Four Principles of Dialogue Christian Origins Wider Ownership

In 1979, the Dialogue-Sub Unit of the World Council of Churches (WCC) produced a set of 13 secific Guidelines on Dialogue with People of Living Faiths and Ideologies (Geneva, 1979) for use among its Protestant and Orthodox Christian member Churches worldwide. The publication also suggested that member Churches might considering adapt the guidelines for use in their own contexts. Here in the UK, the then British Council of Churches (BCC) responded to this suggestion in 1981 by producing Relations with People of Other Faiths: Guidelines on Dialogue in Britain (London, 1981). This was structured around 4 so-called "principles of dialogue". These pirnciples were: Dialogue begins when people meet each other Dialogue depends upon mutual understanding and mutual trust Dialogue makes it possible to share in service to the community Dialogue becomes the medium of authentic witness The seminar will introduce these principles; their background in relation to the WCC and BCC; and their later development and use. Over a quarter of a century on it will also explore the question of how appropriate and useful these principles might still be? In addition, it will ask whether these principles might have continuing value not only for Christians - among and for whom they were originally developed - but also for people of other faiths and beliefs?

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