The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of 126 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches along with 43 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, many languages, 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 the 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 over 40 years of CEC’s existence.

CEC has also tried to build bridges between minority and majority churches, between the generations, between women and men, and between Christians of different confessions. Although the Roman Catholic Church is not a member, it has a close relationship with CEC. A number of ecumenical encounters have taken place in Europe jointly arranged by CEC and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). The most significant events were the European Ecumenical Assemblies; "Peace with Justice", Basel, Switzerland, 1989, and "Reconciliation, Gift of God and Source of New Life", Graz, Austria, 1997, which the two organisations co-sponsored.

CEC is called upon to consider and act on many concerns in contemporary Europe. Principal among these, naturally, is ecumenism in Europe. In 2001, CEC and CCEE signed the "Charta Oecumenica - Guidelines for the Growing Cooperation among the Churches in Europe." Churches throughout Europe are asked to implement the "Charta Oecumenica", adapting it to their local situations. With the opening up of the continent’s political barriers after 1989, the issue of common mission has been added to ecclesiology for ongoing study.

Due to the European developments after 1989, and in order to reflect the changing situation with regard to the European Institutions and organisations, the 11th Assembly approved the integration of CEC and the European Ecumenical Commission on Church and Society (EECCS). After approval from the EECCS General Assembly, the integration became fully effective in 1999. The new CEC Church and Society Commission, with offices in Brussels, Belgium, and Strasbourg, France, examines social, economic and environmental issues with a European dimension. The commission has the particular task of involving the churches in the European integration process, monitoring political institutions and organisations (European Union, Council of Europe, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, United Nations) and maintaining regular contacts with them on behalf of CEC and its member churches. The quest for peace and the defence of human rights, in a continent which has been the source of two world wars in the 20th century, are also concerns for the CEC Church and Society work.

When CEC began Europe was a broken, fragmented and devastated continent. It was in the midst of this that the concept of inter-church aid took root. Europe’s post second world war refugee problem and thousands of people seeking asylum were two other concerns which engaged the churches' attention. Today, similar activities continue in the context of yet further crises, including those on the new poverty, asylum seeking, migration and the uprooted people in Europe. A special cooperation in this field exists between CEC and the Brussels-based Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe.

Another area of work which reflects the concern of Europe's churches is that which is carried out jointly with the Roman Catholic Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) on the presence of Islam in Europe. This programme looks at attitudes and relationships between the two great religions Christianity and Islam.

Further contemporary concerns include communication and information, the role of women in today’s society, violence against women, trafficking of human beings, and involving young people within the ecumenical movement. CEC takes all of these seriously, in order to meet the challenges of the age both in technological terms as far as communication is concerned and in ensuring the maximum participation of women and youth in all its activities.

The supreme governing body of the Conference is the Assembly. This meets at least every six years. Here all member churches are represented. The 11th Assembly was held in Graz, Austria, in 1997. This Assembly elected a 40-person Central Committee which meets annually to oversee the implementation of the decisions of the Assembly. The Central Committee elected a nine-person Presidium which acts as the Executive Committee of the Conference. This meets usually twice a year. The 12th Assembly will be held in Trondheim, Norway, 25.June - 02.July.2003.

A small multi-national and multi-lingual staff of about 20 people ensures the continuity of the CEC activities and its financing and administration through its offices in Geneva (General Secretariat, Finance, Communication, Studies, Women's Desk, Interchurch Service), Brussels and Strasbourg (Church and Society Commission).

President:
H.E. Metropolitan Jeremie Caligiorgis, Orthodox, France

Vice-President:
OKRin Rev. Rut Rohrandt, United, Germany

Deputy Vice-President
Rev. Prof. Jean-Marc Prieur, Reformed, France

Rt. Rev. Bishop Dr. Richard Chartres, Anglican, UK

H.E. Metropolitan Daniel, Orthodox, Romania

Very Rev. Margarethe Isberg, Lutheran, Sweden

H.E. Archbishop Longin, Orthodox, Russia

Mrs. Ploni Robbers van Berkel, Reformed, Netherlands

Rev. Hana Skorepova, Hussite, Czech Republic

General Secretary
Rev. Dr. Keith Clements