CEC 14th Assembly Website

"And now what are you waiting for?”
CEC and its Mission in a Changing Europe

3 to 8 July 2013, Budapest, Hungary

Quicklinks

Welcome to the CEC Website

CEC- CCME calls to commemorate Persons dying
on their way to seek safety

The Assembly of the Conference of European Churches held in Lyon in July 2009 called on churches to “to commemorate those who have died on their journey to find a dignified life in Europe through an annual day of prayer.” In the past years, many churches and parishes across Europe have taken up this call and held commemoration services around the 20 June, International Refugee Day. This year we wish to recommend holding services of commemoration on 16 or 23 June, the Sunday before or after the International Refugee Day 20 June.

Letter to the CEC Member Churches

Remembrance 2013 Resource Guide English - German

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: Metropolitan Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim

: Metropolitan Paul Yazigi

CEC calls for prayers for kidnapped Archbishops of Aleppo

We must speak out for religious tolerance, justice and peace

"I am deeply disturbed and saddened by the news today of the kidnapping of the Syriac Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Archbishops of Aleppo, Metropolitan Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Metropolitan Paul Yazigi". stated Rev. Dr Guy Liagre, General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC).

"We must speak out and demand religious tolerance, justice and peace for everyone throughout the world..."

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: Members of the CSC Plenary

: Rev. Rüdiger Noll, Director of the CSC Commission

Church and Society Commission discuss the European Year of Citizens;
Rev. Rudiger Noll, Director of Church and Society Commission leaves

The European Year of Citizens 2013 has been the main theme of the annual plenary meeting of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CSC) that took place in Brussels from 18-20 April. Carsten Lietz, member of the cabinet of Commissioner Reding introduced the activities and the background of the Year that has been declared by the EU.

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Rev. Dr Guy Liagre, CEC General Secretary, attends the Enthronement of Justin Welby as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral, 21 March 2013

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The Secretary General attended the Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe
of the
United Methodist Church
in Central and Southern Europe
in Winterthur/Switzerland March 12th- 13th 2013.

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Churches Together for Human Rights
7-8 March 2013, Helsinki - Finland

Programme

For further information visit the CSC Human Rights page

: L-R: Rev Rüdiger Noll - CSC, Metropolitan Ambrosius - Orthodox Church of Finland, Archbishop Kari Mäkinen - Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland, Archbishop Leo of Karelia and all Finland - Orthodox Church of Finland, Bishop Irja Askola - Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland, Fr. Heikki Huttunen - Finnish Ecumenical Council © CEC/CSC

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Syrian Refugee Crisis – EU should do more

To date, over 620,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring countries and North Africa to escape the bloody conflict that has so far left at least 60,000 people dead, according to United Nations figures. At least two million others in Syria have been displaced from their homes. Civilians in Syria are bearing the brunt of violations of...read more

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: Members of the CCEE/CEC Joint Committee, Warsaw, Poland, 4-6 February 2013 (Photos: CCEE/CEC)

Final communiqué issued at the end of the Joint Committee of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC).

From 4-6 February 2013 a meeting took place in Warsaw, Poland, of the Joint Committee of CCEE and CEC on the theme "Faith and Religion in a changing Europe. New Christian Movements in Europe: Challenge or Opportunity"....

French and German Versions of Press Release

Photos

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: From left to right: CEC president Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, WCC deputy general secretary Georges Lemopoulos, CEC general secretary Guy Liagre, WCC general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit, Anna Bjorvatten Tveit, WCC president for Europe Mary Tanner.

CEC and WCC challenge EU to be in solidarity with Greece

[Joint release with the World Council of Churches]

The general secretaries of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) have issued an open letter to the members of the European Union appealing for a just and sustainable solution to the crisis in Greece.

To read the open letter click here.

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The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 120 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches along with 40 associated organisations from all countries on the European continent. CEC was founded in 1959 and has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

Christians from different confessions are committed to live and witness together in a spirit of ecumenism, sharing, understanding and mutual respect. All are committed in spite of the historic divides, the many languages and the geographical and economic barriers which exist on the European continent. Together, the churches work to promote the unity of the church and to present a common Christian witness to the people and institutions of Europe. The common desire to live in peace and to promote justice and reconciliation has enabled the churches to maintain their fellowship for the 50 years of the CEC's existence.