"THE JOINT WORKING GROUP BETWEEN THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH"

SPONSORS:

World Council of Churches
« www.wcc-coe.org »
 
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity formerly
Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity
« www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni »

N.B. The plenary sessions of the Joint Working Group (JWG) are listed in boldface and given a progressive numeration. The other meetings without numeration are meetings of the sub-commissions of the JWG or consultations, convoked, organized or recommended by the JWG, even if these were sometimes realized with the assistance of other organisms. The themes of such consultations are pertinent to the reflection of the work of the JWG.

 
April 15, 1964 - Milan, Italy

Meeting formulating plans to be realized after the promulgation of the Decree on Ecumenism

1. May 22-24, 1965 - Bossey, Switzerland
   "Nature of Ecumenism; Ecumenical Dialogue; Areas of Collaboration; Church and Society; Laity; Women"
   
   October 16, 1965 - Rome, Italy
   Consultation: "Joint Worship at Ecumenical Gatherings"
   
   November 18, 1965 - Rome, Italy
   Consultation: "Joint Worship at Ecumenical Gatherings"
   
   
   
2. November 17-20, 1965 - Ariccia, Italy
   "Nature of Ecumenism; Ecumenical Dialogue; Areas of Collaboration; Church and Society; Laity; Women; Preparation and Approval of the First Official Report"
   FIRST OFFICIAL REPORT (February 1966)
   APPENDIX 1 - "LIST OF MEMBERS"
   APPENDIX 2 - REPORT: "JOINT WORSHIP AT ECUMENICAL GATHERINGS"
   
   January 26-28, 1966 - Geneva, Switzerland
   Consultation: "Social Service; Emergency and Development Aid"
   
   
3. May 13-16, 1966 - Bossey, Switzerland
   "Possible Collaboration; Nature of Dialogue; Catholicity and Apostolicity; Nature and Scope of Ecumenism; Proselytism; Theology of Mixed Marriage"

   October 16-20, 1966 - Geneva, Switzerland
   Consultation: "The Future of the Week of Prayer"

4. November 20-22, 1966 - Crêt-Bérard, Switzerland
   "Review of Developments with regard to Ecumenical Dialogues; Co-operation in Fields of Common Prayer for Unity, Social Questions, Missions, Relief Activity; Women's Work and Laity; Establishment of Sub-commissions"
   
   January 21-23, 1967
   Consultation: "Social Service; Emergency and Development Aid"
   
   March 1-4, 1967 - Nemi, Italy
   Consultation: "Mixed Marriages"

5. May 15-19, 1967 - Ariccia, Italy
   "Nature of Dialogue; Role of the Churches in Aid, Development and Justice; Mixed Marriages; Proselytism; Work of Women and Men in the Church; Preparation and Approval of the Second Official Report"
   SECOND OFFICIAL REPORT (August 1967)
   APPENDIX I - WORKING PAPER: "ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE" (1967)

   May 19-24, 1967 - Nemi, Italy
   Consultation: "Catholicity and Apostolicity"

   December (September?)16-20, 1967 - Oegstgeest (Leyden), The Netherlands
   Consultation: "Catholicity and Apostolicity"

6. December 3-7, 1967 - Assisi, Italy
   "Collaboration between WCC and RCC; Laity; Common Activity; Organization"

   April 29 - May 1, 1968 - Geneva, Switzerland
   Consultation: "Liturgy"

   April 29 - May 1, 1968 - Rome, Italy
   Consultation: "Common Missionary Concern; Structure of Respective Decision-Making Process"

   May 10-14, 1968 - Arnoldshain, Germany
   Consultation: "Christian Witness and Proselytism"

7. May 16-19, 1968 - Arnoldshain, Germany
   "Review of Ecumenical Developments; Common Witness and Proselytism; Common Worship and Liturgical Life"
   
   May 31 - June 5, 1968 - Rome, Italy
   Consultation: "Catholicity and Apostolicity"
    
   

8. December 1-5, 1968 - Rome, Italy
   Collaboration after Uppsala; Exploration on Program for Solidarity, Development and Peace (SODEPAX); Co-ordination of Aid to Nigeria"
   
   
9. May 12-17, 1969 - Gwatt, Switzerland
   "Enlarged Membership (more permanent relationship between WCC and RCC); Catholicity and Apostolicity; Common Witness; relations with Other Religions"
   
   PAPER - "PATTERNS OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RCC AND WCC"
   N.B. Even though this is not an official document of the JWG, it is nevertheless useful to include it here because of its relevance to the theme treated, i.e., the possible membership of the Catholic Church in the WCC.

