The
theme and text for each year's observance of the Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity are chosen and prepared by representatives
of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council
for Promoting Christian Unity.
The initial work leading to the publication
of this booklet was done by a group of Christian leaders from
Jerusalem. They gathered at the invitation of the World Council
of Churches. Their work was facilitated by the Jerusalem Inter-Church
Centre. We want to thank in particular those who have contributed:
His Beatitude the Latin Patriarch Emeritus,
Michel Sabbah
His Grace Bishop Munib Younan, of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
Rev. Naim Ateek, of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and
the Middle East
Rev. Frans Bouwen, of the Roman Catholic Church
Fr. Alexander, of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Fr. Jamal Khader, of the University of Bethlehem
Mr Michael Bahnam, of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of
Antioch
M. Nora Karmi, of the Armenian Orthodox Church
Mr Yusef Daher, of the Greek Catholic Melkite Church
The texts proposed here were finalized during
the meeting of the international preparatory group appointed
by the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission
and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity,
of the Roman Catholic Church. The meeting of the international
preparatory group took place at the St. Christophorus Monastery
in Saydnaya, Syria.
Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute,
in its planning of these resource materials also invites ecumenists
and church leaders of various religious traditions to contribute
resource materials for celebrating the Week of Prayer of Prayer
for Christian Unity. Acknowledgment of these authors appears
with their text.
In addition, acknowledgment is due to those
who contributed in particular to various segments of these
resources.
Translation:
Ms. Betty Maurovich for Spanish translations for editorial
review of the Spanish text.
Worship:
International Preparatory group text, edited by Fr. Thomas
Orians, SA, Editor, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity resources
and Associate Director, Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious
Institute and Fr. James Loughran, SA, Director, Graymoor Ecumenical
and Interreligious Institute.
Practical Information and Resources:
Ms. Liz Matos, Secretary, Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious
Institute, for the compilation of "Observing the Week
of Prayer...", "Continuing the Committment...",
"Resources for Ecumenical and Interreligious Understanding"
and "Week of Prayer Available Resource Material."
Mrs. Veronica Sullivan, Business Manager, Graymoor
Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute, for editorial review
and management of the business and distribution of the Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity resource materials.
Biblical Text:
The translation of the biblical text in English used in the
Ecumenical Celebration of the Word and Daily Prayer guide
are from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Anglicized
Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995, by the Division of Christian
Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ
in the United States of America, and are used by permission.
All rights reserved. For those text in Spanish the biblical
translation are from Biblia de Jerusalén 1999, Desclée
De Brouwer Bilbao, and are used by permission. All rights
reserved.
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