Why We Are Interchurch... And Why Everyone—and All Churches

Why We Are Interchurch... And Why Everyone—and All Churches—Should Be Too!

Melanie Carroll • February 27, 2025

Why We Are Interchurch... And Why Everyone—and All Churches—Should Be Too!

In a world that grows ever more interconnected yet remains divided by myriad differences—social, political, and even spiritual—the need for unity in diversity is more pressing than ever. For those of us in interchurch families, this unity is a lived experience. We belong to two different Christian traditions yet work together to bridge the gap between them in our daily lives. As interchurch families, we believe that this way of living out our faith offers important lessons not only for individuals, but also for churches as a whole.

The call for unity is not optional; it is essential to the health and witness of the Christian community in the modern world. This is why we are interchurch, and why we believe that everyone and all churches should be too.

The Gift of Interchurch Families: A Lived Witness to Unity

Interchurch families are formed when two people from different Christian traditions—e.g. Catholic and Protestant—come together in marriage. While this can present challenges, it also offers a profound opportunity to live out Jesus’ prayer that "all may be one" (John 17:21). Our families are living proof that it is possible to embrace diversity without sacrificing unity. We do not ignore or diminish our theological differences, but instead, we engage with them respectfully, allowing both traditions to enrich our spiritual lives.

Being part of an interchurch family teaches us that dialogue, compromise, and understanding are not only necessary but are transformative. We experience firsthand the beauty of seeing through different theological lenses, deepening our faith as we share in the richness of each tradition. We celebrate each other's practices, join in one another’s sacraments as we can, and raise our children with an awareness that Christianity is broader and deeper than any one tradition can contain.

Why Every Church Should Be Interchurch: A Call to Ecumenism

What we practice within our homes as interchurch families is precisely what the broader Christian community is called to practice. All churches should be interchurch in spirit, if not in structure. The ecumenical movement has made great strides over the past century, but there is much work yet to be done. The Christian witness to the world is weakened by our divisions, and the time has come for us to realize that no single tradition holds the fullness of truth. Instead of competing with or criticizing one another, we must learn from one another.

The path forward lies in dialogue and cooperation. Churches need to engage in meaningful ecumenical efforts, not as token gestures, but as earnest attempts to better understand our shared mission in Christ. Each tradition has its strengths: whether it is the Catholic emphasis on sacramental life, the Protestant focus on Scripture, or the Orthodox celebration of mysticism, the Free Church focus on social justice, or any of the other traditions unique outlooks. Instead of keeping these treasures to ourselves, we should be sharing them and growing together in faith, just as happens in interchurch families lives.

The Importance of Unity for the World

Our divisions are not just a problem for Christians; they are a problem for the world. When churches are fragmented, our message of love, reconciliation, and peace is diluted. The world sees our disunity and is less likely to take seriously the transformative message of the Gospel. In contrast, when Christians come together—when we are truly "one body" (1 Corinthians 12:12)—we embody the message we preach. We become a powerful witness to the possibility of unity in a divided world.

Interchurch families, by our very nature, model this unity every day. We provide a glimpse of what the Church can be: a diverse body of believers united in love, respect, and shared mission. But this is not something we can achieve on our own. It requires a collective effort by all Christians and all churches to break down the walls that divide us.

Practical Steps for Churches and Families

How can this vision of unity become a reality for more Christians and churches? The journey toward greater ecumenism begins with small, concrete steps:

1. Intentional Dialogue:

Churches should organize regular opportunities for members of different traditions to come together, share experiences, and learn from one another.

2. Shared Worship and Sacraments:

While full sacramental sharing may not yet be possible in all cases, interchurch families often find creative ways to participate in one another's liturgical life. Churches can explore more opportunities for joint worship, particularly, but not solely!, during special seasons like Advent and Lent.

3. Ecumenical Education:

Pastors, priests, and church leaders can take the lead in offering ecumenical formation, teaching their congregations about other traditions in a way that fosters appreciation rather than competition.

4. Joint Mission Projects:

One of the most powerful ways for Christians to come together is through shared service. Whether it’s feeding the hungry, caring for the environment, or advocating for social justice, churches can collaborate in mission efforts that transcend doctrinal differences.

5. Support for Interchurch Families:

Churches should offer pastoral care and guidance to interchurch families, recognizing the unique challenges and blessings they face. By offering such support, churches help foster a culture of unity that extends beyond family life into the wider community.

A Vision of Hope

At the heart of our interchurch family experience is a deep sense of hope—hope that our efforts to live out our shared faith will contribute to the wider Christian mission of unity. We are not perfect, and the journey is not without difficulties, but we believe that the work of reconciliation is worth the effort. The unity we seek is not about uniformity, but about finding common ground in Christ.

