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What does the inheritance of Reformation mean for Africa in church and in society in the context of the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace of the World Council of Churches? This article argues that the commemoration of the Reformation provides important markers for the global and ecumenical context drawing from the three dimensions of the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace; namely, celebrating the gifts of the Reformation, visiting the wounds of injustices, and identifying areas that require transformation or have already showed signs of hope for transformation toward justice For all. Throughout the conversation, there is constant questioning of what the Reformation should look like in the context of Africa to reject distortion of truth and embrace the experience of justice for all. For the way forward, the proposal is made that focusing on action through diakonia will bring meaningful transformation in the church and society in a way that promotes ecumenism and life in fullness for all the children of God and God's creation. Keywords Africa, Reformation, Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, diakonia, transformation, In 2017, we commemorated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Although associated with Martin Luther and with Wittenberg as its starting place, the Reformation was and is a movement that [...]

This is the text of the address given by Willem A. Visser V Hooft to the Uppsala Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 1968 after being named honorary president of the WCC, following his retirement as general secretary two years earlier. In this address, Visser 7 Hooft reviews the 20th-century history of the ecumenical movement and the contemporary mandate of the WCC, in which the central issue is the relationship between the church and the world, where the vertical dimension to God of the church's unity determines the horizontal dimension of its service to the world. The address concludes with four challenges: no horizontal advance without vertical orientation; the ecumenical movement and the churches need each other; church unity is important; and youth expects answers. Keywords Ecumenical movement, Stockholm 1925, Uppsala 1968, Faith and Order, Life and Work, Stockholm 1925 At the moment when a world assembly of the churches begins its work in this country and in this place my thoughts go naturally to the very first [...]

This report to the 6th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Vancouver in 1983 describes the church as a 'House of Living Stones, ' based on the First letter of Peter. The ecumenical movement is the means by which the churches that form the house, the oikos of God, are seeking to live and witness before all peoples. The image of the house of living stones is a reminder that only as the churches relate to each other as living stones will they discover new realities about their essential calling to be the church, the house of the triune God, as a fellowship of confessing learning participating, sharing healing reconciliation, unity, and expectancy to the glory of God. Keywords World Council of Churches, ecumenical movement, house of living stones, oikos, fellowship of churches, pilgrims, May I once again greet you warmly at this 6th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Vancouver. This is the second time in the 35 years of [...]

In this address from 1971, the second general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Eugene Carson Blake, sets out the challenges facing the WCC at the beginning of the 1970s, identifying three key changes within the ecumenical movement: a shift in power and decision making away from the Protestant churches of North America and Western Europe; an organisation more representative of churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and of Orthodox churches; and the ecumenical involvement of the Roman Catholic Church. It goes on to set out how the WCC, particularly since its conference on Church and Society held in Geneva in 1966, has been attempting to make Christian faith and morals relevant to a world experiencing rapid social, economic, and political change. Keywords World Council of Churches, ecumenical movement, Roman Catholic Church, social and political change, crisis of faith, global village, Almost six years ago, when I was struggling with my personal decision as to whether I ought to accept an invitation to become general secretary of the World Council of [...]

This article reviews the ecumenical involvement of Eugene Carson Blake, the second general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) from 1966 to 1972, focusing on the support for the US civil rights movement and rejection of racism that he brought with him to the WCC It also examines his role at the WCC's 4th Assembly, in Uppsala, which is often seen as a turning point in ecumenical history. Keywords Eugene Carson Blake, World Council of Churches, ecumenical movement, civil rights, Uppsala, Programme to Combat Racism, The 4th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC)--held in Uppsala, Sweden, in the culturally charged context of July 1968--was the sole assembly during the 1966 to 1972 tenure [...]

This article reviews the role of Philip Potter as general secretary of the World Council of Churches (1972-1984), highlighting his background in the Caribbean, his involvement in mission, and his support for the Programme to Combat Racism. In doing so, it considers those issues to which Potter was deeply committed, including the fundamental unity of Christian witness and service, the correlation of faith and action, and the inseparable connection between the personal spiritual life of Christian believers and their obedient action in the world. Keywords Philip Potter, World Council of Churches, ecumenical movement, Programme to Combat Racism, biblical studies, For Philip Potter to follow in the footsteps of his two predecessors as general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was not easy. Willem A. Visser 't Hooft [...]

