Below you will find information and links to a range of ecumenical dialogues and developments since 1996, under the following headings:
- International bilateral dialogues
- Multilateral dialogues in process
- Accords establishing closer ecclesial relationships
- Dialogues since 2006
- Other documents
You can also read more about the principles of ecumenical dialogue.
Thoughts from a dialogue participant: Ecumenical dialogue – whatever is the rhyme or reason? A long read: The Church of England’s National Adviser for Ecumenical Relations Rev Canon Dr Jeremy Morris explains why ecumenical dialogues do matter.
1. International bilateral dialogues
Anglican-Methodist. Sharing in the Apostolic Communion (1996) the report of the international Anglican-Methodist dialogue.
Lutheran-Roman Catholic. The Joint Declaration on Justification (1999) – consensus on the previously controverted subject of justification, now accepted by both churches. Adopted also by the World Methodist Council in 2006.
Anglican-Roman Catholic. The Gift of Authority deals with the overall question of authority in the Church
Methodist-Roman Catholic. Speaking the Truth in Love deals with the specific question of teaching authority within the two churches.
Anglican-Roman Catholic. Mary, Grace and Hope in Christ 2005
International Methodist-Catholic Dialogue Commission. The Grace Given You in Christ Seoul Report 2006
Roman Catholic-Mennonite dialogue Called Together To Be Peacemakers. 2004
2. Multilateral dialogues in process
The document Nature and Purpose of the Church (1998) was issued by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC) as ‘a stage on the way to a common statement’
Called to be the One Church – WCC/Faith and Order 2006
3. Accords establishing closer ecclesial relationships
The Reuilly Agreement (2000) involving mutual recognition of each other’s apostolicity between Anglican and the French Reformed and Lutheran churches.
An Anglican-Methodist Covenant was published in December 2001, aimed at mutual recognition of apostolicity and development of increasing joint oversight and co-operation. Accepted by the governing bodies of the two churches in 2003. Take a look at the dedicated website (www.anglican-methodist.org.uk) to discover how this is progressing
A Covenant Partnership established 1 January 2005 between the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the Independent Methodist Connexion.
4. Dialogues since 2006
Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue (English and Welsh ARC) – the English and Welsh Anglican-Roman Catholic Committee; a dialogue and working group. Access the web area with information, resources, links and contact details for the committee.
CTE’s Doral Hayes reflects on being part of EWARC as the quinquennium comes to an end in 2023.
Pentecostal dialogues – access reports on various dialogues involving Pentecostal churches, including:
- Anglican-Pentecostal Consultation, 2019
- Unprecedented meeting of Orthodox and Pentecostal Church Leaders, 2016
- Anglican-Pentecostal Consultation, 2015
- Anglican-Pentecostal Consultation April, 2014
- First national meeting of Catholic and Black Pentecostal leaders, 2013
2006, Lutheran-Roman Catholic. The Apostolicity of the Church. Study Document of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity.
2006, Anglican-Orthodox. The Church of the Triune God. Agreed Statement of the Anglican-Orthodox Thelogical Dialogue
2007, Reformed-Roman Catholic. The Church as Community of Common Witness to the Kingdom of God. Third Phase of the WARC dialogue.
2007, Lutheran-Orthodox. The Mystery of the Church-The Holy Eucharist in the Life of the Church.
2011, Methodist-Roman Catholic. Encountering Christ the Saviour: Church and Sacraments. Deals with baptism, eucharist and ordained ministry (download the report).
2011, Disciples of Christ – Roman Catholic International Commission for Dialogue (fourth series), The Presence of Christ in the Church with special reference to the Eucharist.
The Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue experienced a hiatus after the publication of Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ. However, it resumed in 2011 with a twin mandate to examine the relationship between the local and Universal Church plus an examination of the way in which decisions in ethical matters are discerned. In the meantime, IARCCUM, the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission was set up and published recommendations for further practical co-operation at the local level between the two communions.
2013, the sixth Anglican-Oriental Orthodox meeting at Hampton Court. Report from the Anglican News Service.
2014, Catholic-Orthodox Pastoral Consultation in England (download the report)
2020, Anglican-Oriental Orthodox Eastertide message of hope
2020, International Reformed-Anglican Dialogue (IRAD), publication of their latest agreed statement, Koinonia: God’s Gift and Calling.
5. Other documents
May They All be One (1997) – the response of the bishops of the Church of England to Ut Unum Sint.
Called To Love and Praise (1999) –the statement of the British Methodist Conference on ecclesiology.
One Bread, One Body (1999) a teaching document of the British and Irish Roman catholic bishops on the eucharist, particularly linking ecclesiology and eucharistic communion.
The Eucharist, Sacrament of Unity (2000) a teaching document of the bishops of the Church of England, responding to the issues in One Bread, One Body and explaining relevant Anglican practice and discipline.
Dominus Iesus (2001) A Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith document on the uniqueness of Christ.
The letter on ‘sister churches’ (2001) from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, defining the correct use, in Roman Catholic theology, of this term.
The papal encyclical Novo Millennio Ineunte (2000) dealing with the Church as ‘the school of communion’ and some ecumenical issues.
Anglicans and Baptists in conversation Pushing at the boundaries of unity 2005.
Anglican-Baptist Report Conversations around the World (mostly dealing with issues relating to continuity and interconnection) 2005