Mapping the Oikoumene: A Study of Current Ecumenical Structures and Relationships Overview and summary of findings Commissioned by the World Council of Churches Jill Hawkey, 2004

Based on interviews with 65 people Organisation Relationships Structure of ecumenical movement Role in movement

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic Church -1 billion members WCC Member Church 550 million 342 member churches 120 countries Other Churches

USA 635 different denominations Niue population different denominations Source: World Christian Database

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National National Council of Churches 105 countries

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National National Ec Orgns Other National Ecumenical Organisations -focus of a particular area eg: refugees, broadcasting, hospital chaplains, human rights -undertaking work on behalf of churches

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National National Ec Orgns Agencies Agencies/ Specialised Ministries Focus on relief and development Many founded at end of World War 2 Together they fund large proportion of diaconal work in ecumenical movement Besides WCC, they probably have strongest network of relationships with other actors in ecumenical movement

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National National Ec Orgns Agencies Agencies/ Specialised Ministries (continued) Southern Agencies: eg: CASA India, CCD Honduras, Christian Care Zimbabwe working with and through local churches

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Regional Ecumenical Organisations National Regional Ecumenical Organisation (REOs) All Africa Conference of Churches Caribbean Conference of Churches (RC) Christian Conference of Asia Conference of European Churches Latin America Council of Churches Middle East Council of Churches (RC) Pacific Conference of Churches (RC) Regional

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Regional Ecumenical Organisations Theological Instit’sOther Ecumencial Orgs National Regional Other Regional Ecumenical Organisations Associations of Theological Institutes Issue focused groups eg: human rights, women, the environment

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Sub-regional Fellowships Regional Ecumenical Organisations Theological Instit’sOther Ecumencial Orgs National Regional Sub-Regional Fellowships FOCCISA (Southern Africa) FECCLAHA (Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa) COFCEAC (Central Africa- French speaking) FECCIWA (West Africa) Founded in 1990s in response to conflict work in peace building/ making, good governance, capacity building

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Sub-regional Fellowships Regional Ecumenical Organisations Theological Instit’sOther Ecumenical Orgs Christian World Communions (CWCs) National Regional Global

Christian World Communions (CWC’s) Membership: Largest: LWF, Anglican Communion, WARC million each Smaller: Church of the Brethren, Friends World Committee -less than Staff: -most less than 15 -LWF: 70 in Geneva Dept World Service employs 5000 people in 31 countries Bilateral Dialogues: dealing with issues and matters of faith which has led to conflict and division in the past

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Sub-regional Fellowships Regional Ecumenical Organisations Theological Instit’sOther Ecumenical Orgs (CWCs) National Regional Global World Evangelical Alliance (WEA)

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Sub-regional Fellowships Regional Ecumenical Organisations Theological Instit’sOther Ecumenical Orgs CWCs International Ec Orgns National Regional Global WEA

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Sub-regional Fellowships Regional Ecumenical Organisations Theological Instit’sOther Ecumenical Orgs CWCs Mission Bodies Eg: Council for World Mission International Ec Orgns National Regional Global WEA

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Sub-regional Fellowships Regional Ecumenical Organisations Theological Instit’sOther Ecumenical Orgs WCCCWCs Mission BodiesInternational Ec Orgns National Regional Global WEA

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Sub-regional Fellowships Regional Ecumenical Organisations Theological Instit’sOther Ecumenical Orgs WCCCWCs Mission BodiesInternational Ec Orgns National Regional Global WEA

Christian Population (2 billion) Roman Catholic WCC Member Church Other Churches National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Sub-regional Fellowships Regional Ecumenical Org Theological Instit’sOther Ecumenical Orgs WCCCWCs Mission BodiesInternational Ec Orgns National Regional Global Can we develop a vision for the whole of the ecumenical movement which is owned by all the actors and relevant for the 21 st Century? WEA

1.Ecumenical organisations: difficult to get churches working together 2. Perception that churches are focusing on their Confessional family rather than working ecumenically 3.Ownership: When things get difficult, the staff become the Botswana Christian Council rather than the churches Church leadership having greater role in ecumenical Councils (resulting in more men in leadership of Councils) Are the Churches Committed to Working Together?

Issues Around Structural Relationships A: Participation and Membership: 3 issues 1: Member of an organisation or participant in a movement? ‘we can’t talk about ecumenism because Roman Catholic Church and Pentecostal churches aren’t part of the ecumenical movement’ Pontifical Council ‘we are part of the ecumenical movement, despite not being a member of the WCC’ Overall, desire for greater participation of the Roman Catholic Church and Pentecostal churches in ecumenical organisations including WCC Global Christian Forum; bringing all churches together Concern about impact of greater participation Will ecumenical organisations be less able to be prophetic on issues if they are only able to speak on issues where there is full consensus?

