Relating to the movement that seeks cooperation and unity among different Christian churches and denominations.
example
Der Gottesdienst wurde ökumenisch gestaltet, mit Beteiligung von katholischen und evangelischen Pfarrern.
The church service was organized as an ecumenical service, with Catholic and Protestant pastors taking part.
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'ökumenisch' (ecumenical) belongs to the noun 'die Ökumene' (ecumenism). If you know the noun, you can work out the meaning of the adjective more easily.
EXAMPLE
Die Ökumene ist ein wichtiges Thema für viele christliche Gemeinden.
Ecumenism is an important topic for many Christian communities.
Context clue
This word is used almost exclusively in a religious context. It describes cooperation between different Christian denominations, such as the Catholic and Protestant churches.
EXAMPLE
Der ökumenische Arbeitskreis trifft sich einmal im Monat.
The ecumenical working group meets once a month.
Typical collocations
'Ökumenisch' (ecumenical) is often combined with certain nouns. Common combinations are 'ökumenischer Gottesdienst' (ecumenical service), 'ökumenische Trauung' (ecumenical wedding ceremony), or 'ökumenisches Zentrum' (ecumenical center).
EXAMPLE
Das Paar wünschte sich eine ökumenische Trauung, da sie unterschiedlichen Konfessionen angehören.
The couple wanted an ecumenical wedding ceremony because they belong to different denominations.