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Conference of European Churches

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) was founded in 1959 to promote reconciliation, dialogue and friendship between the churches of Europe at a time of growing Cold War political tensions and divisions.

In its commitment to Europe as a whole the Conference seeks to help the European churches to renew their spiritual life, to strengthen their common witness and service and to promote the unity of the Church and peace in the world.

The CEC is a fellowship of some 114 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 National Council of Churches and Organisations in Partnership. The CEC was founded in 1959 and has offices in Brussels and Strasbourg.

Assemblies edit

CEC assemblies take place once every five years. The 4th CEC assembly (1964) had to be held on a ship on the Baltic Sea owing to the difficulties of obtaining visas for delegates from eastern European countries.

Past assemblies edit

  • I. 1959 Nyborg, Denmark: "European Christianity in Today’s Secularised World"
  • II. 1960 Nyborg, Denmark: "The Service of the Church in a Changing World"
  • III. 1962 Nyborg, Denmark: "The Church in Europe and the Crisis of Modern Man"
  • IV. 1964 Baltic Sea, on board the M.V. Bornholm: "Living Together as Continents and Generations"
  • V. 1967 Pörtschach, Austria: "To Serve and Reconcile: the Task of the European Churches Today"
  • VI. 1971 Nyborg, Denmark: "Servants of God, Servants of Men"
  • VII. 1974 Engelberg, Switzerland: "Act on the Message - Unity in Christ and Peace in the World"
  • VIII. 1979 Chania, Crete, Greece: "Alive to the World in the Power of the Holy Spirit"
  • IX. 1986 Stirling, Scotland: "Glory to God and Peace on Earth"
  • X. 1992 Prague, then Czechoslovakia (now in Czech Republic): "God Unites - in Christ a New Creation"
  • XI. 1997 Graz, Austria: "Reconciliation, Gift of God and Source of New Life"
  • XII. 2003 Trondheim, Norway: Jesus Christ Heals and Reconciles: Our Witness in Europe"
  • XIII. 2009 Lyon, France: Called to One Hope in Christ
  • XIV. 2013 Budapest, Hungary:“And now what are you waiting for?” CEC and its Mission in a Changing Europe
  • XV. 2018 Novi Sad, Serbia:"You shall be my witnesses" Witness, Justice, Hospitality
  • XVI. 2023 Tallinn, Estonia:"Under God's blessing: shaping the future"

Governance edit

Until 2013, the CEC was governed by an annual Central Committee meeting between assemblies. The 12th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (Trondheim, 2003) elected the 40-member Committee. This Committee, according to the CEC Constitution, was "empowered to conduct the business of the Conference when the Assembly is not meeting". At the 14th CEC Assembly (Budapest 2013) the Central Committee was replaced by a 20-member Governing Board. The Governing Board meets twice annually to oversee the implementation of the decisions of the Assembly. (art. 6.1)[1] Recent meetings of the Central Committee took place in Geneva (2003), Prague (2004), Crete (2005), Derry (2006) and Crete (2012).

The President of the CEC (from 2009 to 2013) was H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel of France. He was succeeded in 2013 by Christopher Hill, a retired Church of England bishop (formerly Bishop of Guildford. On 4 June 2018, Rev. Christian Krieger, from the Reformed Church in Alsace and Lorraine was elected President, in Novi Sad, Serbia. Since 19 June 2023, H.E. Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain is the President of the CEC.

The longstanding membership status of the Associated Organisations from all strands of the ecumenical movement was cancelled after a controversial debate by the 14th CEC Assembly in a second vote during a closed session requested by the Protestant Church in Germany, one of the main contributors to the CEC budget. The organisations excluded were offered a non-voting status of organisations in partnership like national councils of churches in the CEC. It is affiliated with the World Council of Churches (WCC).

Secretariat edit

The offices of the Conference of European Churches are (since 2014) based in Brussels, Belgium - formerly the offices used by the Church and Society Commission of the CEC. The CEC General Secretariat and the (former) Churches in Dialogue Commission were previously located in the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, Switzerland - which remains also the headquarters building of the World Council of Churches. General Secretary Fr. Heikki Huttunen from the Orthodox Church of Finland succeeded Rev. Dr Guy Liagre, formerly President of the United Protestant Church in Belgium and Rev. Prof. Dr Viorel Ionita who served as Interim General Secretary from 2010. The former General Secretary (2005-2010) was the Venerable Colin Williams, formerly Archdeacon of Lancaster in the Church of England; he succeeded the Rev. Dr Keith Clements. Jørgen Skov Sørensen was general secretary of the Conference of European Churches until December 2023.[2] The position of the General Secretary at CEC is vacant at the moment.

Former Commissions edit

By 2014 the two former Commissions of the CEC were fully integrated into the core work of the CEC.

