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Irish Council of Churches

‘Creating places where Irish churches from all traditions may pray, dialogue and act together’

The ICC is constituted by “Christian Communions in Ireland willing to join in united efforts to promote the spiritual, physical, moral and social welfare of the people and the extension of the rule of Christ among all nations and over every region of life” (1922).

The fourteen member Churches are currently: The Antiochian Orthodox Church, The Church of Ireland, The Greek Orthodox Church in Britain and Ireland, The LifeLink Network of Churches, The Lutheran Church in Ireland, The Methodist Church in Ireland, The Moravian Church (Irish District), The Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland, The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, The Religious Society of Friends, The Rock of Ages Cherubim and Seraphim Church, The Romanian Orthodox Church in Ireland, The Russian Orthodox Church in Ireland, The Salvation Army (Ireland Division).

An Executive Committee is responsible for the oversight of the work of the Council.

Current officeholders:

Some members Irish Council of Churches Executive Committee 2009

The Historical Mandate

The Irish Council of Churches’ mandate derives from the Constitution of 1966 as amended in 1995. This mandate was extracted word for word from the original constitution that established the United Council of Christian Churches and Religious Communities in Ireland in 1922. There were seven founding member churches at the Council’s first meeting in January 1923 (Church of Ireland, Presbyterian Church, Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, Methodist Church, Moravian Church, Congregational Union, and the Religious Society of Friends/Quakers).

This historical background is significant as it indicates that the Council’s ecumenical beginnings were shaped by the aftermath of World War 1 and the period when partition and the border had just been created on this island.

Few will appreciate that this Council was also one of the earliest pioneers of National Councils of Churches throughout the world and that six of its seven founding churches continue in its membership today. Membership of the Council has now doubled to fourteen churches.

The original Council started in the context of momentous changes in both jurisdictions in Ireland. It served at the cutting edge for those churches wanting to express their Christian witness in working together for the benefit of all peoples, both locally and overseas. Its mandate covered the whole island and continues to reflect the All-Ireland focus of most of its member churches.

• ICC’s Core Objectives 2006-2009 41KB
• The Irish Council of Churches: 1923–83 by Rev. Prof. J.M. Barkley 248KB

Irish Council of Churches AGM 2009