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 The Bruised Reed: Christian Reflections on Suffering and Hope (2010) . 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.

Current Members

• Dr. Gail Allan - United Church of Canada
• Jonas Abromaitis - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
• The Rev. Fr. Peter Avgeropoulos - Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Canada
• Dr. Elaine Botha - Christian Reformed Church in North America
• Fr. Jaroslaw Buciora - Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
• The Rev. Dr. Richard Crossman - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
• Dr. Ibrahim El-Behery- Coptic Orthodox Church of Canada
• Bede Hubbard - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
• The Rev. Paul Jennings- Anglican Church of Canada
• Mark Kalvaitis- The Salvation Army
• Natasha Klukach - Anglican Church of Canada
• The Very Rev. Dr. Ihor Kutash - Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
• Dr. Paul Ladouceur - Archdiocese in Canada of the Orthodox Church in America
• Keith R. Maddock - Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
• The Rev. Dr. Gilles Mongeau, S.J. - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
• The Rev. Dr. Arnold Neufeldt-Fast - Mennonite Church Canada
• The Rev. Tim Purvis - The Presbyterian Church in Canada
• Prof. Richard Schneider - Archdiocese in Canada of the Orthodox Church in America
• The Rev. Kevin Smith - Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
• Dr. Robert Steffer - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• The Rev. Dr. Margaret Trapnell - United Church of Canada
• Major Kester Trim - The Salvation Army
• The Rev. Deacon Alexei Vassiouchkine - Archdiocese in Canada of the Orthodox Church in America

Ex Officio

• The Most Rev. Gilles Cazabon, O.M.I. - Vice-President, The Canadian Council of Churches
• The Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton - General Secretary, The Canadian Council of Churches
• Dr. Mary Marrocco - Associate Secretary, Faith and Witness
• James Pedlar - Assistant Coordinator, Faith and Witness

More Our Faith

• Baptism
• Euthanasia
• Marriage
• Suffering and Hope
• Theological Anthropology
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
• Emergency Planning