While the ecumenical movement, and particularly the World Council of Churches, must always be an inclusive forum where the richness of the total life of the Christian church is manifest, this article argues that evangelicals cannot give up the quest for church unity because that would mean ignoring a central aspect of the prayer of Jesus Christ. Looking at areas of convergence between the evangelical and the ecumenical movement, four areas are identified for further cooperation and dialogue: the authority of the Bible; mobilizing all churches for the evangelization of the whole world; the perspective of the poor; and the challenge of justice and peace. Keywords World Council of Churches, ecumenical movement, evangelical movement, Lausanne Committee, Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, Let me begin with a personal tribute. This book is being published in honour of a man who has been passionately involved in the debates about mission during the last [...]

This article reviews the role of Emilio Castro as general secretary of the World Council of Churches (1985-1992), highlighting his involvement in the Conciliar Process for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation; his appreciation for Orthodox spirituality and theology; and his commitment to strengthening relationships with Pentecostals and evangelicals. Keywords Emilio Castro, World Council of Churches, ecumenical movement, Eatin America, evangelicals, A pre-eminent leader of the ecumenical movement once said that Emilio Castro, who became general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 1985, was the first general secretary [...]

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 [...]

This address to the Ecumenical Kirchentag in Germany in 2003 takes as its starting point the symbol of the church as the people of God on the way together to describe the ecumenical movement. This is a path that leads out of the security of structures, relying on the promise of God as a response to the call of the gospel to faith and the path of disciple ship--the way of pilgrimage as it was described by the World Conference on Faith and Order in 1993 in Santiago de Compostela. After looking back at the milestones on the ecumenical journey toward communion in life, faith, and witness, the address highlights the significance of a mutual recognition of baptism by churches as representing a ' Copemican revolution' in ecumenical dialogue, in which churches would commit themselves to mutual accountability in matters of faith and church order. Keywords Ecumenical movement, pilgrimage, Faith and Order, ecclesiology, baptism, I cannot begin this address on the first day of this Ecumenical Kirchentag without expressing my joy that this great ecumenical event has begun here in Berlin. The preparations have [...]

This article discusses the role played by Samuel Kobia in the ecumenical movement and the World Council of Churches, of which he was general secretary from 2004 to 2009, and his involvement in peacemaking and mediation in Africa, especially in his home country of Kenya, in Sudan, and in South Sudan. Keywords Samuel Kobia, World Council of Churches, ecumenical movement, Africa, peacemaking, mediation, A lifelong ecumenist, a passionate peacemaker, a committed ethicist, and a convinced and convincing Pan-Africanist--these four characteristics describe the contribution to the ecumenical movement and the contemporary global and African [...]

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) marks its 70th anniversary, this article focuses on the challenges it faces in its commitment to work for the unity of the church and for common service and witness for justice and peace in the world. Looking back on the experiences in the Reformation year 2017, it argues that it is time for the fellowship of churches to be accountable for what it has achieved and received from ecumenical dialogue, and to grow together in mutual accountability. At the same time, the statement by the WCC's 10th Assembly at Busan that ' We intend to move together' emphasizes that ecumenism is not a static reality, but dynamic, involving the cooperation of the various churches and in interaction with people of good will of other communities. Keywords World Council of Churches, unity, justice and peace, mutual accountability, religion and violence, healing of memories, As the World Council of Churches (WCC) enters its 70th anniversary year, we are living in a time when its purpose and objectives are relevant as never before. The many [...]

The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA.) has been a significant platform for all ecumenical organizations and churches in Asia to collaborate. However, although Pentecostal and charismatic churches have been growing rapidly in Asia and a number of megachurches have been founded, none of them have become members of the CCA. This article sets out the official ecumenical engagements of Asian Pentecostals with other Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church in recent years, before discussing the ecumenical impact of the charismatic renewal in several Asian countries. Finally, since Asia is the birthplace of Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, and ecumenism is also concerned with inter-religious relations, it discusses the development of Pentecostalism in the countries dominated by those three religions., The ecumenical movement spread from the West to Asia through missionary and indigenous effort. As a result, mainline Protestant churches established local and national ecumenical councils in many Asian countries. [...]

This is the text of an address given by the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, delivered at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 24 April 2017 as part of his official [...]

Abstract This article argues that commemorating the Reformation properly means doing so in a spirit of mutual accountability to others in God's world from whom we learn, through affirming the [...]

In 2004, Molefe Tsele alluded to the fact that African ecumenism 'has entered its winter of despair, is in a state of institutional crisis, is disorganized and is struggling for [...]

Lewis S Mudge stated, 'The road to ecumenism lies through attention to the locality one knows best. Global issues always have their local manifestations. Local questions generally have their global [...]

Relational Ecumenism The aim of the first section of this article is to paint the background of the notion of relational ecumenism. It presupposes that ecumenism can be understood as [...]

In 1976, the World Council of Churches (WCC) hosted a symposium to mark the seventieth anniversary of the birth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. (1) Now, 39 years later, we are commemorating [...]