Church and Society Commission edit

In 1999 the European Ecumenical Commission on Church and Society (EECCS) merged with the CEC, becoming the CEC's Church and Society Commission. The Church and Society Commission's secretariat was located in offices in Brussels, Belgium and Strasbourg, France. The Director of the Church and Society Commission from 2002 until 2013 was the Rev. Rüdiger Noll. Recent annual plenary meetings of the Church and Society Commission have been held in El Escorial, Spain (2003), Wavre, Belgium (2004), Dunblane, Scotland (2005), Sigtuna, Sweden (2006), Etchmiadzin, Armenia (2007), Prague, Czech Republic (2008) and Nyborg, Denmark (2009). Following the 14th CEC Assembly in Budapest in 2013 the programmes of the Church and Society Commission were integrated fully into the work of the CEC, a move completed in 2014.

Churches in Dialogue Commission edit

Based in Geneva, the staff member in charge was until July 2012, Rev. Professor Father Viorel Ionita, of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The new General Secretary of the CEC, Rev. Dr Guy Liagre succeeded him from 2012. From 2013 the work of the Churches in Dialogue Commission has been fully integrated in the work on ecumenical relations led by the CEC General Secretary.

Relations with the Roman Catholic Church edit

The largest Christian body, the Roman Catholic Church, is not a member of the CEC for the same reasons that it abstains from officially participating in the World Council of Churches, which is that such organizations do not recognize any kind of Roman Catholic primacy in the governance of the universal Church.[3]

The Third European Ecumenical Assembly (co-organised by the CEC and the CCEE) was held in Sibiu, Romania, 4–9 September 2007.[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Source about governing bodies: CEC official site - CEC/KEK GOVERNING BODIES Archived 2007-09-27 at archive.today.
  2. ^ 'Jørgen Skov Sørensen appointed as CEC general secretary', November 22, 2019, [1].
  3. ^ APIC article
  4. ^ . www.eea3.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2006. Retrieved 5 June 2015.

Further reading edit

  • Hans-Ulrich Reuter, "Die Europäische Ökumenische Kommission für Kirche und Gesellschaft (EECCS) als Beispiel für das Engagement des Protestantismus auf europäischer Ebene"; PhD-thesis University of Hannover; abstract in English included; Stuttgart, Hannover: ibidem-Verlag, 2002; ISBN 3-89821-218-1

External links edit

  • Official website
  • 2023 CEC General Assembly - Tallinn
  • 15th CEC Assembly - Novi Sad 2018 16 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  • 13th CEC Assembly – Lyon 2009 15 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine

conference, european, churches, founded, 1959, promote, reconciliation, dialogue, friendship, between, churches, europe, time, growing, cold, political, tensions, divisions, commitment, europe, whole, conference, seeks, help, european, churches, renew, their, . The Conference of European Churches CEC was founded in 1959 to promote reconciliation dialogue and friendship between the churches of Europe at a time of growing Cold War political tensions and divisions In its commitment to Europe as a whole the Conference seeks to help the European churches to renew their spiritual life to strengthen their common witness and service and to promote the unity of the Church and peace in the world The CEC is a fellowship of some 114 Orthodox Protestant Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe plus 40 National Council of Churches and Organisations in Partnership The CEC was founded in 1959 and has offices in Brussels and Strasbourg Contents 1 Assemblies 1 1 Past assemblies 2 Governance 3 Secretariat 4 Former Commissions 4 1 Church and Society Commission 4 2 Churches in Dialogue Commission 5 Relations with the Roman Catholic Church 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksAssemblies editCEC assemblies take place once every five years The 4th CEC assembly 1964 had to be held on a ship on the Baltic Sea owing to the difficulties of obtaining visas for delegates from eastern European countries Past assemblies edit I 1959 Nyborg Denmark European Christianity in Today s Secularised World II 1960 Nyborg Denmark The Service of the Church in a Changing World III 1962 Nyborg Denmark The Church in Europe and the Crisis of Modern Man IV 1964 Baltic Sea on board the M V Bornholm Living Together as Continents and Generations V 1967 Portschach Austria To Serve and Reconcile the Task of the European Churches Today VI 1971 Nyborg Denmark Servants of God Servants of Men VII 1974 Engelberg Switzerland Act on the Message Unity in Christ and Peace in the World VIII 1979 Chania Crete Greece Alive to the World in the Power of the Holy Spirit IX 1986 Stirling Scotland Glory to God and Peace on Earth X 1992 Prague then Czechoslovakia now in Czech Republic God Unites in Christ a New Creation XI 1997 Graz Austria Reconciliation Gift of God and Source of New Life XII 2003 Trondheim Norway Jesus Christ Heals and Reconciles Our Witness in Europe XIII 2009 Lyon France Called to One Hope in Christ XIV 2013 Budapest Hungary And now what are you waiting for CEC and its Mission in a Changing Europe XV 2018 Novi Sad Serbia You shall be my witnesses Witness Justice Hospitality XVI 2023 Tallinn Estonia Under God s blessing shaping the future Governance editUntil 2013 the CEC was governed by an annual Central Committee meeting between assemblies The 12th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches Trondheim 2003 elected the 40 member Committee This Committee according to the CEC Constitution was empowered to conduct the business of the Conference when the Assembly is not meeting At the 14th CEC Assembly Budapest 2013 the Central Committee was replaced by a 20 member Governing Board The Governing Board meets twice annually to oversee the implementation of the decisions of the Assembly art 6 1 1 Recent meetings of the Central Committee took place in Geneva 2003 Prague 2004 Crete 2005 Derry 2006 and Crete 2012 The President of the CEC from 2009 to 2013 was H E Metropolitan Emmanuel of France He was succeeded in 2013 by Christopher Hill a retired Church of England bishop formerly Bishop of Guildford On 4 June 2018 Rev Christian Krieger from the Reformed Church in Alsace and Lorraine was elected President in Novi Sad Serbia Since 19 June 2023 H E Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain is the President of the CEC The longstanding membership status of the Associated Organisations from all strands of the ecumenical movement was cancelled after a controversial debate by the 14th CEC Assembly in a second vote during a closed session requested by the Protestant Church in Germany one of the main contributors to the CEC budget The organisations excluded were offered a non voting status of organisations in partnership like national councils of churches in the CEC It is affiliated with the World Council of Churches WCC Secretariat editThe offices of the Conference of European Churches are since 2014 based in Brussels Belgium formerly the offices used by the Church and Society Commission of the CEC The CEC General Secretariat and the former Churches in Dialogue Commission were previously located in the Ecumenical Centre Geneva Switzerland which remains also the headquarters building of the World Council of Churches General Secretary Fr Heikki Huttunen from the Orthodox Church of Finland succeeded Rev Dr Guy Liagre formerly President of the United Protestant Church in Belgium and Rev Prof Dr Viorel Ionita who served as Interim General Secretary from 2010 The former General Secretary 2005 2010 was the Venerable Colin Williams formerly Archdeacon of Lancaster in the Church of England he succeeded the Rev Dr Keith Clements Jorgen Skov Sorensen was general secretary of the Conference of European Churches until December 2023 2 The position of the General Secretary at CEC is vacant at the moment Former Commissions editBy 2014 the two former Commissions of the CEC were fully integrated into the core work of the CEC Church and Society Commission edit In 1999 the European Ecumenical Commission on Church and Society EECCS merged with the CEC becoming the CEC s Church and Society Commission The Church and Society Commission s secretariat was located in offices in Brussels Belgium and Strasbourg France The Director of the Church and Society Commission from 2002 until 2013 was the Rev Rudiger Noll Recent annual plenary meetings of the Church and Society Commission have been held in El Escorial Spain 2003 Wavre Belgium 2004 Dunblane Scotland 2005 Sigtuna Sweden 2006 Etchmiadzin Armenia 2007 Prague Czech Republic 2008 and Nyborg Denmark 2009 Following the 14th CEC Assembly in Budapest in 2013 the programmes of the Church and Society Commission were integrated fully into the work of the CEC a move completed in 2014 Churches in Dialogue Commission edit Based in Geneva the staff member in charge was until July 2012 Rev Professor Father Viorel Ionita of the Romanian Orthodox Church The new General Secretary of the CEC Rev Dr Guy Liagre succeeded him from 2012 From 2013 the work of the Churches in Dialogue Commission has been fully integrated in the work on ecumenical relations led by the CEC General Secretary Relations with the Roman Catholic Church editThe largest Christian body the Roman Catholic Church is not a member of the CEC for the same reasons that it abstains from officially participating in the World Council of Churches which is that such organizations do not recognize any kind of Roman Catholic primacy in the governance of the universal Church 3 The Third European Ecumenical Assembly co organised by the CEC and the CCEE was held in Sibiu Romania 4 9 September 2007 4 See also Charta OecumenicaSee also edit nbsp Christianity portal nbsp Europe portal Churches European Rural Network World Council of ChurchesReferences edit Source about governing bodies CEC official site CEC KEK GOVERNING BODIES Archived 2007 09 27 at archive today Jorgen Skov Sorensen appointed as CEC general secretary November 22 2019 1 APIC article Sibiu www eea3 org Archived from the original on 3 February 2006 Retrieved 5 June 2015 Further reading editHans Ulrich Reuter Die Europaische Okumenische Kommission fur Kirche und Gesellschaft EECCS als Beispiel fur das Engagement des Protestantismus auf europaischer Ebene PhD thesis University of Hannover abstract in English included Stuttgart Hannover ibidem Verlag 2002 ISBN 3 89821 218 1External links editOfficial website 2023 CEC General Assembly Tallinn 15th CEC Assembly Novi Sad 2018 Archived 16 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine 14th CEC Assembly Budapest 2013 13th CEC Assembly Lyon 2009 Archived 15 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Third European Ecumenical Assembly Sibiu Romania 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Conference of European Churches amp oldid 1200521079, 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