John B. Lindner Papers

This collection documents selected activities of John B. Lindner, focusing on his ecumenical and interfaith work during the 1980s and 1990s. It provides a valuable record of the "on-the-ground" operations of organizations and programs that sought to advance and document ecumenical work.

Series I documents Lindner's work on the National Council of Churches US/USSR Church Relations Committee from 1983 to 1988. Memos, reports, and audio-visual materials document the work of the committee and the trips to Russia and visits from Russian church figures that it sponsored. Background material provides an overview of US/USSR church relations.

Series II focuses on the preparation of a video and book on the history of the ecumenical student Christian movement in America. The video was prepared for a national student gathering sponsored by the Council for Ecumenical Student Christian Ministry in 1990. The book,"By Faith: Chrsitian Students among the Cloud of Witnesses" (1991), was edited by John B. Lindner, Alva I. Cox, Jr., and Linda-Marie Delloff. Numerous former leaders and participants in ecumenical student Christian movements were contacted to provide reminiscences, essays, and consultation in preparation of "By Faith." See also the Alva I. Cox, Jr. Papers (YDSL Record Group No. 179).

Series III documents Lindner's work on the International Coordinating Committee of the Frontier Internship program. This material provides a valuable complement to documentation of the Frontier Internship in Mission program found in the Margaret Flory Papers (YDSL Record Group No. 86).

Series IV relates to Lindner's work in preparing the 1980 Middle East Policy Statement of the National Council of Churches in the U.S.A. while Series V documents Lindner's work in the area of ecumenical formation.

Series VI contains writings, sermons, and talks by Lindner. Additional writings and talks can be found amongst the topically arranged documentation in Series I - V.