Dia-Logos

Abstract

The word dialogue traces its origin to the Greek dialogos. Logos is “word,” but it also has the more general meaning, “speech,” and dia means “through.” Dia therefore suggests movement. “Dia-logos” may be understood as “the word that moves” or “a multidirectional exchange of speech.” In this sense, every verbal exchange between two or more people is a dialogue. But the following reflections will take into consideration only dialogues between or among churches. These normally take place on different levels, such as the international, regional, and local. There is dialogue at the level of church representation (between leaders and official delegations of different churches), at the parish level, and also at the level of unorganized encounters.