Ecumenical / Interfaith Relations

The United Church participates in interfaith dialogue and action through local, national, and global organizations. Significant resources, including group study guides, are available on whole world ecumenism, United Church-Jewish relations, and United Church-Muslim relations.

Interfaith Dialogue Organizations

Canadian Christian Jewish Consultation

Established in 1977 as a dialogue among member churches of the Canadian Council of Churches, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canadian Christian Jewish Consultation seeks to foster mutual understanding and respect, assert concern for human rights, foster justice and reconciliation, and combat bigotry and prejudice.

National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee

Representatives of Christian denominations, ecumenical groups, and Muslim organizations meet to promote respectful dialogue and co-operation and model how faith communities can collaborate on social issues and educational events.

North American Interfaith Network

The North American Interfaith Network* (NAIN)'s mission is to build communication and mutual understanding among interfaith organizations and diverse religious groups throughout North America.

Parliament of the World's Religions

Held every five years, the Parliament of the World's Religions* brings people of diverse faiths from around the world together for lectures, workshops, panel discussions, films, and art exhibits.

World Conference of Religions for Peace

Religions for Peace*promotes co-operation for peace among the world's religions and seeks to play a constructive role in conflict resolution.

Interfaith Resources

These resources can be ordered from UCRDstore or downloaded.

• 

  Mending the World: An Ecumenical Vision for Healing and Reconciliation

  Mending the World is a 1997 report about whole world ecumenism. It shows the strong conviction among church members that God, who loves this world, works for its mending, and calls the church to join with people of different faiths and ideologies in making this work its first priority.

  • Order from UCRDstore
  • Download a copy [PDF: 20 pp/112 KB]
• 

  Bearing Faithful Witness: United Church–Jewish Relations Today

  Bearing Faithful Witness provides guidelines for the relationship with Jews and Judaism and for the related interpretation of scripture within The United Church of Canada. It seeks to be a faithful expression of our understanding of United Church–Jewish relations. The group study guide is a useful tool for reflection about relationships with our Jewish neighbours.

  • Order from UCRDstore
  • Download a copy [PDF: 109 pp/1.6 MB]
• 

  That We May Know Each Other: United Church–Muslim Relations Today

  This report encourages reconciliation, understanding, and co-operation between United Church people and our Muslim neighbours.Congregations are encouraged to continue using the study guide as a basis for gaining a better understanding of the relationship of the United Church to Islam, and for engaging in dialogue with Muslim neighbours.

  • Order from UCRDstore
  • Download a copy [PDF: 128 pp/915 KB]
  • Download the final statement [PDF: 2 pp./17 KB] approved by the 39th General Council 2006