   September 29 - October 3, 1969 - Zagorsk, USSR
   Consultation: "Common Witness and Proselytism"
   

10. May 25-30, 1970 - Naples, Italy
    "Possible Membership of the RCC in the WCC; Catholicity and Apostolicity; Common Witness and Proselytism; SODEPAX; Exploratory Committee on Medical Aid; Approval of the Study Paper on ‘Common Witness and Proselytism'; Preparation and Approval of the Third Official Report"
    THIRD OFFICIAL REPORT (May 1970)
    APPENDIX I - REPORT ON COMMON ACTIVITIES
    APPENDIX II - STUDY DOCUMENT: "COMMON WITNESS AND PROSELYTISM"
    APPENDIX III - STUDY DOCUMENT: "CATHOLICITY AND APOSTOLICITY"
    
    
11. June 7-12, 1971 - Bernhäuser Forst (Stuttgart), Germany
    "Membership of the Catholic Church in the WCC; Theological, Pastoral, Structural Development of Ecumenism at a Local, National, Regional Level; SODEPAX; Week of Prayer for Christian Unity"
    
    
12. May 29 - June 2, 1972 - Rome, Italy
    "Role of National, Regional and Local Councils of Churches; Structure of the JWG for Better Collaboration; SODEPAX; Women's Ecumenical Liaison Group (WELG); Nature and Meaning of the Communion that already Exists; Proposal for Studies on: Cooperation on Education, Youth and Family, Authority, New Movements, Church and Socio-political Issues"
    
    
13. May 21-25, 1973 - Windsor, England
    "Co-operation between Parent Bodies; Local/Regional Developments; SODEPAX"

    REPORT: "FUTURE JOINT ACTIVITIES OF RCC AND WCC" (1973)
    
    February,1974 - Geneva, Switzerland
    Consultation: "Survays, Analysis and Questionnaire on Mission"

14. May 27-31, 1974 - Venice, Italy
    "Identify and Encourage Opportunities for Co-operation between WCC and RCC; SODEPAX; Laity; Proposal for Studies on: Mission and Ecumenism, People of Other Faiths, Relief and Service, Human Rights, Development and Peace"
    FOURTH OFFICIAL REPORT (1975)
    APPENDIX I - LETTER FROM SECRETARIAT FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN UNITY TO REV. P. POTTER
    APPENDIX II - "RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE 5TH WCC GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON RELATIONS BETWEEN WCC AND RCC"

    REPORT: "WCC AND RCC COLLABORATION TO THE WCC CENTRAL COMMITTEE"

    
    

15. October 4-8, 1976 - Utrecht, The Netherlands
    "The Unity of the Church: The Goal and the Way; Proposal for a Study on the Search for Unity"
    
    
16. December 5-9, 1977 - Pianezza (Turin), Italy
    "Common Witness; Unity of the Church: The Goal and the Way"
    
    June 12-16, 1978 - Venice, Italy
    Consultation: "Towards a Common Profession of Faith"
    
    
17. February 26 - March 2, 1979 - Le Louverain, Swizterland
    "How to Deepen and Reinforce Communion between Churches; Unity of the Church: The Goal and the Way; Collaboration in the Social Domain: Human Rights, Women, Racism; Common Witness"
    
    May 29 - June 2, 1979 - Venice, Italy
    Consultation: "Common Witness"
    

    November 30 - December 2, 1979 - Rome, Italy
    Consultation: "Approval of the Study Document on Common Witness" 
    STUDY DOCUMENT: "COMMON WITNESS: A STUDY DOCUMENT OF THE JWG OF THE WCC AND THE RCC"
    

18. February 17-21, 1980 - Marseille, France
    "Collaboration in Social Matters; Unity of the Church: The Goal and the Way"
    
    
19. June 9-13, 1981 - Geneva, Switzerland
    "Revision of Work; Collaboration in the Area of Social Thought and Action; Unity of the Church; Common Witness; Christian Medical Service; Laity Formation; Women and Men in the Church; Proposal for a Joint Consulting Group for Social Thought and Action between RCC and WCC (JCG - RCC: Bodies: Cor Unum, Council for the Laity, Commission Justitia et Pax and Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity; WCC Bodies: Commission on Participation in Development; Commission on Interchurch Aid Refugee's World Service; Christian Medical Commission, Commission on Interfaith Affairs); Preparation of Fifth Official Report"

