WCC NEWS: Protestant Church in Switzerland visits WCC to focus on 11th Assembly plans, Bossey and public witness

Leaders from the Protestant Church in Switzerland visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva on 1 October, focusing on highlights of the WCC’s work in the past two decades and looking ahead to plans for the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2022.

Delegation of the Protestant Church in Switzerland visited the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 1 October 2021, meeting with the leadership of the World Council of Churches. Guest delegation included Rev. Rita Famos, President, Rev. Claudia Haslebacher, Council Member responsible for Ecumenical and International Relations and Rev. Serge Fornerod, Director of External Relations for the Protestant Church in Switzerland. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC

04 October 2021

Protestant Church in Switzerland visitors included Rev. Rita Famos, president, Rev. Claudia Haslebacher, council member responsible for Ecumenical and International Relations, and Rev. Serge Fornerod, director of External Relations. “The encounter with the leadership team of WCC gave us the opportunity to exchange on the next highlight of the ecumenical movement: we are very much looking forward to the next assembly in Karlsruhe”  said Famos. “We wish and intend that many Swiss people will take part. It’s an exceptional possibility to get inspired through the spirit of ecumenism.” WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed appreciation for the collaboration with the church leaders.  Rev. Rita Famos, President of the Protestant Church in Switzerland. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC “The WCC is very grateful for all the support we have received so far from the Protestant Church in Switzerland, and we look forward to continued good and fruitful cooperation for the WCC 11th Assembly,” he said. “It is a joy to receive you here at the Ecumenical Centre—a sign of hope and friendship indeed!” In addition to highlights of WCC work and planning for the WCC 11th Assembly, the group discussed perspectives on ecumenical relations, particularly with Orthodox and Roman Catholic communities.  The Protestant Church in Switzerland leaders also received updates on the Bossey Ecumenical Institute as well as the Green Village, WCC’s Jerusalem Liaison Office, and the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel.