Resources for Ecumenical and Interreligious Understanding

Sources of Ecumenical Information

There are many agencies which can supply materials to help you learn about the ecumenical movement and about personnel involved in the movement.  We offer here a select list.

• The Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute (GEII), which prepares these resources for the Week of Prayer, is an information and service organization in the Roman Catholic Church serving the ecumenical movement and interreligious affairs on the local, regional, national and international levels.  Contact the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute,  475 Riverside Drive Riverside Drive, Room 1960, New York, NY  10115.  Tel (+212) 870-2330.  Fax (+212) 870-2001.  Email lmnygeii@aol.com.  Website www.geii.org.

• The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of more than 330 churches of the Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and Old Catholic traditions.  These churches gather for study, witness, service and the advancement of unity.  The WCC includes in its membership churches in more than 100 countries.  The WCC’s US Office offers general interpretive materials in print and video, a publications catalog/book list and periodicals.  Contact the World Council of Churches US Office, 475 Riverside Drive Riverside Drive, Room 915, New York, NY  10115.  Tel (+212) 870-2529.  Fax (+212) 870-2528.  Email usa@wcc-coe.org.  Website www.wcc-coe.org.

• The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCCCUSA) is a community of more than 350 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches that makes a common witness through the council and that works together to serve the churches and the world.  Contact the NCC Communication Department, 475 Riverside Drive Riverside Drive, Room 880,  New York, NY  10115.  Tel (+212) 870-2227.  Fax (+212) 870-2030.  Email nccc_usa@ncccusa.org.  Website www.ncccusa.org.

• Councils of churches or ecumenical/interfaith agencies of your city, county, or state may be able to supply brochures, displays or other resources about their work.  Listings for these organizations appear in the NCC’s Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches.  Local libraries and church offices may carry this reference.  It can also be ordered from the NCC.  Email yearbook@ncccusa.org.

• Your own church’s regional, judicatory or national ecumenical officer or ecumenical commission can give you information on the ecumenical participation of your denomination.

• The National Association of Ecumenical and Interreligious Staff (NAEIS) is a professional organization for ecumenical and interreligious leaders with membership across the nation.  Retired, active and inactive ecumenical professionals available as speakers or resource persons can be identified.  Contact the National Association of Ecumenical and Interreligious Staff, 475 Riverside Drive Riverside Drive, Room 870, New York, NY  10115.  Tel (+212) 870-2560.  Fax (+212) 870-2158.  Email  naeis@ncccusa.org.

• Glenmary Research Center serves a wide variety of church bodies and offers some useful tools in understanding the religious affiliations and trends of church membership in the United States.  Contact the Glenmary Research Center, 1312 Fifth Avenue, North, Nashville, TN 37208.  Tel (+615) 256-1905.  Fax (+615) 256-1902.  Email ksanchagrin@mhc.edu.

• Church Women United (CWU) is an ecumenical movement providing Christian women with programs and channels of involvement in church, civic, national and international affairs.  For  interpretive material, including information on CWU program priorities, the World Day of Prayer and other celebrations, contact the Church Women United, 475 Riverside Drive Riverside Drive, Room 1626, New York, NY  10115.  Tel 1-800-298-5551; (+212) 870-2347.  Fax (+212) 870-2338.   Email  cwu@churchwomen.org.  Website www.churchwomen.org.

• Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) is an ecumenical movement of nine American Christian communions authorized to explore the formation of a new full fellowship of churches “truly catholic, truly evangelical and truly reformed”.  The child of the Consultation on Church Union (COCU), Churches Uniting in Christ succeeded COCU and came into being in January 2002.  CUIC offers a video, newsletter and other publications on its work, including information on its inauguration and goals for the present time.  Contact Churches Uniting in Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100 Tel (+216) 736-3294.  Fax (+216)736-3296.  Email cuic@ucc.org.  Website www.cuicinfo.org.

Printed Resources For Ecumenical and Interreligious Understanding

Here is a select list of recent publications.  We present them in alphabetical order by title or subject, followed by author/editor and information about obtaining copies.

Books, Pamphlets, Articles

Bridging Our Faiths.  Interreligious Council of San Diego.  Adherents of six religious faiths answer in their own words a set of questions they posed to each other on core beliefs and understandings,  practices and holidays.  For each faith also, a glossary of terms and reading list.  Available from Paulist Press, 997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ  07430.  Tel 1-800-218-1903; (+201) 825-7300.  Fax 1-800-836-3161.  Email info@paulistpress.com.  Website www.paulistpress.com.  Paper $8.95.

Councils of Churches and the Ecumenical Vision.  2000.  Diane Kessler and Michael Kinnamon.  A defining reflection.  Available from World Council of Churches Distribution Center, Kutztown, PA 19530.  Tel 1-800-523-8211.  Fax (+610) 683-5616.  Email dwanner@kutztownpbl.com.

“Ecumenical Accountability”.  Massachusetts Council of Churches.  Guidelines for developing ecumenical accountability in the areas of worship, pastoral care, protocol, evangelism, and social witness.  Available from Massachusetts Council of Churches, 14 Beacon Street, Room 416, Boston, MA  02108.  Tel (+617) 523-2771.  Fax (+617) 523-1483.  Email council@masscouncilofchurches.org.  Single copies free; bulk rates have a nominal cost.

The Ecumenical Gift Exchange.  1998.  Margaret O’Gara.  Articulate reflection on significant topics by an ecumenical Roman Catholic theologian, teacher and dialogue participant out of her rich involvement with the ecumenical movement.  Available from the Liturgical Press, St. John’s Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN  56321.  Tel 1-800-858-5450.  Fax 1-800-455-5899.  Email sales@litpress.org.  Website www.litpress.org.  Paper $14.95.

Ecumenism 101: A Handbook about the Ecumenical Movement. 1997.  Alton M. Motter.  An engaging 80-page primer on ecumenism B its many facets, its history and development B written by a seasoned ecumenist in question and answer format.  Available from Forward Movement Publications, 412 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH  45202.  Tel 1-800-543-1813.  Fax (+513) 721-0729.  Email forwardmovement@msn.com.  Paper $6.95 (plus $1.90 shipping & handling).

Encounters of Unity: Sharing Faith, Prayer and Life. 1995.  G. R.  Evans, Lorelei F. Fuchs, SA and Diane C. Kessler, eds.  Autobiographical reflections by ecumenical actors and leaders in varied arenas around the world.  Available from Morehouse Publishing, PO Box 1321, Harrisburg, PA  17105.  Tel 1-800-877-0012.  Fax (+717) 541-8128.  Email morehouse@morehousegroup.com.  Website www.morehousegroup.com.  Paper  $20.95.

Ending Racism in the Church.  1998.  Susan E. Davies and Sr. Paul Teresa Hennessee, SA, eds.  Essays and case studies developed by a U.S. Faith and Order study group in support of the churches’ common commitment to eradicating racism in Christian circles and in society.  Available from United Church Press, 700 Prospect Avenue East, Cleveland, OH  44115.  Tel 1-800-537-3394.  Fax  (+216) 726-2206.  Website www.@ucc.org.  Paper $12.95.

For the Conversion of the Churches. 1993.  Groupe des Dombes.  A challenge to the divided churches to recognize that their identity is grounded in a continual conversion and that it is on this basis that their unity will be realized.  Available from World Council Publications, Kutztown, PA 19530.  Tel 1-800-523-8211.  Fax (+212) 870-2528.  Email usa@wcc-coe.org.  Website www.wcc-coe.org.  Paper $10.90.

Grounds for Understanding: Ecumenical Resources for Responses to Pluralism.  1998.  Mark S. Heim, ed.  Exploring the distinctly Christian character of the call to interreligious dialogue, writers from eleven different Christian traditions share their confession’s characteristic approaches to the challenges and possibilities raised by religious pluralism, revealing a richness of  resources for Christian response to religious diversity.  Available from Eerdmans Publishing Company, 255 Jefferson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49503.  Tel 1-800-253-7521.  Fax (+616) 459-6540.  Email sales@eerdmans.com.  Website www.eerdmans.com.  Paper $30.00.

Guidelines for Ecumenical Dialogue on Church-Dividing Issues. 1998.  Developed by the Christian Conference of Connecticut and its Task Force on Church Dividing Issues, adaptable in any church setting and by ecumenical groups particularly.  Available from the conference, 60 Lorraine Street, Hartford, CT  06105.  Tel (+860) 236-4281.  Fax (+860) 236-9977.  Email ssidorak@aol.com.  Website www.christconn.org.  Paper $2.00.

Handbook for Interreligious Dialogue.  Prepared by the Faiths in the World Committee and National Association of Diocesan Ecumenical Officers (NADEO).  Includes a general description of many religious traditions, the Roman Catholic document “The Attitude of the Church Towards the Followers of Other Religions”,  suggestions for dialogue and further reading.  Available from Silver Burdett & Ginn, Customer Service Center, PO Box 2649, 4350 Equity Drive, Columbus, OH 43216.  Tel 1-800-848-9500.  Fax 1-800-841-8939.

How to be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People’s Religious Ceremonies.  1997.  What to expect at the worship services, initiation rituals, wedding ceremonies and funerals of different faith groups,  A careful, useful resource.  Volume 1 covers twenty faith groups in the US, and Volume 2, seventeen more.  Order from Jewish Lights Publishing, Sunset Farms Offices, PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT  05091.  Tel 1-800-962-4544.  Fax (+802) 451-4004.  Email yirbu@yirbu.com.  Website www.yirbu.com.  Paper $24.95 per volume.

Introduction to Ecumenism.  1998.  Jeffrey  Gros, FSC,  Eamon McManus and Ann Riggs.  An entry into ecumenical life and thought.  Enlightenment on the history, current shape and critical developments in the one ecumenical movement.  Available from Paulist Press, 997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ  07430.  Tel 1-800-218-1903; (+201) 825-7300.  Fax 1-800-836-3161.  Email info@paulistpress.com.  Website www.paulistpress.com.  Paper $16.95.

Latino-Hispanic Americans and the Ecumenical Movement: Select Articles. Carlos F. Cardoza Orlandi, “‘Now you see it, Now you don’t’: Mission and Ecumenism in a Hispanic/Latino Perspective”, Theology Today 54 (Jan 1998) 499-566; Daisy Machado, “Ecumenism in the Barrio”, Journal of Hispanic/Latino Theology 3 (Nov 1995) 6-13; Carmelo Alvarez, “Ecumenism in Transition through Spanish Eyes”, Journal of Hispanic/Latino Theology 4 (Nov 1996) 60-74; Ricardo Ramirez, “The Challenge of Ecumenism to Hispanic Christians”, Ecumenical Trends 21:8(1992) 117, 128-131; “Together in Pilgrimage Towards the 3rd Millennium: Ecumenical Focus on the Hispanic Community”, Ecumenical Trends 24:6 (1996) 81-82, 91-96.

The Multifaith Calendar. This stunning 12-month calendar notes Aboriginal, Bahà’ì, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jain, Jewish, Sikh, Unitarian, Wicca and Zoroastrian festivals and holy days. Available from Multifaith Calendar Committee, 33 Arrowwood Place, Port Moody, BC, Canada V3H 4J1. Tel & Fax (+604) 469-1164 Email cpander@wkpowerlink.com; david_spence@nwnet.org.

Out of the Ashes: Burned Churches and the Community of Faith. 1997. Norman A. Hjelm. The story of the burnings and the response of the NCCC/USA and its member churches, with theological and social reflections. Available from Thomas Nelson Publishers, 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214. Tel 1-800-251-4000; (+615) 889-900.  Fax (+615) 902-1287. Website www.thomasnelson.com. Paper $9.99.

Practicing Ecumenism. How to encourage local ecumenism: intercessory prayers for unity, suggestions for interchurch cooperation, suggestions for worship and ecumenical creativity, ecumenical articles and study information. Available from the Liturgical Conference, 8750 Georgia Avenue, Suite 123, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Tel 1-800- 394-0885; (+301) 495-0885. Fax (+202) 832-6523. Email litconf@aol.com. Website www.litconf.org. $10.95 per copy (plus $1.00 shipping & handling); reduced-rate bulk orders are available.

“Protocol for Mediating Ethical/Moral Difference within the Ecumenical Covenant”.   A response to recent intensification of the sense of differences between and within churches on ethical issues, this leaflet offers guidelines for honest and respectful dialogue— practical standards within the ecumenical context. Available free from the New Mexico Conference of Churches, 124 Hermosa SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Tel (+505) 255-1509. Fax (+505) 256-0071. Website www.nmcc@nmchurches.org.

Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land: The African American Churches and Ecumenism. William Watley, 1994.  A portrait of the seven historic black churches, their worship life, international mission, theological enterprise and ecumenical relationships. Available from World Council Publications, Kutztown, PA 19530. Tel 1-800-523-8211. Fax (+212) 870-2528. Email wccusa@wcc-coe.org. Website www.wcc-coe.org Paper $7.95.

A Sourcebook for Earth’s Community of Religions. 1995 (revised). Joel Beversluis, ed. A fine reference tool of prayers and readings from religious traditions, reference material, directory information, political and ecological analysis, international documents, annotated resource guides and more. Available from CoNexus, PO Box 6902, Grand Rapids, MI 49516. Tel 1-800-452-7514 and from Global Education Associates, Room 1848, 475 Riverside Drive Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115. Tel (+212) 870-3290. Fax (+212) 870-229. Email globaleduc@earthlink.net. Website www.globaleduc.org. Paper $19.95.

“Taking Steps Toward Christian Unity”.  Program ideas for local councils of churches and other ecumenically interested persons. Helps churches together find ways to celebrate their unity in Jesus Christ; affirm their diversity; witness together to all people; serve together to meet human needs; dismantle remaining divisions; grow into more visible unity. Available free from Massachusetts Council of Churches, 14 Beacon Street, Room 416, Boston, MA 02108. Tel (+617) 523-2771. Fax (+617) 523-1483. Email council@masscouncilofchurches.org.

That All May Be One: Catholic Reflections on Christian Unity. 2000. Ernest Falardeau. Creative essays on various unity themes arranged for each month of the year ensure an awareness of the importance of the church’s search for unity as a year-round concern. Available from Paulist Press, 997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Tel 1-800-218-1903; (+201) 825-7300. Fax 1-800-836-3161. Email info@paulistpress.com. Website www.paulistpress.com. Paper $14.95.

The Vision of Christian Unity.  1997.  Thomas  F. Best and Theodore J. Nottingham, eds.  Written to honor Disciples of Christ ecumenist Paul Crow,  Informative, significant reflections on key aspects of the ecumenical movement. Available from Oikoumene Publications, 130 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN  46204.  Tel (+317) 635-3100.  Fax (+317) 635-3700.  Website www.disciples.org.  Paper  $23.00 (includes shipping and handling).

Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches 2002.  Eileen W. Lindner, ed.  Indispensable, comprehensive annual directory of churches in the United States and Canada providing quick-reference access to names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers for church bodies, ecumenical and interfaith agencies, theological seminaries, religious periodicals, some non-Christian bodies, plus historical and statistical data. Available from the National Council of Churches, Office of the Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, 475 Riverside Drive Riverside Drive, Room 880, New York, NY  10115.  Tel (+212) 870-2031 (888) 870-3325.  Fax (+212) 870-2817. 
Email yearbook@ncccusa.org. Website www.electronicchurch.org $55.00 (includes shipping & handling).

Ecumenical Courier: A Quarterly Publication of the US Conference of the World Council of Churches.  Newsletter of  the US Office of the WCC, 475 Riverside Drive Riverside Drive, Room 915, New York, NY  10115.  Tel (+212) 870-2533.  Fax (+212) 870-2528.  Email usa@wcc-coe.org.  Website www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/usoffice.  Free.

Ecumenical Review.  A quarterly publication of the World Council of Churches containing articles on current issues in ecumenical relations and world affairs.  Available from the WCC Publications Office, 150 route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland.  Tel (+41-22) 791-6111.  Fax (+41-22) 791-0361.  Website  www.wcc-coe.org.

Ecumenical Trends.  A monthly (except August) publication of the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute containing articles on current developments, ecumenical news and documentation. Tel1-800-338-2620 x2109;  (+845) 424-2109.  Fax (+845) 424-2163.  Email ecutrends@atonementfriars.org.  USA: $18.00; elsewhere: $20.00 per year; $38.00 for two years.

Ecumenism.Homily Service.  A resource for preachers based on the ecumenical lectionary.  Published monthly. Each edition lists the scripture readings for Sundays and feast days, with theological and homiletic reflections and creative pastoral ideas for breaking open the scriptural word.  Available from the Liturgical Conference,  415 Michigan Avenue N. E., Suite 65.  Washington, D.C. 20017-1518.  Tel  (+202)832-6520.  Fax (+202) 832-6523.  Email litconf@aol.com.  Website www.litconf.org.  $60.00 per year.

Journal of Ecumenical Studies.  A quarterly journal for scholars, distinguished for its coverage of developments in interreligious dialogue as well as of the ecumenical movement.  Available from Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Temple University, 1114 West Berks Street, Philadelphia, PA.  19122.  Tel (+215) 204-7714.  Fax (+215) 204-4569.  Email dialogue@vm.temple.edu.  Website www.blue.temple.edu/~dialogue.  35.00 per year.

Liturgy.  An ecumenical pastoral resource on liturgy for the renewal of the worship of the Christian churches.  Quarterly.  Available from the Liturgical Conference, 8750 Georgia Avenue, Suite 123, Silver Spring, MD  20910. 
Tel 1-800-394-0885; (+301) 495-0885.  Fax (+202) 832-6523. 
Email litconf@aol.com.  Website www.litconf.org.  $25.00 per year.

Mid-Stream: The Ecumenical Movement Today.  Published quarterly by the Council on Christian Unity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Issues are built around themes.  Features include sections on events in the oikoumenë and ecumenical documents: texts and critical reflections, book reviews.  Available from the Council on Christian Unity, PO Box 1986, 130 E Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46206.  Tel (+317) 713-2586.  Fax (+317) 713-2588.  Website www.disciples.org/ccu.  $20.00 per year.

One In Christ.  A continuation of the Eastern Churches Quarterly.  On topics of ecumenical concern, OIC is a Catholic ecumenical review published at Turvey Abbey, Turvey, Bedfordshire, MK43 8DE England.  International air mail £22.50 pounds per year.