About Us
The IEF was founded in Fribourg in 1967. This came at a time when the International League for Apostolic Faith and Order (ILAFO) existed since 1951, with the support of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and with a geographical spread as wide as the present membership of the IEF. But at its Freiburg conference in 1967, the leaders and members of the ILAFO were aware that it was becoming an international organisation. ILAFO leaders and members were aware that something new was needed, something much more broadly based for ecumenical discussion and activity, something that would appeal to a much wider range of Christians and traditions. Out of these conversations came the International Ecumenical Fellowship (IEF). Doreen Bangerter is now, unfortunately, our only living link to that historical moment. Doreen herself has written about how she was catapulted into the fledgling Fellowship through a series of unforeseen events. Perhaps she is the prime example who has witnessed throughout the history of the IEF.
International Ecumenical Fellowship (IEF) is a grass-root, international community of Christians from countries across the world bringing together Christians from all traditions to worship, pray, study and enjoy fellowship. IEF brings lay and ordained Christians together across the divides of language, ethnicity, nationality, political structures, spirituality and Church traditions. The fellowship annually holds a number of conferences aiming at bridging, building and forging collaborations that make the world a better place to live. In Africa, IEF activities are run by an Interim Africa Chapter Secretariat in Uganda currently housed by Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara city, Mbarara district Uganda. The secretariate is also in the process of formalizing the International Ecumenical Movement Uganda (IEM-U) while International Ecumenical Movement Kenya (IEM-K) was formed in 2014. Other countries including Rwanda and Burundi are in the initial stages of planning. IEF Africa has organised a number of conferences; the first conference was hosted by
Bishop Stuart University in 2013 at Bishop Stuart University in Uganda, organized under the theme “Healing the Wounded History”. IEF Africa Chapter also coordinated the organization of the regional conference the first having been held in Kenya in 2016. Later in 2018, as a follow-up another conference was organised by Bishop Stuart University held at Lake View Resort Hotel on 8th and 9th August under the theme “Unity in Diversity”. Recently, IEF Africa in collaboration with Bishop Stuart University organised another conference that was held from Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd of September 2022 at Lakeview Resort Hotel Mbarara City Uganda under the theme “Reconciliation and Restoration; the how for African refugees”. The theme was thought to be timely and relevant especially in the East African region context due to the long history of conflicts and wars that have made some people get displaced from their home countries. The conference was also be used as an opportunity to re-ignite other International Ecumenical Movements across different countries. These will spearhead national, regional and International ecumenical activities in respective countries. Reconciliation and Restoration is not only a means to restoring friendship but also development. This is particularly important in the East Africa region within the context of the current tensions and experiences particularly during and after presidential and parliamentary elections, civil wars in countries like South Sudan, ethnic and tribal conflicts in Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda in Kasese, Bundibugyo attacks, political and religious tensions and individual differences among others. There was therefore need for an everlasting solution that guarantees restoration and reconciliation amidst the wars, conflicts and their effects and this is more important today than before. As part of the conference, presentations and discussions were made on establishing ways for reconciliation and restoration of the African refugees.
The papers that have been presented during all the conferences are in the downloads section.