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Ecumenical Relations

Sources: Dialogue/consultation statements, organizational websites, 2007 Handbook of American and Canadian Churches.


Through its Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) maintains nine dialogues and consultations with other churches and Christian communities. Many of these dialogues have been in existence for more than forty years.

In addition, the USCCB maintains relationships with two ecumenical organizations. A brief description of each of these relationships follows:

The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation
Date established: 1965
Frequency of meetings: twice each year.
SCOBA Chairman: Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh
USCCB Chairman: Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati
Sponsored jointly on the Catholic side by the USCCB and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Orthodox side is sponsored by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of America (SCOBA).

The Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops
Date established: 1981
Frequency of meetings: once each year
Orthodox Co-Chairman: Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada
Catholic Co-Chairman: Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb of Mobile
Membership: Approximately 3 million.
Key issues discussed in recent years: Evangelization, primacy and synodality (ways of exercising leadership and decision-making in the Church), the filioque clause in the Nicene Creed (a theological discussion as to whether the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father or from the Father and the Son).

The Oriental Orthodox-Roman Catholic Consultation
Date established: 1978
Frequency of meetings: once each year.
Oriental Orthodox Chairman: Rev. Chor-Episcopos John Meno.
The Oriental Orthodox side is sponsored by the Standing Committee of Oriental Orthodox Churches of America, and includes representatives from the Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, and Syrian Orthodox Churches
Roman Catholic Chairman: Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany
Member Churches include the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church.
Membership: Probably less than 1 million.
Key issues discussed in recent years: Interchurch marriages and ministry to young people.

The Polish National Catholic-Roman Catholic Dialogue
Date established: 1984
Frequency of meetings: twice each year
Polish National Catholic Chairman: The Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky
Roman Catholic Chairman: Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of Buffalo
Membership: 60,000.
Key issues discussed in recent years: Liturgy and sacramental sharing

The Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation USA
Date established: 1965
Frequency of meetings: twice a year
Catholic Chairman: (in transition)
Episcopalian Chairman: (in transition)
Membership: Approximately 2 million.
Key issues discussed in recent years: Authority, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and ministry in Spanish-speaking communities.

The Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue
Date established: 1965
Frequency of meetings: twice each year
Catholic Chairman: Bishop Richard Sklba of Milwaukee
Lutheran Chairman: The Rev. Donald McCoid
Membership: Approximately 7 million.
Key issues discussed in recent years: Justification, life beyond death, and popular devotion.

Roman Catholic-Reformed Consultation
Date Established: July 27, 1965
Frequency of Meetings: Twice each year
Reformed Co-Chair: Rev. Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary
Catholic Co-Chair: Bishop Patrick Cooney of Gaylord, MI
Membership: Approximately 5 million.
Key issues discussed in recent years: Baptism and Eucharist

The United Methodist-Catholic Dialogue
Date established: 1966
Frequency of meetings: twice each year
United Methodist Chairman: (in transition)
Catholic Chairman: (in transition)
Membership: Approximately 8 million.
Key issues discussed in recent years: the Church as communion, episcopal authority, Baptism, and Eucharist.

The Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue
Date established: 2003
Frequency of meetings: Will meet twice each year beginning in 2007
Evangelical Chairman: Mr. Bonn Clayton of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
Catholic Chairman: Bishop Frederick Campbell of Columbus
Membership: Unknown.
Key issues discussed in recent years: The nature of authority, especially in Scripture.

Southern Baptist Convention-Catholic Conversations
Date established: 1978
Date concluded: 2001
Membership: More than 16 million.
Key issues discussed: Scripture and salvation.
The conversations were ended in October 2001 by decision of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

In addition to the above relationships, the Catholic Church in the United States maintains relationships with the following bodies through the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA: African American Baptist, Methodist and Pentecostal churches; the Pentecostal, Holiness and Evangelical churches; the Mennonite, Brethren Churches, the Society of Friends, and the Bruderhof Community; and, The Christian Church/Disciples of Christ.

Faith and Order Commission, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA

Since 1968 the USCCB has been a full member of this Commission, providing five theologians who represent the Conference at the meetings twice a year. The purpose of the Commission is "To call the churches to the goal of visible unity in one faith and in one eucharistic fellowship expressed in worship and common life in Christ, and to advance toward that unity that the world may believe." In the next four years (2008-2011), the commission will study unity in mission, justification and justice, and the nature and mission of the Church.

Christian Churches Together in the USA
Date established: 2006
Frequency of Meetings: Once each year
Catholic President: Archbishop Wilton Gregory
The USCCB is a founding member of Christian Churches Together in the USA (CCT-USA). At present, 43 religious bodies and related organizations are members. This national body brings together representatives from all the Christian families in the United States, including Evangelical/Pentecostal, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, and Racial and Ethnic churches.

This organization allows various Christian bodies to build relationships and to speak with a common voice whenever possible. Currently, CCT-USA has launched an initiative to address poverty in the United States.