Issues Around Structural Relationships 2. The ‘Drop-Off’ Factor National Council Of Churches Regional Ecumenical Organisation World Council Of Churches

The Drop-Off Factor- Questions: 1: Could membership of an NCC lead to membership in regional and global ecumenical organisations? 2: How can NCCs engage their entire membership in the regional and global issues being addressed by REOs, the WCC and other organisations? 3: Are global ecumenical bodies (including WCC, ACT, EAA etc) relating to NCCs in such a way as to promote participation of all members and not just members of WCC?

The Drop-Off Factor: Christian World Communions Overall, less than half of the members of Christian World Communions are also members of WCC. How can ecumenical organisations at the regional and global level work with CWCs so their concerns reach a greater audience? What more can CWCs be doing to promote ecumenism amongst their membership?

Issues Around Structural Relationships Participation and Membership A. The Numerous Levels of Belonging Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand CCANZ National Pacific Conference of Churches Christian Conference Of Asia Christian World Service WARCWCC CWMission EAA

Numerous levels of belonging Difficulties for churches: 1: to absorb the programmes of the various organisations into the life of their church 2: to participate in the life of these organisations 3: to fund the many organisations

Issues Around Structural Relationships B: Relationships between Organisations 1: Conciliar Bodies NCC REO WCC lack of consistent reflection and analysis from national to regional to global people on governing body of WCC may not be involved in ecumenical organisations at national and regional level potential for conflict and competition between REOs and WCC, particularly role of area desks competition for funding

B: Relationships between Organisations 2: Christian World Communions and the WCC tension historic: founding of WCC – national churches to be members rather than confessional bodies perceptions From the WCC side, there is the feeling that CWCs aren’t promoting unity and are only promoting their own identity. On the CWC side, there is the feeling that WCC doesn’t understand their realities ….

Duplication HIV/AIDS Globalisation Inter-faith issues Violence against women How can we work together more effectively on these issues ?

Overcoming the Barriers that Divide Us I see it as very territorial. There is not a lot of recognising different roles and not a lot of mutual respect. There is more a spirit of competition than cooperation. The ethos of competition and logic of the corporate world are beginning to make inroads into the field of ecumenical organisations-Konrad Raiser 2002 How do we move beyond competition? How can we have a greater understanding and appreciation of each other’s work? Are we prepared to be accountable to each other ?

National Council of Churches National Ec Orgns Agencies Sub-regional Fellowships Regional Ecumenical Organisations Theological Instit’sOther Ecumencial Orgs WCCCWCs Mission BodiesInternational Ec Orgns National Regional Global Who Can Fund the Ecumenical Movement? A relatively small number of agencies in Nth America and Europe are funding a large proportion of the ecumenical movement WEA

Who Can Fund the Ecumenical Movement? 1: Influencing Priorities -mandates limited to diakonia Every time we have tried to adjust priorities, it fails to make any difference because the bulk of the funding comes from the agencies. We look at areas that are important for the Council such as the Global Christian Forum, interfaith work and the understanding of mission work in faith and order, but if you look at the money, they are constantly marginalised. 2: Mistrust of agencies

The Role of the WCC WCC has a vital role to play in the ecumenical movement Identified Roles gives expression to the reality that the body of Christ cannot be divided fellowship of churches holds together diakonia, mission, ecclesiology and unity enabling a common value system global analysis and action voice of the Christian world facilitator WCC to clarify its role focusing on those things which only it can do and taking a greater facilitation role

Key Questions Arising From the Study 1: Can we develop an ecumenical vision which is owned and acted upon by all the actors in the ecumenical movement including the churches? 2: What tasks need to be undertaken to achieve this vision: are they best undertaken at the national, regional or global level? which tasks are best undertaken ecumenically and where can confessional bodies add extra value? 3: What type of organisations do we need and how should the tasks be divided between them?

Key Questions Arising From the Study 4: What mechanisms can be put in place to ensure coordinated planning and work so that duplication is avoided coherence between ecumenical organisations at the national, regional and global level churches are not overwhelmed by their involvement in, and financial commitment to, many different organisations 5: How can funds available to the ecumenical movement be used most effectively? How can the funding base be broadened? 6: What will be the values and principles that underpin the way in which we all work together?