For the ecumenical movement, the Second Vatican Council was a turning point that fundamentally changed the conditions for relationships between the churches. Since the council, the Roman Catholic Church has [...]

The first question any author has to answer is 'Why did you write this book?' In this case the answer is sitting close by me in the person of Michael [...]

What Ever Happened to Faith and Order at Vatican II? The relationship between the Commission on Faith and Order and the Second Vatican Council is a distinct, yet partial, chapter [...]

Prayer We believe in our God, who created a changing world, Where there are no unchanging laws and no natural order of rich and poor, Who calls us to change [...]

In different ways, the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) held in Busan, Republic of South Korea, from 30 October to 8 November 2013, responded to the [...]

I give thanks for the calling each of you has heard to give leadership in the one body of Christ. May God equip you, whatever your setting, to give faithful [...]

A common perception in some sectors of the ecumenical movement today is that the classical theological agenda of the twentieth century around the faith and ordering of the divided churches [...]

In October, 2008, the Nordic Faith and Order Network met at Uppsala in preparation for the meeting of the WCC Faith and Order Plenary Commission, which took place in Crete [...]

Introduction Writing about Southeast Asia in the context of the ecumenical movement is a challenge: a great deal of background data (supported by research) is necessary in order to offer [...]

Introduction 'Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer' (Ps. 19:14). (1) Last summer [...]

In this article we are setting out to address the dire need for reorientation within the ecumenical movement. In so doing, we are going to argue for a shift of [...]

The Federal Theological Seminary of Southern Africa, also known as Fedsem, an inter-denominational and non-racial seminary in apartheid South Africa, opened--in Alice, Eastern Cape, in 1963--in direct response to an [...]

Each period of preparation for a new assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) brings with it the challenge of reflection on and evaluation of the context around this [...]

The Needs of the Ecumenical Movement in the Years Ahead It is an honour to be here with you today. Let me express my gratitude for the invitation to come [...]

Eleni Kasselouri-Hatzivassiliadi, Fulata Mbano Moyo, Aikaterini Pekridou, eds. Many Women Were Also There: The Participation of Orthodox Women in the Ecumenical Movement. Volos Academy for Theological Studies, Volos, 2010. Geneva: [...]

Rev. Dr Walter Altmann Dear sisters and brothers, 1. As we gather here for this WCC central committee meeting, we are now close to the Busan assembly, which is to [...]

More than 60 years after the first assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Amsterdam in 1948, the Orthodox world seems more divided over ecumenism than ever. On [...]

The Reverend Dr Simon Oxley has recently been awarded a Ph.D. for his thesis 'The World Council of Churches and 'Ecumenical Consciousness': How the Constitutional Responsibility of Fostering Ecumenical Consciousness' [...]

The Reverend Dr Ellen Ueberschar is general secretary of the German Protestant Kirchentag. This article was written in the run up to the 2nd German Ecumenical Kirchentag, which took place [...]

Ecumenical formation at community and academic levels is vital for the renewal of the ecumenical movement. The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey provides ecumenical formation and supports churches, ecumenical bodies and [...]

Philip Potter came to the world ecumenical scene as a youth delegate at the first two Assemblies of the WCC and made an impact on the very first Assembly in [...]

It is basic human experience that you can change yourself, but not others. Others will change only if and when they themselves wish. If one forces a change on others, [...]

This statement was prepared for the central committee of the World Council of Churches, meeting 26 August-2 September 2003 in Geneva, by the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN) and has [...]

The debate going on at present within German Protestantism about how the Orthodox churches understand themselves and their role in the World Council of Churches (WCC) makes it appropriate to [...]

When travelling in Europe, I am always astonished to see churches abandoned by their congregations, especially those that are transformed into pubs, clubs, shops or places of other secular activity. [...]

Many people in church-related governing bodies want to find a better way of conducting business than the routine parliamentary procedures that divide people into winners and losers. Sceptics, wary that [...]

Why a Special Commission? Since the early 20th century, a remarkably consistent feature of the modern ecumenical movement has been the presence but also the unease of the Orthodox churches. [...]

It was my great joy to serve as Dean of the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) in conjunction with the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC). I [...]

THE DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION OF THE CHURCH ON CHURCH UNITY AND MISSION Brief historical background The Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church) was proclaimed on 3 August 1902 by the Union [...]

In his final interview, three days before his death in 1985, the first general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Willem A. Visser 't Hooft, attempted to answer [...]

The Church is a remarkable achievement. It marks a very important moment in the history of the ecumenical movement that the churches can come together and make this important statement [...]