Switzerland - The Graduate Institute, Geneva
Switzerland - The Graduate Institute, Geneva
Switzerland - The Graduate Institute, Geneva
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CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN CHURCHES, CEC<br />
Address<br />
CEC Office, PO Box 2100, 150, route de Ferney, CH-<br />
1211 <strong>Geneva</strong> 2<br />
Phone<br />
+41 (0)22 791 64 85<br />
Or +41 (0)22 791 63 25<br />
Fax +41 (0)22 791 62 27<br />
Web<br />
www.cec-kek.org<br />
E-Mail info@cec-kek.org<br />
Category Dialogue<br />
MISSION STATEMENT<br />
Christians from different confessions are committed to live and witness together in a spirit of ecumenism, sharing, understanding and<br />
mutual respect. All are committed in spite of the historic divides, the many languages and the geographical and economic barriers<br />
which exist on the European continent. Together, the churches work to promote the unity of the church and to present a common<br />
Christian witness to the people and institutions of Europe. <strong>The</strong> common desire to live in peace and to promote justice and reconciliation<br />
has enabled the churches to maintain their fellowship for the 45 years of the CEC's existence.<br />
Founding year 1959<br />
BACKGROUND AND ACTIVITIES<br />
<strong>The</strong> Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches<br />
from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in <strong>Geneva</strong>, Brussels and<br />
Strasbourg.<br />
In 2001, CEC and CCEE signed the "Charta Oecumenica - Guidelines for the Growing Cooperation among the Churches in Europe." CEC<br />
is dealing with theological dialogue through its "Churches in Dialogue" Commission.<br />
<strong>The</strong> social and political women's agenda in Europe, as well as the changing identity of women as self-responsible for their lives and as<br />
professional partners in church and society, leads CEC's work on to focus on theologically challenges from women's and gender<br />
perspectives.<br />
A special cooperation exists between CEC and the Brussels-based Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME). Another area<br />
of work which reflects the concern of Europe's churches is that which is carried out jointly with the Roman Catholic Council of European<br />
Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) on relations with Islam in Europe. Further contemporary concerns of CEC include the challenge of<br />
churches in the new information society, and how to ensure the participation of youth in active ecumenical work.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Church and Society Commission committed itself to enhance its work in relation to peace, security and reconciliation; in relation to<br />
the European institutions on the one hand and in supporting a strengthened witness of the churches on the other. <strong>The</strong> main emphasis<br />
of the Church and Society Commission work programme in this field will be to reflect on the relationship of security and vulnerability<br />
from a faith perspective, to promote conflict prevention and non-violent forms of conflict management in relation to the European<br />
Institutions, and to support existing (church-related) networks in their efforts to capacity building and promoting a regional approach.