The 1988 Lambeth Conference commended "dialogue with people of other faiths as part of Christian discipleship and mission, with the understanding that:
(1) dialogue begins when people meet each other;
(2) dialogue depends upon mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual trust;
(3) dialogue makes it possible to share in service to the community;
(4) dialogue becomes a medium of authentic witness"
Lambeth further urged each Province to initiate such dialogue in partnership with other Christian Churches where possible. Towards a Theology for Inter-Faith Dialogue, available from Forward Movement Publications, produced in preparation for Lambeth, is a resource for dialogue.
Lambeth also produced the Anglican Communion document on "Jews, Christians and Muslims: The Way of Dialogue", printed in The Truth Shall Make You Free: The Lambeth Conference 1988, available from Forward Movement Publications. It is recommended for study, and the Provinces were asked to initiate talks wherever possible on a tripartite basis with both Jews and Muslims. In this same volume, the report of the Lambeth section on Dogmatic and Pastoral Concerns provides theological reflection on interfaith relations in general, giving a wider context to the Jewish-Christian-Muslim concerns highlighted in the study document.
At one point, responsibility for oversight of the church’s interfaith relations resided in a committee appointed by the Presiding Bishop. The Presiding Bishop’s Advisory Committee on Interfaith Relations was not reconstituted during the 1997-2000 triennium. Rather, a task force composed of some members of Executive Council and some members of SCER examined the place of interfaith relations in the Episcopal Church, how those relations should be structured, and what the goals should be. In 2003, the General Convention officially lodged the work of interreligious relations with the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations, which was renamed the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations. During the 2006-2009 triennium, a theological statement on interreligious dialogue was drafted and presented to the 2009 General Convention. The goal of this statement is to articulate a particularly Episcopal/Anglican rationale for engaging in interreligious dialogue. The statement was approved by both Houses of Convention, and is printed in Appendix D, and is the official policy statement of the church on engaging in interreligious dialogue.
The diocesan ecumenical officers’ network in turn has changed its name to the network of Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interfaith Officers (EDEIO), and will continue to develop its work in interfaith relations. The network will also continue to provide vital links with dioceses and parishes across the country.
The Episcopal Church has been a strong supporter of the Interfaith Relations component of the National Council of Churches of Christ, seconding a staff person to that office for several years. At the NCCC’s 1999 plenary, members adopted unanimously a policy statement giving a theological rationale for interfaith work. The NCCC’s Interfaith Commission maintains that, theologically, it is crucial to connect interreligious work to Christian Unity. The NCC Interfaith Relations Commission has two dialogues, one a Christian-Jewish dialogue, the other a Christian-Muslim dialogue.
SPECIFIC RELATIONSHIPS AND CONCERNS
Vatican II’s document entitled Nostra Aetate or "In Our Time" opened the door for Christians to engage in dialogue within the Abrahamic tradition. The ongoing crises in the Middle East have made Diocesan ecumenical officers and congregational leaders increasingly aware of the need for sensitive relationships with local Jewish communities. For some this is an on-going commitment, for others a new area of work
Abrahamic dialogue has long been believed reserved only for Christian - Jewish Dialogue. September 11th forever heightened the need for dialogue with those of other faith communities and, in particular, those of the Muslim faith. Political hot spots around the globe are being fueled by religious divisions. At the core of peace and reconciliation is our capacity to learn from those of other faith traditions. We in the Episcopal Church of the United States have in our
midst numerous opportunities to dialogue with Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Hindus, and others.
(1) dialogue begins when people meet each other;
(2) dialogue depends upon mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual trust;
(3) dialogue makes it possible to share in service to the community;
(4) dialogue becomes a medium of authentic witness"
Lambeth further urged each Province to initiate such dialogue in partnership with other Christian Churches where possible. Towards a Theology for Inter-Faith Dialogue, available from Forward Movement Publications, produced in preparation for Lambeth, is a resource for dialogue.
Lambeth also produced the Anglican Communion document on "Jews, Christians and Muslims: The Way of Dialogue", printed in The Truth Shall Make You Free: The Lambeth Conference 1988, available from Forward Movement Publications. It is recommended for study, and the Provinces were asked to initiate talks wherever possible on a tripartite basis with both Jews and Muslims. In this same volume, the report of the Lambeth section on Dogmatic and Pastoral Concerns provides theological reflection on interfaith relations in general, giving a wider context to the Jewish-Christian-Muslim concerns highlighted in the study document.
At one point, responsibility for oversight of the church’s interfaith relations resided in a committee appointed by the Presiding Bishop. The Presiding Bishop’s Advisory Committee on Interfaith Relations was not reconstituted during the 1997-2000 triennium. Rather, a task force composed of some members of Executive Council and some members of SCER examined the place of interfaith relations in the Episcopal Church, how those relations should be structured, and what the goals should be. In 2003, the General Convention officially lodged the work of interreligious relations with the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations, which was renamed the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations. During the 2006-2009 triennium, a theological statement on interreligious dialogue was drafted and presented to the 2009 General Convention. The goal of this statement is to articulate a particularly Episcopal/Anglican rationale for engaging in interreligious dialogue. The statement was approved by both Houses of Convention, and is printed in Appendix D, and is the official policy statement of the church on engaging in interreligious dialogue.
The diocesan ecumenical officers’ network in turn has changed its name to the network of Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interfaith Officers (EDEIO), and will continue to develop its work in interfaith relations. The network will also continue to provide vital links with dioceses and parishes across the country.
The Episcopal Church has been a strong supporter of the Interfaith Relations component of the National Council of Churches of Christ, seconding a staff person to that office for several years. At the NCCC’s 1999 plenary, members adopted unanimously a policy statement giving a theological rationale for interfaith work. The NCCC’s Interfaith Commission maintains that, theologically, it is crucial to connect interreligious work to Christian Unity. The NCC Interfaith Relations Commission has two dialogues, one a Christian-Jewish dialogue, the other a Christian-Muslim dialogue.
SPECIFIC RELATIONSHIPS AND CONCERNS
Vatican II’s document entitled Nostra Aetate or "In Our Time" opened the door for Christians to engage in dialogue within the Abrahamic tradition. The ongoing crises in the Middle East have made Diocesan ecumenical officers and congregational leaders increasingly aware of the need for sensitive relationships with local Jewish communities. For some this is an on-going commitment, for others a new area of work
Abrahamic dialogue has long been believed reserved only for Christian - Jewish Dialogue. September 11th forever heightened the need for dialogue with those of other faith communities and, in particular, those of the Muslim faith. Political hot spots around the globe are being fueled by religious divisions. At the core of peace and reconciliation is our capacity to learn from those of other faith traditions. We in the Episcopal Church of the United States have in our
midst numerous opportunities to dialogue with Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Hindus, and others.
Interreligious Guidelines Memorialized at the 2022 General Convention
| interreligious2021.pdf |
| interreligiosas2021.pdf |
| christian-jewish2021.pdf |
| judeocristianas2021.pdf |
| christian-muslim2021.pdf |
| cristiano-musulmanas2021.pdf |