The history of the National Association is linked to the founding of the English Association, as this is where we have our roots. However, there were several countries where couples from different traditions of the Christian Church began to meet at about the same time.

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It all really started with the Second Vatican Council in the 1960's when the Roman Catholic church began to open up and explore relationships with other churches. This was also the time when there was great liturgical activities throughout the world. The French group (Foyers Mixte) was the earliest to start meeting, the UK Association (AIF England) was formed soon afterwards and the Germans and Austrians were also begining to meed around that time, although still in quite small groups and not with formal Associations.  From the early 1970's there were International contacts between groups in Europe and beyond. InterChurch Associations owe a debt of gratitude to Canon Martin and Ruth Reardon and Father John Coventry in England and to Here Rene Beaupere in France, who with others set the foundation of the Associations as we see them today.

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Father George Kilcourse (a Roman Catholic priest) from Louisville, KY with others attended the International Conference held at Corrymeela, Northern Ireland in 1990.  Inspired by what they saw and heard they formed the American Association (AAIF) and it was based in Louisville, Ky. Father George wrote "Double Belonging" published by Paulist Press and this remains a definitive work on the subject.  In 1996 an International Conference was held in Virginia Beach, Va. During that Conference the National Committee was formed and several chapters were recognized. A year later at the firs National Conference in Louisville, Ky he firs Officials were elected, the firs National Co-Chair being Rev. Michael & Barb Slater. Barb and Michael had joined AIF England very soon after their marriage in 1986, while still living in England. They had returned to Barb's home (Southern California) the summer of 1995. During their term as CoChair they helped grow AAIF and extended its influence and visibility.

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In 2006 the Slaters founded the National Association of InterChurch & Interfaith Families, as a way to expand their ministry to the many Interfaith couples that were approaching them. NAIIF has a bi-monthly publication "Together" which goes to thousands of people throughout the US and around the world; this website and they are at present in the process of setting up an InterChurch and Interfaith family Retreat Center, know as TAMBO - That All May Be One.

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There are several concerns for InterChurch and Interfaith families. One is Eucharistic hospitality. Another concern is that of pastoral care shared by both church traditions for InterChurch families and faith traditions for Interfaith families; the nuptial promise, which although it has been reworded, still causes some tensions.  We know that the marriage of InterChurch and Interfaith couples is still something unique to many clergy, but we believe that need to realize that there is a unique pastoral opportunity available.  

On the national scene, NAIIF is invited to the National Workshop for Christian Unity, attended by Ecumenical Officers from all denominations from all over the US. NAIIF has also taken part in Interfaith Councils and welcomes the opportunity to work with others who love God.  We are also asked to mount a display at many diocesan Conferences and Conventions, give talks and workshops. It is wonderful to have the chance to share the ministry and also to talk with people who are seriously thinking about embarking on an InterChurch / Interfaith marriages.

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Each year we hear of members from InterChurch and Interfaith families who are being ordained and working to strengthen Holy marriage and family and Church life generally. Since the founding, a new generation of children and young adults who have never known anything else but living as members of two church communities / two faith communities in various ways, however difficult that has been at times. They in turn share their experiences with others; this perhaps is the most positive of results.

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Although there are thousands of InterChurch and Interfaith families around the world, we are small in comparison to other groups.  But we know that God works in and through us as we endeavor to be faithful both to the vocation of our marriage and to our different churches and faith traditions.  All of this undergirded with prayer and our commitment to One Lord God.