Commissions
The Commission On Faith And Witness
The Commission on Faith and Witness engages the churches in theological study in order to increase an understanding of the faith we hold in common and to provide an ecumenical witness to Christ's mission in the world. The purpose of the Commission is to provide a meeting-place, a lively and fertile ground for reflection and work, among Christians of different families. Together we work to reflect theologically on matters of concern in our own day, and on questions of historical interest to the churches.
Periodically, we publish resources on topics chosen by the churches, such as Together in Christ: The Hope and Promise of Christian Marriage, The Bruised Reed: Reflections on Suffering and Hope, and resources on worship involving more than one faith tradition. Annually, the Commission develops resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It coordinates churches' participation in interfaith dialogue, with involvement on the Canadian Christian Jewish Consultation and National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee, among other bodies.
Each member church provides at least one representative to the Commission. Together, we decide the topics we wish to address, in keeping with the needs and concerns of the churches. We seek to articulate the Christian faith we hold in common, to discover greater mutual understanding and witness, and to probe more deeply the theological areas in which our traditions diverge. We identify the theological questions needing to be investigated, and explore them among ourselves. We share resources for dialogue and common understanding. And, we reflect theologically on the role and direction of ecumenism in our own day, in the specific Canadian situation in which we live and work.
The Commission On Justice And Peace
The Commission on Justice and Peace provides a forum for sharing information and concerns among those involved in ecumenical work on peace and social justice in Canada and the world. It facilitates biblical and theological reflection on peace and social justice and cooperation of the churches on related concerns.
The current focus of the Commission on Justice and Peace is on contributing to a theological dialogue on Faith and a Sustainable Economy. Elements of this program focus include theological reflection, a focus on poverty in Canada, human trafficking, and participating in the G8 G20 Interfaith Partnership.
In addition to the theological dialogue on faith and a sustainable economy, the Commission supports the work of related groups in the Council. These groups include Project Ploughshares, the Biotechnology Reference Group, the Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network, and the Human Trafficking in Canada Working Group.
Past programmatic foci of the Commission on Justice and Peace include strengthening public health care in Canada, HIV and AIDS, economic globalization, human rights, and just peacemaking.
The Canadian Council of Churches enjoys Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 1997.
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