Charta Oecumenica: A Text, a Process, and a Dream of the Churches in Europe

In April 2001, a significant ecumenical agreement was endorsed by Orthodox and Protestant churches belonging to the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and by representatives of Catholic dioceses belonging to the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE). This theological document, the Charta Oecumenica (in Latin, Ecumenical Charter), provides practical guidelines for cooperation among all the churches of Europe. Sarah Numico of CCEE and Viorel Ionita of CEC have compiled an anthology of articles providing background and analysis of this ecumenical text. Personal accounts of the process leading to the signing of the Charta Oecumenica illustrate the excitement of interconfessional encounter. The articles provide informed commentary on the meaning and promise of the Charta for Christian unity, common mission and action, prayer and dialogue, cooperation in building a new Europe and strengthening of Christian relations with Judaism, Islam and other world religions and ideologies.