National Council of Churches in Australia
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The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) is an ecumenical organisation bringing together a number of Australia's Christian churches in dialogue and practical cooperation.
It works in collaboration with state ecumenical councils around Australia. It is an associate council of the World Council of Churches, a member of the Christian Conference of Asia and a partner of other national ecumenical bodies throughout the world.
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[edit] Logo
The symbol of the boat has long been used to represent the ecumenical movement, and its origins are unclear - perhaps in the Gospel story of the calling of the Galilean fishermen to be disciples. To the ecumenical movement today it represents the Church as the ship sailing the sea that is the world. The mast, in the shape of the cross, recalls the Christian faith that unites the Churches.
This version of the boat includes waves and the Southern Cross and was adopted at the formation of the NCCA in 1994. The use of the Southern Cross identifies the NCCA's geographical location and along with it the diverse racial identity of the region, united by the cross.
[edit] Background
The modern ecumenical movement began to take shape as the 19th century drew to a close. Initiatives among students and between church mission agencies led the way. In Australia, the Australian Student Christian Movement formed in 1896 and the National Missionary Council in 1926.
At the beginning ecumenism in Australia was an Anglican and Mainline Protestant movement. In the 1960s and 70s Eastern and Orientall Orthodox churches joined the ecumenical movement. Out of the devastation of World War II sprang the Australian Committee for the World Council of Churches (1946). This developed into the Australian Council of Churches. Following the Second Vatican Council, the Roman Catholic Church in Australia began exploring possibilities for relationships with other churches, and in 1994 the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) formed with the Catholic Church as a member.
[edit] Member Churches
The NCCA is its fifteen member churches in their commitment each to the others and all to the world for which Christ died.
| MEMBER CHURCHES | HEAD OF CHURCH |
| Anglican Church of Australia | Archbishop Peter Carnley |
| Antiochian Orthodox Church | Archbishop Paul Saliba |
| Armenian Apostolic Church | Archbishop Aghan Baliozian |
| Assyrian Church of the East | Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia |
| Churches of Christ in Australia | The Revd Richard Menteith |
| Congregational Federation of Australia | Harry Melkonian |
| Coptic Orthodox Church | Bishop Suriel & Bishop Daniel |
| Greek Orthodox Church | Archbishop Stylianos |
| Lutheran Church of Australia | The Revd Mike Semmler |
| Religious Society of Friends | Ruth Watson |
| Roman Catholic Church | Archbishop Francis Carroll |
| Romanian Orthodox Church | The Revd Dr Gabriel Popescu |
| The Salvation Army | Commissioner Les Strong & Commissioner Ivan Lang |
| Syrian Orthodox Church | Archbishop Mor Malatius Malki Malki |
| Uniting Church in Australia | The Revd Dr Dean Drayton |
(Source: National Council of Churches in Australia)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- National Council of Churches in Australia
- State ecumenical councils
- World Council of Churches
- Christian Conference of Asia
[edit] Member church websites
- Anglican Church of Australia
- Antiochian Orthodox Church
- Assyrian Church of the East
- Churches of Christ in Australia
- Congregational Federation of Australia
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Greek Orthodox Church
- Lutheran Church of Australia
- Religious Society of Friends
- Roman Catholic Church
- The Salvation Army
- Syrian Orthodox Church
- Uniting Church in Australia
