The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has approved a new date for the WCC 11th Assembly, which will now be held in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August – 8 September 2022. Originally planned for 2021, the event was postponed by one year because of the gravity and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.“Inspired by the theme ‘Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity,’ our fellowship will come together as a whole in prayer and celebration in Karlsruhe,” said Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, interim WCC general secretary.
“Being the most diverse Christian gathering of its size in the world, the assembly will be a unique opportunity for the churches to deepen their commitment to visible unity and common witness,” Sauca said. “We will draw renewed energy for the WCC’s work far beyond the event itself.”
Bishop Petra Bosse-Huber, from the Evangelical Church in Germany, said that the host churches are delighted that the WCC has accepted a renewed invitation to hold the 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe and encouraged all churches, especially in Germany and the surrounding region, to take advantage of the opportunity to prepare ecumenically, cross-border and with partners in church and society for the historic event.
“The current world situation needs the churches' common witness for unity and against all forms of injustice and racism,” she said. “The assembly has set itself the task of being a bridge builder for a reconciled and united world.”
The assembly symbol was presented to the WCC executive committee on 27 July, its design inspired by the dynamic expressions and variety of the ecumenical movement in its search for Christian unity and promotion of justice and peace.
The symbol is composed of a cross; a dove; a circle alluding to the concept of reconciliation; and crossed paths representing the various journeys, movement, freedom and vibrancy of life that drive the WCC and its member churches around the world.
The latest material on 11th Assembly is published on the WCC website, as is news about the preparations, practical information, resources and historical material about past WCC assemblies.
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC interim general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.
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