The Conference Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns (CCUIC) has met regularly throughout the year, and continues to try to live out our constitutional definition as an ecumenical church, a church actively engaged in the quest for visible Christian unity. Our connectional United Methodist system provides the natural support for ecumenical and interfaith connection with all our neighbors.

We therefore as your team, recognize our responsibility for participation in learning encounters followed by sharing of knowledge and resources within our conference agencies and churches. We sent a delegation to the National Workshop on Christian Unity in Omaha, Nebraska and plan to attend the Workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana this spring. Through various ecumenical and interreligious experiences, we hope to assist all UM agencies in their understanding and experience of God’s gift of diversity.

At Annual Conference, our commission planned and facilitated a dialogue which provided not only tools for hosting dialogues in local church communities, but provided extensive resources for learning about and implementation of dialogues. The board also provided an information table at Annual Conference.

Three members from CCUIC attended The Parliament of the World’s Religions in Barcelona, Spain in July of 2004. We have prepared visual and verbal presentations in hopes of helping individuals and communities of faith, recognize globally and communally, the cooperative action that has begun from within the Chicago area and how we as United Methodists may plug into a network centered as facilitators of global action and peace through justice.

We have continued our active participation in The Illinois Conference of Churches as a judicatory member and on the executive board. We participated in the Ecumenical Millenium Committee and planned and carried out the celebration of the week for Christian Unity in January. The Ecumenical Millenium Committee hopes to host the National Workshop on Christian Unity in Chicago in 2007 or 2008 with United Methodist involvement. We also provided information for connection with the annual United Nations International Day of Peace on September 21^st.

We are in dialogue with the Muslim Community in the Chicago area and encourage interreligious dialogue across the conference. We organized attendance at several Iftars to which United Methodists were invited during Ramadan. Our relationship with the Muslims has led to participation in the United Powers and Du Page Connects.

CCUIC continues to explore new ways to provide accessible ecumenical and interreligious material, means of engagement and hands on experience. We are committed not only to strengthening our connection within the connection but to strengthen our connection with God's gift of diversity. The board’s future commitments include strengthening awareness of the need for respectful dialogue at all levels of engagement.

Catiana McKay, Chair

Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns

Northern Illinois Conference