About ECER

European Congress of Ethnic Religions (former WCER)

Our goal

The purpose of the ECER is to serve as an international body that will assist Ethnic Religious groups in various countries and will oppose discrimination against such groups.

By Ethnic Religion, we mean religion, spirituality, and cosmology that is firmly grounded in a particular people’s traditions. In our view, this does not include modern occult or ariosophic theories/ideologies, nor syncretic neo-religions.

Short History

The World Congress of Ethnic Religions was established in June 1998 at the initiative of delegates from 16 different countries (Europe, Asia and America). This happened in Vilnius, Lithuania, the last European country to resist the onslaught of Christianity.

A Declaration was also drafted and later ratified. A second declaration was added on 25th October of the same year.

A constitution was drafted at the 2rd WCER congress, and subsequently ratified at the 3rd WCER congress. You can read excerpts, or the full legal document here.

The ECER is currently seeking NGO status at the United Nations.

In 1999, member organizations were:

  • Romuva, Lithuania
  • Dievturi, Latvia
  • Rodzima Wiara, Poland
  • Asatrufelagið, Iceland
  • Germanische Glaubens-Gemeinschaft, Germany
  • Forn Siðr, Denmark
  • Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes, Greece
  • Diipetes, Greece
  • Association Domus, France
  • Werkgroep Traditie, Belgium

Member organizations which joined at a later date include:

  • Eldaring eldaring.de, Germany (2004)
  • Foreningen Forn Sed, Norway
  • Movimento Tradizionale Romano, Italy
  • Federazione Pagana, Italy
  • Pravoslavya, Ukraine
  • Gentilitas – Spiritualità Italica, Italy

Congresses:

  • Vilnius (1998)
  • Telsiai (1999)
  • Bradesiai (2000)
  • Vilnius (2001), delegates from Vishva Hindu Parishad
  • Vilnius (2002)
  • Vilnius (2003) “Global Initiatives for Ethnic Cultures and Religions”
  • Athens (2004) “The High Values Of The pre-Christian Ethnic Traditions and Religions”
  • Antwerp (2005) “Spirituality and tradition in an anti-traditional world”
  • Jaipur, India (2006) “Spirituality Beyond Religions”, in cooperation with the International Centre of Cultural Studies and   the World Congress of Elders of Ancient Cultures and Traditions
  • Latvia (2007) “The spirit will see new light in the turn of ages”
  • Poznan-Glogow, Poland (2008)
  • Nagpur, India (2009)
  • Bologna, Italy (2010) “Ethics in Conteporary World” – from 26th to 29th august (Italy)
  • Haridwar, India (2012) 4th International Conference Gathering of the Elders of Ancient Traditions and Cultures
  • Odense, Denmark (2012) “What can Ethnic religions do for Europe – and what can Europe do for the Ethnic religions” (Denmark)