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Ecumenism

Ecumenism is a difficult word. It comes from the Greek oikoumene and literally means "the whole household" or "the whole inhabited world". In the Church context it means the whole household of God, or the whole world-wide church.

While the word is used to refer to the relationships between churches, more and more it speaks of the role the church plays in God’s mission to the whole world. This mission is nothing less than the renewal of the whole household of God. Ecumenism, therefore, includes:

• Interchurch relations
• Interfaith relations
• The Church's commitment to the environment
• The Church's commitment to renewing society

Over a third of all Presbyterian congregations are linked with one or more our "partner" Churches. Our partner Churches include:

• The Anglican Church
• The Associated Churches of Christ
• The Churches of the Congregational Union
• The Methodist Church

These cooperating ventures are supported through the office of the Uniting Congregations in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Presbyterian Church also holds membership in key international
church groupings including:

• The World Council of Churches
• The World Alliance of reformed Churches
• The Council for World Mission
• The Christian Conference of Asia
• The Pacific Council of Churches

The Presbyterian Church has a number of key partnership relationships
with other churches outside New Zealand.