    February 15-18, 1982 - Venice, Italy
    Consultation: "The Significance and Contribution of Councils of Churches to the Ecumenical Movement"

20. March 29 - April 2, 1982 - Ariccia, Italy
    "Common Witness; Unity of the Church: The Goal and Way; Reflection on Ways to improve JWG Impact and Service; Collaboration on Social Thought and Action; Approval of the Fifth Official Report"
    FIFTH OFFICIAL REPORT (June 1983)
    
    

January 26-28, 1984 - Venice, Italy
"Information Meeting; Re-organization"



21. October 8-13, 1984 - Bossey, Switzerland
    "Organization; Ecumenical Formation; Social Collaboration; Baptism, Eucharist, Ministry Document (BEM); Ethical Issues, Challenge of Apartheid; Mixed Marriages"
    
    September 22-24, 1985 - Bossey, Switzerland
    Consultation: "Hierarchy of Truths"
    
    
22. September 30 - October 5, 1985 - Riano, Italy
    "Hierarchy of Truths; Ecumenical Formation; Debate on Liberation Theology; Pastoral Care of Mixed Marriages; Reception Process of Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry Document (BEM); Social Action Collaboration; Church: Local and Universal; Reality, Progress and Problems of Christian Unity; Vatican II: 20 Years After"
    
    March 3-6, 1987 - Rome, Italy
    Consultation: "Hierarchy of Truths"
    
    
23. April 30 - May 7, 1987 - Bossey, Switzerland
    "Relationship between Local and Universal Dimension of the Church; Hierarchy of Truths; Ecumenical Formation; Mixed Marriages; Council of Churches; Ethical Issues"
    
    
24. April 27 - May 4, 1988 - Venice, Italy
    "Pastoral Care of Mixed Marriages; Collaboration on Social Issues; Hierarchy of Truths; Church: Local and Universal; Ethical Issues; Council of Churches; Laity; Ecumenical Formation; Preparation of the Sixth Official Report"
    
    December 19-20, 1988 - Rome, Italy
    Consultation: "The Church: Local and Universal"
    
    
25. February 4-10, 1989 - St. Prix, France
    "Information on Recent Events and Initiatives: Synod of Laity, New Directory; Hierarchy of Truths; Ecumenical Formation; Church: Local and Universal; Pastoral Care of Mixed Marriages; Ethical Issues as New Sources of Division; Common Witness; Proclamation of the Gospel"
    
    September, 1989 - Rome, Italy
    Consultation: "Revision Committee on ‘The Church: Local and Universal'"
    

    January 23-24, 1990 - Rome, Italy
    Consultation: "Ethical Issues as New Sources of Divisions"
    

26. January 26 - February 2, 1990 - Rome, Italy
    "The Church: Local and Universal; Hierarchy of Truth; Christian Mixed Marriages; Ecumenical Formation; Ecclesiological Significance of Ecumenical Work; Common Witness; Approval of the Sixth Official Report"
    SIXTH OFFICIAL REPORT (August 1990)
    APPENDIX A - STUDY DOCUMENT: "THE CHURCH: LOCAL AND UNIVERSAL" (August 1990)
    APPENDIX B - STUDY DOCUMENT: "THE NOTION OF ‘HIERARCHY OF TRUTHS': AN ECUMENICAL INTERPRETATION" (August 1990)
    
    

27. March 8-14, 1992 - Kloster Wennigsen, Germany
    "Exchange of Information about Ecumenical Developments; Ecumenical Formation; Mixed Marriages; Ethical Issues; Common Witness; Social Thought and Action Joint Collaboration: Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation (JPIC), Apartheid; Reflection on the WCC's Canberra Statement on ‘Koinonia: Gift and Calling'"

    February 10-18, 1993 - Hong Kong
    Consultation: Regional Ecumenical Organizations and National Council of Churches (REO and NCC): Servants and Advocate of Unity

28. May 17-23, 1993 - Venice, Italy
    "The Ecumenical Situation; Ongoing Collaboration; Approval of text on Ecumenical Formation; Ecumenical Significance of the WCC's Canberra Statement: ‘Koinonia: Gift and Calling'; Proselytism; Social Thought and Action; Ethical Issues as New Sources of Division"
    STUDY DOCUMENT: "ECUMENICAL FORMATION: ECUMENICAL REFLECTION AND SUGGESTIONS" (May 1993)

