World Council of Churches

The World Council of Churches is an ecumenical organization that was founded in Amsterdam in 1948.

From the description of World Council of Churches records, 1937-1989 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702164061

The desire of the World Council of Churches to open a dialogue with Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and Muslims resulted in the 1971 Dialogue with People of Living Faiths and Ideologies (DFI) program. This program supports interreligious multi-lateral and bi-lateral dialogue with partners of different faiths.

From the description of Dialogue with people of living faiths archive [microform]. (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702693224

Founded 1948.

From the description of Records, 1954-1957 (bulk 1954). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70968122

The World Council of Churches is an ecumenical organization that was founded in 1948 in Amsterdam. It developed out of two other organizations, the Life and Work Movement, which concentrated on the practical activities of the churches, and the Faith and Order Movement, which focused on the beliefs and organization of the churches and the problems involved in their possible reunion. In 1937 the Faith and Order Conference at Edinburgh and the Life and Work Conference at Oxford accepted the plan to create one council. A conference of church leaders met in 1938 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, to prepare a constitution; but World War II intervened, and the first assembly of the WCC could not be held until 1948. In 1961 the International Missionary Council united with the WCC.

From the guide to the Records of the World Council of Churches, 1927-2002, (Yale University Divinity School Library)

The World Council of Churches, founded in 1948, is an international interdenominational ecumenical organization of orthodox and protestant Christian churches. The Council's main purpose is to work for Christian church unity and renewal. It offers member denominations a forum in which they can discuss issues and work together in a spirit of tolerance and mutual understanding. The governing body of the Council is its Assembly. The Assembly meets every six years at various locations throughout the world and appoints a large central committee which in turn chooses an executive committee of twenty-six members. The committee of twenty-six works with specialized committees and six co-presidents to carry on work between Assemblies.

The Second Assembly of the World Council of Churches was held between August 15th and August 31st on Northwestern University's Evanston campus. The Chicago American (8/18/54) billed the Assembly as "the most important gathering in the University's 103 year history." The man responsible for bringing the World Council to Northwestern was James Alton James, a retired member of the University's Department of History and former Dean of the Graduate School. Active in church life, James served as a delegate to the Council's First Assembly held in Amsterdam in 1948. James learned that the Second Assembly would be held in the United States on a college campus and decided Northwestern would be the ideal location. Upon his return from the First Assembly, James worked for several months to secure the approval of the Council's Central Committee for the Northwestern site. After approval was granted a local Committee of 100 was formed to take care of housing, transportation, and general arrangements for the delegates when they arrived. University and City of Evanston officials worked closely in planning for the Second Assembly.

The plenary sessions of the Second Assembly were held in Northwestern's new McGaw Hall. In fact, the main reason for constructing this building was to provide a space large enough for the plenary sessions. Worship services were held at the First Methodist Church of Evanston. Assembly delegates roomed in University dormitories and in most fraternity, sorority, and independent houses as well as in the Northwestern Apartments. Many private homes in Evanston housed 600 of the more than 1200 accredited visitors. The Assembly received national press attention when United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered a special convocation address on August 19th, 1954, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University.

From the guide to the Records Pertaining to the Second Assembly of the World Council of Churches, 1950-1955, (Northwestern University Archives)

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is an international fellowship of Christian churches, built upon the foundation of encounter, dialogue and collaboration. The WCC was formed to serve and advance the ecumenical movement - the quest for restoring the unity of the church - by encouraging in its members a common commitment to follow the gospel.

Reference: The World Council of Churches The World Council of Churches at a Glance (http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/index-e.html). Accessed May 2002.

The British Council of Churches, set up in 1947 is a body which comprises representatives of the major Churches in Britain and Ireland except the Roman Catholic Church (although this sends observers to meetings). The recommendations it makes to member Churches are designed to effect unity and joint action. It founded Christian Aid and is an Associate Council of the World Council of Churches. Xrefer British Council of Churches (http://www.xrefer.com/entry/498843). Accessed May 2002.

From the guide to the Papers of World Council of Churches and the British Council of Churches, [193-]-[196-], (University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department)