Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue

• Ecumenism


  The unity and connection between all Christian Churches
• Ecumenical organisations


  • National Council of Churches
  • NSW Ecunemical Council
• NSW Ecunemical Council


  • Formed in 1944
  • Act for Peace, international aid agency, aims to assist disaster and conflict affected societies
  • Annual Christmas Bowl charity helps refugees and with food and medical care
  • Safe Church Program includes all church leaders and young people attending workshops to prevent abuse of children and vulnerable adults
  • Reforms in White Australia Policy in 1966
  • Encourages social justice pursuits
• NSW Ecunemical Council


  21 christian churches united under God's love, unity between those who believe in God
• Taize Pilgrimage


  1. Part of a shared commitment for peace and reconciliation

  2. Special days at school, retreats

  3. Taize is a french ecunemcial worship, allows for light and richness of faith in life

  4. Council invites a Brother from the Taize Community to encourage the Word of God
• Peace and Justice Commission

  1. Focuses on refugees, homelessness, community harmony

  2. Hosting a public forum once every 3 years to give them a voice in peace and justice

  3. Encouraging churches to be active in social justice issues
• Interfaith Dialogue


  Conversations between different religious faiths in order to develop unity, understanding and tolerance
• Interfaith organisations


  • National Council of Churches
  • Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews
  • Australian Partnership of Religious Orders
  • Council of Christian and Jews
  • The Affinity Intercultural Foundation
• Interfaith organisations


  • Build harmony in Australia
  • In meetings discussing issue that all faiths face
  • Have common projects and goals
  • Interfaith prayers
  • Promote interfaith harmony
  • Support multiculturalism and interactions
  • Protection against racial and religious discrimination
  • Studies of Religion to promote understanding of multiculturalism
  • Aims to create relationships between various faiths
  • Public lectures/ramadan dinners
• Importance of Interfaith Dialogue

  • Enhances religious tolerance and harmony
  • Unity and hope
  • Allows for a mutual understanding between faiths
  • Tackle social justice issues or common issues in the world such as refugees, poverty and etc.