Europe

This chapter describes the multifaceted relations between churches in Europe in an ecumenical age. It considers church fellowships and communions of different ecclesial density on the Protestant side, and various significant agreements (e.g. Leuenberg, Meissen, Porvoo, and Reuilly) that have enabled them; the Conference of European Churches, which also has Orthodox participation; and the European Ecumenical Assemblies, in which additionally the Roman Catholic Church participates. It also notes the more informal, spiritual movement called Together for Europe. The Charta Oecumenica is presented, together with several agreements on the mutual recognition of baptism, and finally there is a brief account of national councils of churches, of ecumenical research institutions, and of a number of dialogue commissions, with a sampling of their fruits.