Mission & Purpose

The Network of Religious Communities was legally established on January 1, 1999 as a consolidation and expansion of the former Buffalo Area Council of Churches, founded in 1857, and the Buffalo Area Metropolitan Ministries, founded in 1975.

Our Mission Statement: Motivated by the sacred texts and traditions of our unique faith communities, the Network of Religious Communities, Inc., in recognizing a multiplicity of religious beliefs, respects the right to be and to celebrate who we are within out particular religious traditions. Because our humanity is deeper than our divisions, we:

  • Promote dialogue,
  • Facilitate the sharing of spiritual activities and resources, and
  • Work for justice and peace.

The Network is not a religious community unto itself, rather a forum providing opportunities for cooperative ventures, strengthening our religious communities, and the betterment of the community as a whole.

Our Purpose:

  • Facilitate communication and increased understanding among the members, as well as between the members of the wider community.
  • Foster cooperation within and between the faith communities to which the members belong.
  • Facilitate collaboration in areas of common concern and in response to the needs of the residents of our region.
  • Promote justice, peace, and the common good — as expressed in the faith traditions of our members — in Western New York and the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario.