October 22, 2010

The recently established Network for Ecumenical Learning in Central and Eastern Europe (NELCEE) held its first consultation in Prague, 14-17 October.

The topic of the debates was "Religious education in school – confessional or ecumenical?"

The network is a result of three conferences organized between 2003 and 2008 by the World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches and the Volos Academy (Greece). NELCEE coordination was entrusted to the Institute for Ecumenical Research, Sibiu, Romania.

The 12 member institutes from 11 European countries have decided to consolidate their collaboration in the field of religious education. The immediate objectives are: to win new members for the network, to facilitate student and professor exchange programmes between participating institutes, to encourage a tight cooperation with the national ministries of education and to develop common research projects.

The first common research project will be focused on "Formal and informal methods for ecumenical formation in Central and Eastern Europe."

More information is available on the NELCEE website: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=2267&rid=f_13684&mid=2581&aC=63bab3c8&jumpurl=1.

Documents of the precursory 2008 meeting on Ecumenical Theological Education in Eastern and Central Europe: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=2267&rid=f_13684&mid=2581&aC=63bab3c8&jumpurl=2.

World Council of Churches