Økumenism

Økumenisme, or ecumenism, is the movement and set of practices aimed at promoting unity and cooperation among Christian churches, and, in some contexts, between Christians and other faiths. The term comes from the Greek oikoumene, meaning “the inhabited world,” reflecting the goal of worldwide Christian renewal and cooperation. Ecumenism seeks to overcome historic divisions that emerged during the Reformation and other schisms through dialogue, doctrinal study, joint worship, and shared social action. Modern ecumenism developed in the 20th century with networks such as the World Council of Churches and transdenominational dialogues that linked churches across regions.

Within the Roman Catholic Church, ecumenism intensified after the Second Vatican Council, especially with the decree Unitatis Redintegratio (1964), which affirmed the value of dialogue and acknowledged that elements of truth exist in other churches. Since then Catholic ecumenism has engaged with Orthodox, Protestant, and Anglican communities, leading to doctrinal discussions and agreements on issues such as baptism and justification, for example the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1999) with the Lutheran World Federation.

Ecumenical activity includes regional and local initiatives, such as shared worship services, collaborative social action, and commissions for greater doctrinal clarity. Critics sometimes argue that ecumenism compromises essential doctrinal distinctives or alters church identities, while supporters view it as practical reconciliation and moral witness in a plural and secularizing world. Some ecumenical aims emphasize visible unity, others emphasize common witness and cooperation without full reunion. Interfaith dialogue related to ecumenism seeks mutual understanding across religious traditions, though it is typically distinguished from intra-Christian ecumenical work.