Ecumenical and Multi-Faith Prayer: Guidelines and Opportunities for Worship Across Traditions

In an increasingly pluralistic Australia, moments of shared prayer and liturgical encounter across Christian traditions, and occasionally across different faiths, have become both more common and more significant. Whether responding to civic events, pastoral needs, or the realities of rural ministry, these gatherings raise important theological, pastoral and practical questions. How do we pray with integrity while respecting the diversity of belief? How do we remain rooted in our own tradition while honouring the presence of others?

This article outlines the key principles and resources that shape the Church’s approach to ecumenical and multi-faith prayer, drawing on Australian practice, official Church teaching, and pastoral experience.

‍Ecumenical Worship

‍Ecumenical prayer—shared worship between Christians of different denominations—is grounded in our common baptism and shared reverence for Scripture. While full Eucharistic communion between all Christian churches is not yet realised, shared prayer services are a visible expression of our unity in Christ and a hopeful sign of the Spirit’s work.In rural and remote areas, ecumenical collaboration is often born of necessity. The 1997 Ecumenical Task Group on Collaborative Local Ministry (Queensland) produced guidelines for ecumenical worship in rural and remote communities, acknowledging the scarcity of ordained ministers and the faithful desire of Christians to worship together. Their recommendations included:

• Using the existing liturgical traditions of participating churches on a rotational basis (rather than inventing a “neutral” or generic service),
• Forming local worship groups made up of trained lay leaders from each denomination,
• Recognising differences in liturgical language and style while fostering mutual understanding,
• Using the Revised Common Lectionary as a shared scriptural framework,
• Ensuring lay leaders are properly trained and, where possible, authorised by their respective churches.

This approach reflects both pastoral realism and a deep respect for denominational integrity. In some cases, when an ordained minister is present, services may conclude with separate Eucharistic celebrations following a shared liturgy of the Word.

‍Multi-Faith Prayer

‍When it comes to worship involving members of different faiths, the Catholic Church approaches such occasions with clarity and care. As Nostra Aetate (1965) reminds us, all peoples share a common origin and destiny in God. There are indeed moments when multi-faith prayer can be a sign of peace, mutual respect, and shared concern for the common good. But this must be done without compromising the distinctiveness of Christian worship.

The 1995 Guidelines for Multi-Faith Worship developed by the Australian Consultation on Liturgy (ACOL) recommend that, where multi-faith prayer is held, it should take the form of a “serial service”:

• Each faith tradition offers its own prayer, song, or ritual separately and in its own language and manner.
• These moments are presented in succession, not blended together.
• Participants pray in one another’s presence, rather than “praying together” in a way that risks theological confusion or syncretism.

Such events are best held on neutral ground (such as civic spaces), planned collaboratively with representatives from each faith, and clearly framed to reflect their non-liturgical and symbolic nature. Cross-participation should always be voluntary and invitations should avoid placing anyone in a position of discomfort or contradiction.

These distinctions matter: as Catholics, we believe in the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and our liturgical prayer is oriented to Christ as Lord and Saviour. At the same time, we honour the presence of God in all peoples and uphold the dignity of other religious traditions.

‍Practical Wisdom for Schools, Hospitals and Civic Events

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Many of these occasions for shared prayer arise in schools, hospitals, and civic gatherings. The Queensland Faith Communities Council’s 2024 Guidelines for Multi-Faith Prayer Spaces in Public Buildings offers helpful advice on respectful spaces, sacred objects, and the need for cultural awareness (e.g. removing shoes, providing washing facilities, indicating prayer directions).When planning ecumenical or multi-faith prayer in these contexts:

• Be clear about the purpose of the event (e.g. mourning, thanksgiving, national remembrance),
• Consider whether parallel or serial prayer is more appropriate than blended worship,
• Include faith representatives from the beginning of planning,
• Be honest about what participation does or does not imply,
• Focus on what can be shared without theological compromise—such as silence, music, reading of sacred texts, and gestures of peace.

‍Theology and Mission

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At the heart of these guidelines lies the Church’s commitment to truth, charity, and hospitality. As the Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (1993) states:

“Genuine ecumenical prayer… expresses what is possible now, in the context of our present situation, while giving voice to the hope of unity to come.”

The Lima Document (1982), one of the most significant ecumenical texts of the modern era, also affirmed that shared worship is an essential sign of ecclesial communion, even if it remains partial.

Ecumenical and multi-faith prayer is not about erasing differences, but about witnessing together to the God who is already at work in our shared world. In the Australian Church, this witness is enriched by our multicultural reality, the lived experience of interfaith families, and the spiritual leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians.

‍Conclusion

‍Ecumenical and multi-faith prayer calls for sensitivity, theological clarity, and pastoral care. Whether responding to local tragedy, marking national days, or building bridges in rural towns, our gatherings must reflect both our Catholic identity and our openness to others.By embracing shared prayer with wisdom and reverence, we can become credible witnesses to the reconciling love of God, a sign of unity in a world often fractured by division.