Ecumenical Council of the Churches in Austria | Ökumenischer Rat der Kirchen in Österreich

Strives for a joint testimony of the Christian churches and accompanies interaction between churches and state

Initiators
The founding of the International Ecumenical Council of the Churches in 1948, its head office located in Geneva (cf. www.oikoumene.org), provided the impulse to establish an Ecumenical Council of the Churches in Austria, initiated by the Old Catholic Church, the Protestant Churches A. B. (Augsburg Confession) and H. B. (Helvetic Confession) and the Methodist Church. In 1958, the “Ökumenischer Rat der Kirchen in Österreich (ÖRKÖ)“ was officially established. Starting in 1961, various orthodox and oriental churches successively joined the ÖRKÖ. Through the Ecumenical Directory it was possible for the Roman-catholic Church in Austria to become a member in 1994.

Occasion
In the mid-19th century, Christians had started praying together across confessional borders, and, since the early 1900s, worked together on questions of a common testimony of faith, mission and practical help. By the end of the 1920s, worldwide ecumenical movements striving to foster the unity of the churches had already come into existence.

Target Groups
Christians who are represented by the Ecumenic Council. Contacts to the Jewish Community in Vienna (Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien) and, occasion-related, to other religious communities, are being cultivated. The Council accompanies interactions between churches and state.

Objectives
One of the main objectives of the Council is to bring the churches represented in the Council nearer to one another. The aim is to work together in fulfillment of ecumenical tasks. It is based on John 17:20-23 (NIV): “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

The term „Ökumene“ (ecumene) is derived from the Greek “oikumene” signifying “the entire inhabited world”.

Topics

  • Peace, justice, conservation of creation
  • Social topics (“Sozialwort” and community of solidarity)
  • Socio-political questions
  • Christian identity in a plural world
  • Dialogue and exchange between the churches

Duration
The initiative was established in 1958 for an unlimited period of time.

Activities

  • Annual church services on occasion of the Day of Judaism
  • Prayer Week for a unified Christianity
  • Occasion-related issuing of statements, calls to action concerning political responsibility, commemorative publications, topics relating to solidarity, resolutions and responses, current religion-related topics, letters of protest. Publications and statements are grounded on the “Sozialwort” first released in 2003 and updated in 2013 („Solidarische Gemeinschaft“), a commentary on social and societal challenges by Christian Churches of Western as well as Eastern traditions in Austria.
  • Leading roles in the „Lange Nacht der Kirchen“ (as an initiative of the ÖRKÖ) LINK, the „Ökumenische Sommerakademie Kremsmünster“ (ecumenical summer academy in Kremsmünster) and special worship services dedicated to Creation and its preservation („Schöpfungszeit“).

Form of Organization
The ÖRKÖ consists of Christian churches and „observers“ (various institutions and organizations). In accordance with the statutes, member churches are represented according to their size by 1 to 10 delegates. The executive committee consists of seven members. Ad hoc committees may be appointed for special projects.

Ecumenical workgroups and ecumenical forums of the federal provinces of Austria (Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper Austria, Lower Austria - West and Styria) are in regular communication with the ÖRKÖ through local contacts.

Funding
The Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria is funded by dues from participating Churches (currently 17) and donations.

Products

  • Brochure "Solidarische Gemeinde"
  • „Das Sozialwort“, a statement concerning social and societal challenges (drawn up 2000-2003)

Website | Social Media | Contact
www.oekumene.at/

Ökumenischer Rat der Kirchen in Österreich (ÖRKÖ)
Severin Schreiber Gasse 3
A-1180 Wien

T: +43 1 479 15 23-203
E-mail: oerkoe@kirchen.at

 

editor: kg / update: ts 2022

 

 

Redaktion: kg / Aktualisierung: ts 2022