"The concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity."
Discussion of the practical aspects of ecumenism, such as interfaith dialogue, cooperation between churches, and joint social action.
"The fact that all Christians belonging to mainstream Christian denominations profess faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour over a believer's life, believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God (John 1:1), and receive baptism according to the Trinitarian formula."
"John 17:20–23 as the biblical grounds of striving for church unity, in which Jesus prays 'may all be one' in order 'that the world may know' and believe the Gospel message."
"In 1920, the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Germanus V of Constantinople, wrote a letter 'addressed 'To all the Churches of Christ, wherever they may be', urging closer co-operation among separated Christians, and suggesting a 'League of Churches', parallel to the newly founded League of Nations'."
"In 1937, Christian leaders from mainstream Christian churches resolved to establish the World Council of Churches, to work for the cause of Christian unity."
"The World Council of Churches today includes churches from most major traditions of Christianity as full members, including the Assyrian Church of the East, the Old Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the Anglican Communion, the Baptist World Alliance, the Mennonite churches, the World Methodist Council, the Moravian Church, the Pentecostal churches and the World Communion of Reformed Churches."
"The Roman Catholic Church participates as an observer, sending delegates to official gatherings."
"Many regional councils affiliated with the World Council of Churches, such as the Middle East Council of Churches, National Council of Churches in Australia and Christian Churches Together, work for the cause of Christian unity on the domestic level."
"Member denominations include churches from the Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Methodist, Anglican, and Reformed traditions, among others."
"The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity."
"The World Council of Churches coordinates the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity."
"The terms ecumenism and ecumenical come from the Greek οἰκουμένη (oikoumene), which means 'the whole inhabited world'."
"The ecumenical vision comprises both the search for the visible unity of the Church (Ephesians 4:3) and the 'whole inhabited earth' (Matthew 24:14) as the concern of all Christians."
"The qualification ecumenical was originally and still is used in terms such as 'ecumenical council' and 'Ecumenical Patriarch', in the meaning of pertaining to the totality of the larger Church."
"Used in this sense, the term carries no connotation of re-uniting the historically separated Christian denominations but presumes a unity of local congregations in a worldwide communion."