Some members and friends of ECEN met in September 2025 as « Extended Enabling Team » to shape ECEN’s future together.
And we have good news to share with you : we could secure a date for our next Assembly !
It will take place from Saturday 29 August to Wednesday 2 September 2026 in Brussels, and will be hosted by a Franciscan Training Centre the name of which literally sounds like a new birdsong. Actually, we tested the place for you, and think you too will like this quiet and spiritual place simply called « Chant d’Oiseau ».
Regarding the theme of our ECEN Assembly, several options are still on the table.
« On Earth, as it is in Heaven » could be an invitation to focus on God’s views, rather than on the destruction that we see too often on our planet. It would also be a way to emphasize the liturgical work that is currently being done for a « Feast of Creation in Christ » on 1st September.
Alternatively, we may gather around the theme of the 2026 Season of Creation, unless the guidelines expected from the WCC « Decade for Climate justice » inspires us differently. Finally, we may be interested by upcoming international conferences that are organised by states and that involve civil society : we would then join the dots with the upcoming COP on biodiversity, that will take place on our continent (Yerevan, Armenia) from 19 to 30 October 2026. We will keep you posted on the final choice, on key-note speakers and on the overall programme.
When it comes to the life and plans of the network: our exact place and purpose should be adjusted to what we see as today’s priorities (ecospirituality, climate litigation, environmental causes and consequences of wars on our soil, etc), while taking into account the moves of partners like the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the World Council of Churches (WCC) and its climate commission.
At a time when many setbacks are currently being observed on environment and climate issues, we believe it is essential to persevere in ECEN work of monitoring, advocacy and empowerment, as this is nothing less than the concrete expression of our responsibility as Christians. Therefore, as our network was suddenly lacking a legal structure in 2024, an “Association to Support ECEN” was created in order to collect financial contributions aiming at fostering Churches’ work on ecology and climate justice. The statutes of this charity may be found here. This is enabling the network to book meeting places, to apply for grants or to receive donations.
On the other hand, for many of us ECEN’s identity lies in its way of working as informal network, rather than as a heavy organisation with complex membership schemes. This conviction is set out in the ECEN Constitution that dates back to 1999, to be found here.
So we hope that our next Assembly could be the last step of a review process, starting from now on. We want to make sure that the documents on which ECEN is based actually reflect the present reality of our network and enable us to go where we want to go, capable of tackling the challenges ahead. Therefore, we invite all ECEN members and supporters, European Churches and their partners, to think of what it means to be part of ECEN, to share with us their expectations about ECEN role and work, finally to tell us which means they would be willing to offer so that the network may fulfil its missions tomorrow. This process will follow the below calendar:
December: Information to ECEN Members and Partners about the review process
January: Set of questions and proposals on the Constitution by the ECEN Enabling Team
February-March: Feedback and recommendations from ECEN members and partners
April: Draft Reviewed Constitution by the ECEN Enabling Team
May-June: Green light or red flags by ECEN members and partners
July: Final draft by the ECEN Enabling Team
2 September: Vote by ECEN members at the ECEN Assembly
We look forward to taking these steps with you in 2026 and to hearing your views.
Until then, we would welcome any donation that would help organise the Assembly and make it a success. Please use our bank details as below to contribute financially:
IBAN: FR76 4255 9100 0008 0281 2628 511 - SWIFT: CCOPFRPPXXX.
May Christ accompany us on the journey, he who always opens up new horizons for us !
The ECEN Extended Enabling Team, Brussels, September 2025