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Taking as its starting point the 1966 World Conference on Church and Society in Geneva, which marked the beginnings of a fundamental change in the understanding of ecumenical social ethics within the World Council of Churches (WCC), this article discusses the role of the conference in this shift in perspective from the idea of the "responsible society" to the emergence of a form of postcolonial ecumenism. It traces the emergence of the responsible society as a guiding principle for the WCC and, in particular, the role in this of the US social ethicist Paul Abrecht, as well as how a focus on rapid social change helped strengthen and consolidate churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These churches would then articulate the beginnings of a postcolonial understanding of ecumenical social ethics at the Geneva conference, which would in turn lead to the development of new programmes on social justice after the WCC's 4th Assembly in Uppsala in 1968. The article concludes by discussing the tension between the two guiding principles in the decade that followed the Uppsala assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article recalls the history of the relationships between the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Pentecostal churches from the early years of the WCC until today. One of the greatest challenges currently facing the WCC is the shift in focus of Christianity to the South and the East, a phenomenon to which emerging Pentecostal and charismatic churches and communities are contributing. Alongside global cultural trends in the context of globalisation, Pentecostal and charismatic piety and spirituality are increasingly affecting the older churches as well. While some see this negatively, many see it as an expression of adaptation to new challenges necessary for the survived of these churches. The article shorn bow the changing ecclesial context led to the WCC to explore new avenues for building relationships such as a Joint Consultative Group and the Global Christian Forum. Keywords Pentecostal churches, World Council of Churches, Global Christian Forum, Joint Consultative Group between the WCC and Pentecostals, David du Plessis, Walter Hollenweger, Konrad Raiser, Cecil M. Robeck, The ecumenical movement can be described as a polycentric network of churches, ecumenical organizations, and associations while the World Council of Churches (WCC), as a fellowship of churches, particularly of [...]

This article discusses the role played by Konrad Raiser in the World Council of Churches (WCC), from 1969, when he joined the staff as a study secretary, to his time as general secretary from 1993 to 2003, and especially his role in the conciliar process for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. As general secretary, Raiser played a key role in supporting and encouraging the churches' witness for peace and nonviolence, strengthening the fellowship of churches within the WCC through the process to develop a 'Common Understanding and Vision' and the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC. Keywords Konrad Raiser, World Council of Churches, ecumenical movement, conciliar process, Decade to Overcome Violence, Orthodox churches, Konrad Raiser served as general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) from 1993 to 2003, but first joined the staff of the WCC in 1969 as study secretary [...]

Stirred by the life-giving Spirit, the early Christians spoke of themselves as people on the way. Following Christ, they were moving toward God's reign to come. They remembered Abraham, the [...]

The United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009 demonstrated that climate change has become a major issue in public policy and international relations. The issue of [...]

In 1995--fifty years after Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged in Flossenburg--I visited the Union Theological Seminary in New York. Bonhoeffer had studied there in 1930 and 1931 and returned to Union [...]

John O'Grady and Peter Scherle (eds), Ecumenics from the Rim. Explorations in honour of John D'Arcy May, Berlin, Lit Verlag, 2007, pp.498, EUR 49.90 What a splendid idea: starting a [...]

'Rise, let us be on our way' (John 14:31) People of the way Even before they were named Christians, disciples of ,Jesus were called 'the people of the was' in [...]

The gospel promises life in all its fullness for all people and the whole creation (John 10:10). This promise was incarnated in Jesus Christ. Nobody is excluded from God's household [...]

Jurgen Moltmann, Der lebendige Gott und die Fulle des Lebens--The Living God and the Fullness of Life. Gutersloher Verlagshaus, 2014, 232 pp. Some people become cynical when they turn 88; [...]

We share a common future ... The neglect of longer-term concerns today will sow the seeds of future suffering, conflict and poverty. (1) The United Nations World Summit on Sustainable [...]

When the World Council of Churches was restructured in 1992, the former Commission on Inter-Church Aid, Refugee and World Service (CICARWS) became the Programme Unit on Sharing and Service (Unit [...]

Kuncheria Pathil. Future of the Ecumenical Movement. Delhi: ISPCK, 2017, 228 pp. This is a thought-provoking book, and, precisely because of that, an encouraging one. Kuncheria Pathil shares insights of [...]

Konrad Raiser. 500 Jahre Reformation weltweit (500 Years of Reformation Worldwide). Studienreihe Luther 7, Bielefeld: Luther Verlag, 2016, 232 pp. Before writing about a subject he is asked to address, [...]

Plurality of life forms and value systems is a given (almost) everywhere on earth. Imposing on them a value system or individual values and virtues from an exterior position is rather counterproductive. Value systems are normative for individual communities but not the same. They are to relate to each other and to interact, negotiating with each other common goals and the validity and limits of values involved in their relationships and shared action. Anything else leads to tensions and violence. Internormative ethics reflect on such interaction of value systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

... the Earth was meant to be home for all living creatures, which live in different spaces, but are linked to each other in a web of relationships. The human [...]

Chretiens et pic de petrole, editors, Quelles ressources spirituelles pour faire face a l'epuisement des ressources naturelles?, Lyon, Parangon/Vs, 2009, 177 pp. In 1972, the Club of Rome published its [...]

God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. (Gen. 1:31) Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten [...]

The four papers in this section of the Review continue the recent lively ecumenical discussion on ecclesiology and ethics. They stem from a meeting on this topic held in Johannesburg, [...]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the guest editors discuss the biblical, theological and practical perspectives that underlie the role of churches on the issue of climate change.

Discusses the ethical issues related to the educational workshops at the 1998 World Council of Churches assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe. Journey of Christians towards a life glorifying the gospel; Advantages and disadvantages of pilgrimage; Signposts for an ecumenical pilgrimage.

Discusses the work of the unit on Justice, Peace and Creation (JPIC) of the World Council of Churches' (WCC) Theology of Life program. Unit's goal of empowerment for life in community; JPIC sixth assembly in Vancouver, Canada and culimation in Seoul, Korea; Continuity and connections in the conciliar process; Ten affirmations as entry points of the Theology of Life program.

Editorial. Comments on the human and Christian responsibility of stewardship over creation. Theological appreciation of the human body; Ethical problems of stem cell research and human cloning; Exploration of contexts in the use of the trinitarian formula.