Dioceses and parishes of the Episcopal Church are members of many councils or conferences of churches in states, metropolitan areas, and smaller cities. In addition, priests and deacons participate in many local ministerial associations. The local commitment of time and funds in these local enterprises represents the largest single ecumenical investment of the Episcopal Church.
"Councils of Churches" is still a standard designation for organizations of churches in relation to one another, but new terms have come into use - conference of churches, area church board, ecumenical ministry, cooperative ministry, interchurch agency, association of churches, etc. The new designations have often resulted from the inclusion of Roman Catholic dioceses and parishes. If a composite list of all local and regional ecumenical instrumentalities and ministeriums were compiled, it would number in many thousands, but no such compilation exists. There are, however, some 230 local and regional councils of churches with staff in the USA.
"Councils of Churches" is still a standard designation for organizations of churches in relation to one another, but new terms have come into use - conference of churches, area church board, ecumenical ministry, cooperative ministry, interchurch agency, association of churches, etc. The new designations have often resulted from the inclusion of Roman Catholic dioceses and parishes. If a composite list of all local and regional ecumenical instrumentalities and ministeriums were compiled, it would number in many thousands, but no such compilation exists. There are, however, some 230 local and regional councils of churches with staff in the USA.
