THE ARIZONA ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
Praying and working for the unity of the Church and the good of all.
The Council is a collaborative organization of Christian churches and religious organizations who pray, worship, and study together in order to discover ways for us toexpress unity instead of division. We do it for the sake of our 18 member Denominations, and we do it for the public witness the Church needs to make in the world. We especially wish to give voice to those who are vulnerable in our society, children, the elderly, the poor, the hungry. It is our hope that this ecumenical task will not only heal the wounds of the Church, but will also heal the wounds of our world.
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all."
--Ephesians 4:4-6
The ecumenical task of living into unity is a witness that we can make to the world. God has called us to be the one Body of Christ and visible presence of his love and care for others to see. God bless us all in that task.
The members of the Arizona Ecumenical Council desire to be a united Christianwitness in prayer, study, and service. You may read about their various collaborative activities by following the navigation bar along the top, and then contact us if you want to be a part of this journey of faith together.
"We, the members of the Arizona Ecumenical Council, confirm our commitment to the vision of manifesting the essential oneness of the Christian Church in Arizona. Through membership in this council we affirm our unity as members of the Body of Jesus Christ, whom we affirm as Divine Lord and Savior."
--from the Preamble of the AEC By-Laws
Mission Statement
The Arizona Ecumenical Council provides opportunities for all Christian churches to pray and work together for the unity of the church and the common good.
The Arizona Ecumenical Council coordinates the ecumenical work of churches, organizations, and individuals who are committed to the visible unity of the Church. That task falls into three major emphases:
Prayer--our conversation with God
Study--our conversation with each other
Action--our conversation with the world
This web site will hopefully be a resource for people interested in the unity of the Church, and help you understand and participate in what others are doing to live into the prayer of Jesus, "that they may all be one." John 17:21
In order to better define our work the Council decided at its January 2003 meeting to focus on the following six strategies:
1. Deepen theological conversation through worship and study.
2. Be a larger umbrella for the Christian churches.
3. Get water to the end of the rows.
4. Be a Christian voice to and for the ecumenical community.
5. Collaborate on our common mission.
6. Develop and diversify funding for the AEC.
Jesus prayed, "I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and your are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they maybe one, as we are one."--John 17:9-11