This is why our families are interchurch and are members of the Association of Interchurch Families. We believe that living out this vision of unity in diversity is crucial for the future of the Church. And we invite all Christians and all churches to join us in this mission of love, hope and reconciliation, so that we may become, as Jesus prayed, “one” in Him.

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Happy New Year! January —The Courage to Begin Again

By Melanie Carroll • January 1, 2026

JANUARY — The Courage to Begin Again January is a month often framed by fresh starts, renewed hopes, and the desire to step into the year with intention. For many interchurch families, however, the idea of “beginning again” is not simply about turning the page on a calendar; it is a rhythm woven into their very way of life. Interchurch families live at the intersection of traditions, expectations, and identities. As a result, the courage to begin again is not seasonal — it is habitual. Yet January gives us an opportunity to name that courage, honour it, and recognise the spiritual depth it carries. Beginning again may be as practical as shifting Sunday worship patterns because a child’s schedule has changed, or as emotional as revisiting conversations about belonging that have long been sources of tension. It may involve addressing unresolved experiences from last year — a moment when a priest or minister misunderstood your family dynamic, or when extended family expressed opinions about your choices to raise your children in both traditions. For some, beginning again may be choosing to return to church life after a season of being stretched thin or feeling spiritually exhausted. The idea of “courage” can sound dramatic, but for interchurch families it is often quiet, steady, and almost unnoticed. It is the courage of showing up in a church that is yours but not fully yours. It is the courage of continuing to pray for unity when you feel the strain of disunity most sharply. It is the courage of teaching children that they are not divided but doubly enriched, even when the world struggles to understand that reality. January invites us to reflect on the difference between courage as a moment and courage as a practice. A single moment of bravery can be powerful, but interchurch life asks for something more: a patient, ongoing willingness to step forward, again and again, even when the way is uncertain. Beginning again in this context is not naïve optimism; it is a spiritual discipline rooted in hope. For many interchurch families, hope is what sustains the courage to begin again. Hope that the churches we love will continue to grow closer. Hope that our children will be able to live out their faith identities freely and fully. Hope that our own callings — lay or ordained, formal or informal — will be recognised and supported in both of our traditions. January reminds us that these hopes need tending, and tending requires courage. Scripturally, we often turn to passages that speak of new beginnings — “Behold, I am doing a new thing” or “His mercies are new every morning.” But for interchurch families, it may be equally valuable to reflect on the stories where God’s people must take small, faithful steps into uncertain territory. Abraham setting out “not knowing where he was going.” Peter stepping onto the water with trembling confidence. The disciples returning again to the upper room to pray and wait when they did not know what God would do next. These moments resonate deeply with interchurch experience. Beginning again is not about control; it is about trust. It is about trusting God with your family’s decisions, your children’s spirituality, and your own dual belonging. It is about trusting that unity is not only a prayer but a promise — one that will unfold over time, even if we do not yet see the full picture. January also encourages us to reflect on the internal dimension of beginning again. Many interchurch families carry memories of past experiences — some beautiful, some painful. The courage to begin again includes the courage to forgive, to heal, to remain open. Unity in the home requires unity of heart, and unity of heart requires the bravery to keep loving generously across difference. Perhaps you find yourself this January feeling hopeful, or perhaps tired. Perhaps you are longing for clarity about church commitments, or simply grateful for the stability your family has found. Whatever this year begins with for you, hear this blessing: Your courage is seen. Your hope is holy. Your faithfulness is part of the very story of Christian unity that the whole Church longs for. As we enter 2026, may you find the gentle strength to begin again — not because January demands it, but because God is already ahead of you on the path, welcoming you into the year with grace. Melanie Carroll - Executive Officer

A Christmas & New Year Prayer

By Melanie Carroll • January 1, 2026

Eternal God, at Christmas we give you thanks for the gift of your Son, born among us to bring light into the world and to draw all people into your reconciling love. As the Association of Interchurch Families, we come before you as those who live daily across Christian traditions, seeking to hold together faith, family, and unity in Christ. We give thanks for the churches and friends who walk alongside us, support us, and share in this calling. At this turning of the year, we pray that the light of Christ, first seen in the manger, may continue to shape our shared life. Grant to your Church and all people a generosity of spirit, patience in difference, and a deepened commitment to the unity we share through birth and baptism. As one year ends and another begins, renew our common resolve to listen well, to learn from lived experience, and to bear faithful witness together to the truth that unity in Christ does not require uniformity, but is grounded in Love. May the joy and hope of Christmas remain with us in the year ahead, strengthening our partnerships, guiding our discernment, and drawing us ever more deeply into your peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Word made flesh, the light of the world, now and for ever. Amen.