths. In order to do so, the forum works on the national level in engaging Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders in discussion and advocacy with government and international organizations, and it also facilitates grassroots dialogue. In 2008, the organization launched a branch that brings...
Founded in 2001 by Dr. Manfred Görg, Friends of Abraham (Freunde Abrahams e.V.) promotes interreligious understanding by supporting academic research on the history of religion. The organization also coordinates study trips that introduce participants to religious life in a particular region; past excursions have focused on Andalusia, Eastern Europe, Egypt, and Istanbul. In 2006 Friends of Abraham and another local interfaith organization were awarded a municipal prize for their...
Founded in November 2004, Children of Abraham, Inc. is an initiative to engage Muslim and Jewish youth in online dialogue. The idea was conceived following the success of a summer project that sent over 60 teenagers around the world to publicize a photography exhibit demonstrating similarities between Judaism and Islam. The organization promotes dialogue, discovery, and respect as core principles and aims to work for education and interaction without taking political stances on issues...
Daughters of Abraham is a network of all-women book discussion clubs dedicated to breaking down stereotypes and promoting interreligious understanding. Each month participants use literature, poetry, and film to spark discussion about their religious traditions and faith practices; groups generally avoid topics that are overtly political or sociological in nature. Book topics rotate among the three traditions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). Ground rules emphasize respectful listening,...
Founded in 1789 in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution in the United States. A leading student-centered research institution, Georgetown encompasses four schools (College of Arts and Sciences, School of Foreign Service, Business School, and Nursing and Health Studies), as well as diverse graduate programs and medical and law centers. Over the past two decades the university has emerged as a global leader in the study of religion and its role in...
Community Dialogue (CD) promotes grassroots dialogue efforts that help individuals understand government policy and more effectively engage and understand all sides of contested issues. CD was founded in 1997 to host dialogue events across Northern Ireland's Catholic-Protestant divide. Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, CD trainers have conducted grassroots workshops geared to reducing sectarian tensions and exploring how the lives of average individuals will change with the...
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is an ecumenical body with 145 member churches in 79 countries that cooperate on a variety of dialogue and development efforts. "The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification," affirmed by Lutherans and Roman Catholics, remains a notable example of LWF ecumenical work. The Global Lutheran World Federation Campaign against HIV/AIDS began in May 2002, issuing "Breaking the Silence," which promoted supportive and accepting church communities....
After an irregular series of meetings through the first half of the twentieth century, in 1952 the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) transitioned into a more theologically focused organization designed to facilitate discussion and fellowship among its members and interaction with other Christian world communions. It has engaged in a series of dialogues with the Roman Catholic Church throughout the 1990s and remains committed to continually improving this relationship. MWC also maintains an...
Founded in 1996, the Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations (CMJR) at Cambridge University is a member of the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths, an umbrella educational charity. The only academic center dedicated to Muslim-Jewish relations in England, CMJR offers courses and University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education degrees in Islam, Judaism, and Muslim-Jewish Relations. In addition, the Centre's education programs serve as a foundation for interfaith dialogue...
Alif Aleph UK is a British organization that seeks to bring together Muslims and Jews to develop "a good practice model" for divided communities across the United Kingdom. As a grassroots organization, Alif Aleph has supported events and activities engaging people of all ages since 2003. One initiative, the Schools Linking Programme, helps build relationships between Jewish and Muslim students in London. The organization's website provides support and information for independent groups...
The Daniel Pearl Foundation promotes cross-cultural understanding through dialogue, journalism, and music. Dialogue inspired by conversations between Judea Pearl and Akbar Ahmed focuses on Jewish-Muslim relations, while Daniel Pearl World Music Days incorporate a global series of concerts that celebrate music as a universal language of friendship. Through fellowships journalists and editors from South Asia immerse themselves in American newsrooms and learn how to work in a free...
Friends of OPEN HOUSE is a worldwide network dedicated to supporting the Arab-Jewish reconciliation work of OPEN HOUSE. In addition to providing financial support for these efforts, Friends of OPEN HOUSE also links local OPEN HOUSE participants with similarly-minded individuals across Europe and North America. In addition, the organization's website compiles relevant news and information about the work of OPEN HOUSE. The Board of Directors is currently based in the United States.
Emerging in 1913 out of the historical fight against anti-Semitism, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) works to eradicate all forms of bigotry and hate and support democratic pluralism around the world. This effort includes a serious commitment to the security of the state of Israel. The organization focuses on information initiatives that help law enforcement agencies combat hate crimes and education programs that foster understanding instead of prejudice. The ADL encourages religious...
The Canadian Centre for Diversity (CCD, formerly the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews) is an interfaith dialogue and relations organization focused on promoting peaceful interaction and fighting discrimination among religious and ethnic groups in Canada through programming targeted at students and youth. While originally founded to promote Christian-Jewish relations, the center has since expanded into general work in multiculturalism and diversity. CCD conducts education programming in...
The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions facilitates interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural engagement as part of its mission to promote justice, tolerance, and peace among the world's peoples; it is also the central organizing body for the Parliaments of the World's Religions. Through pre-parliament meetings and Parliament programs, the Council has been a leader in interfaith work and peacebuilding internationally such as in South and Central Asia. The first Parliament was held...
Originally known as the Oxford Group and later Moral Re-Armament, the Initiatives of Change (IofC) movement has evolved over the past century from one man's spiritual awakening into an international network building trust in a divided world. The organization emphasizes change in motivation and character as the key to building cross-cultural cooperation and has been active in interreligious dialogue. Since its formal incorporation in 2002, IofC has officially organized in 44 countries and...
The Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) fosters dialogue between community members of different faiths, promoting acceptance of all religions and non-violent approaches to conflict resolution. The center uses a faith-based approach that employs scriptural texts that promote peace and emphasizes accountability, flexibility, social inclusion, and mutual respect. It cooperates with and is supported by a number of national and international partners, including Search for Common Ground, UNDP, and...
The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) is an international organization that seeks to promote reconciliation and peace through human love applied to political, economic, and social structures. Originating in 1919, IFOR is now established in 51 countries through 85 centers and affiliated groups. Members represent all of the major religious traditions and a diversity of spiritual inspirations for the commitment to peace. IFOR advocates for interfaith cooperation, disarmament, and...
The Center for Religious Tolerance (CRT) aims to undercut the tensions caused by racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, and national divisions by determining commonalities between faiths. CRT attempts to foster unity, provide balanced news coverage, support peacemakers at home and abroad, and to test and develop spiritual peacemaking strategies, particularly by women. Its initiatives include The Abrahamic Reunion, a group of religious and lay leaders of Christian, Druze, Jewish, and Muslim...