The newly appointed officer for ecumenical and interfaith relations for the Episcopal (Anglican) Church in the United States has vowed to make the strengthening of Christian-Jewish-Muslim relations one of his ecumenical priorities.

Improving ties between Episcopalians and Orthodox Christians is another of his priorities.

In an interview with ENI, Bishop Christopher Epting said his current position—Episcopal Bishop of the state of Iowa—had prepared him well for his new position.

His appointment was announced in December by the church's head, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold. Bishop Epting takes up the post of Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in April.

"The ecumenical movement is alive and well locally, and the grassroots are leading the way," Bishop Epting told ENI. Local American churchgoers often "scratch their heads" at theological disagreements among churches at the national and international level, he said.

He said he was happy that at local level ecumenical dialogue and cooperation were progressing well, but ecumenical cooperation at a national level was also important. "It's not 'either-or' but 'both-and'," Bishop Epting said.

Announcing Bishop Epting's appointment, to succeed David Perry who is retiring, Bishop Griswold said the Episcopal Church intended to "establish interfaith dialogue and to expand our relations with churches of the East. I can think of no one better suited both by experience and temperament to assume this important ministry on behalf of our church."

In recent years many of the Episcopal Church's ecumenical efforts have focused on relations with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which culminated on January 6 in the implementation of full communion between the ...