    October 18-19, 1993 - Rome, Italy
    Consultation: "The Ecumenical Dialogue on Moral Issues: Potential Sources of Common Witness or Division"
    

29. June 4-10, 1994 - Crete
    "Common Witness and Proselytism; Ethical Issues as a Potential Source of division and Religious Freedom; Year 2000 Ecumenical Celebration"

    November 1-4, 1994 - Tantur, Israel
    Consultation: "The Ecumenical Dialogue on Moral Issues: Potential Sources of Common Witness or Division"
    

30. May 12-19, 1995 - Magnano (Bose), Italy
    "Ecclesial Situation; Ongoing Collaboration; Common Witness; Ethical Issues, The 'Common Understanding and Vision' Process (CUV); Proposal for a Sub-Commission on the Celebrations for the Year 200"
    STUDY DOCUMENT: "THE CHALLENGE OF PROSELYTISM AND THE CALLING TO COMMON WITNESS" (September 1995)
    STUDY DOCUMENT: "THE ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE ON MORAL ISSUES: POTENTIAL SOURCES OF COMMON WITNESS OR OF DIVISION" (September 1995)

    September 11, 1995 - Rome, Italy
    Consultation: "Celebration of the Year 2000"
    

31. May 3-7, 1996 - Chambésy, Switzerland
    "Sharing of Information on Ecumenical Situation; Proposal of further Studies on Issues affecting Koinonia, Baptism, Religious Freedom, Religious Fundamentalism; Justice and Peace; Proposal for a Study Document on Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant Perspectives on the WCC's Canberra Statement on ‘Koinonia: Gift and Calling'; Preparation of the Seventh Official Report"
    
    
32. May, 1997 - Venice, Italy
    "Collaboration on Social Thought and Action; How to give Common Witness: Study on Possible Common Preparation of the Jubilee 2000; The ‘Common Understanding and Vision' Process (CUV); Approval of the Seventh Official Report"
    SEVENTH OFFICIAL REPORT (February 1998)
    APPENDIX A - "THE HISTORY OF THE RCC AND WCC JOINT WORKING GROUP" (February 1998)
    APPENDIX B - STUDY DOCUMENT: "THE ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE ON MORAL ISSUES: POTENTIAL SOURCES OF COMMON WITNESS OR OF DIVISION" (September 1995)
    APPENDIX C - STUDY DOCUMENT: "THE CHALLENGE OF PROSELYTISM AND THE CALLING TO COMMON WITNESS" (September 1995)
    APPENDIX D - STUDY DOCUMENT: "ECUMENICAL FORMATION: ECUMENICAL REFLECTION AND SUGGESTIONS" (May 1993)

33. May 25-31, 2000 - Antelias (Beyrouth), Lebanon
    "Nature and Purpose of Dialogue (Papers by Dr. Rev. K. Raiser and H.E. W. Kasper); Council of Churches; Ecclesiological Consequences of Baptism; National Ecumenical Organizations and National Council of Churches (NEO and NCC); Social Thought and Action; Theological Anthropology; Mixed Marriages"
    
    
34. May 25-31, 2001 - Dromantine, Northen Ireland
    "Ecclesiological Consequences of Baptism; Mixed Marriages; National Ecumenical Organizations and National Council of Churches (NEO and NCC); Social Thought and Action; Theological Anthropology"
    
    February 1-4, 2002 - Geneva, Switzerland
    Consultation: "Ecumenical Implications of the Mutual Recognition of Baptism"
    
    
35. May 25-31, 2002 - Stjärnholm, Sweden
    "National Ecumenical Organizations and National Council of Churches (NEO and NCC); Ecclesiological Consequences of Baptism; Nature and Purpose of Dialogue; Theological Anthropology; Social Thought and Action; Mixed Marriages"
    
    February 5-9, 2003 - Rome, Italy
    Consultation: "Ecumenical Implications of the Mutual Recognition of Baptism"
    
    
36. May 5-11, 2003 - Bari, Italy
    "Nature and Purpose of Dialogue; Ecclesiological Consequences of Baptism; National Ecumenical Organizations and National Council of Churches (NEO ans NCC); Social Thought and Action; Theological Anthropology; Mixed Marriages"