In many counties, towns, cities, and states across the United States Christians of all kinds come together as one body of Christ in councils of churches, as part of interfaith councils, in cooperative social ministries, as informal neighborhood initiatives, in advocacy organizations, as clergy associations, and in many other communities. The National Council of Churches is one part of this large and diverse tapestry of the one ecumenical movement, and NCC relates to these groups in a variety of mutually supportive ways.

 Locally, regionally, and nationally, we all seek to witness to the good news of Jesus Christ as we:

• pray together as one body of Christ

• act together to serve the poor and the disadvantaged

• dialogue together about Christian unity and interfaith relations, and

• advocate together for more just social policies.

Local and regional ecumenical and interfaith organizations are uniquely positioned to respond to the specific needs of their communities. Because they are rooted in local communities, issues like poverty, immigration, racial justice, environmental justice, healthcare reform, and gun violence are not abstract policy ideas—they affect real people who are our neighbors and require strong, creative action.

Likewise, for those organizations which engage in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, the tone of the dialogue is different when it is grounded in a particular community with shared needs and concerns. NCC has developed a curriculum called Faith Forum to facilitate ecumenical dialogue in local communities.

The common witness of Christians in these local and regional communities helps the whole ecumenical community be more faithful to the gospel which calls us to live as one body of Christ and to live out our faith in service to those in need.