WCC NEWS: WCC executive committee lights the way for WCC 11th Assembly

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee closed its meeting after convening from 12-17 November, leaving with a sense of hope, even while publicly expressing grave concern over many global injustices facing the world today. Karlsruhe, Germany. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 26 November 2021 The meeting was the WCC executive committee’s first face-to-face gathering in two years. The leaders focused on preparations for the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2022, and celebrated 75 years of ecumenical formation at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute. The meeting took place in a hybrid fashion at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute and on video conference. Opening remarks In her opening address, WCC moderator Dr Agnes Abuom said that those gathered can celebrate the goodness of the living God. “As members of the WCC executive committee, we are convening after a long turbulent period for the entire humanity and not least for the WCC fellowship and member churches,” she said. “The intriguing thing is that COVID-19 is not only about struggles, but also a wake-up call for the international community to reflect on how we want and need to drive the global development agenda forward.” WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, in his opening report, said he believes the almost weeklong meeting of the WCC executive committee strengthened the WCC’s discernment and decision-making. “I am grateful for the dedication and accompaniment of the leadership of the central committee and the members of the executive committee,” he said. Sauca also reflected that the WCC has entered a new phase of work in the pandemic. “Things are opening up,” he said. “We began to travel again for in-person meetings, bringing us closer once again, but always with care for health and wellbeing.” At a celebration for the Bossey Ecumenical Institute’s 75th anniversary, the WCC executive committee, students, WCC staff, and friends gathered to pray and sing together. During a Sunday service, the WCC executive committee heard a sermon by Bishop Sally Dyck of the United Methodist Church (USA), who spoke on “Neighbors Everywhere.” Dyck talked about expanding our definition of our neighbor. “Who is our neighbor and how are we called to act in love and justice?” she asked. “When it comes to climate justice, I came to realize, our neighbor is definitely near—others who experience the same drought, intense storms, fires, toxic disasters, and other environmental disasters as we do—and our neighbor is far—on the other side of the country or continent or world.” Public statements The WCC executive committee issued six public statements. COP26 The executive committee appealed for a fundamental conversion towards a just and sustainable future after COP26, expressing in a public statement “disappointment and dismay at the inadequate outcome of the COP26 Climate Change Conference” in Glasgow, United Kingdom. As COP26 was drawing to a close, a long trail of civil society representatives, led on by indigenous peoples from Latin America, marched through the venue in Glasgow in protest against the apparent political inaction to address the climate emergency. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF “The science of climate change is implacable, not amenable to negotiation, and unforgiving of political short-termism,” the statement reads. “This is the last crucial decade for climate action to avoid the catastrophe long foretold.” Palestine and Israel The executive committee expressed grave concern over recent developments in Palestine and Israel, which they noted indicate “a deteriorating situation in the region, emblematic of the many ways in which the ongoing military occupation of the Palestinian territories obstructs achieving a just peace among the people of the Holy Land, and compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and responses to it which have resulted in further restrictions on the space for civil society action in the region.” Jerusalem, 2020. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF “Together with some international civil society organizations, Palestinian civil society has long been targeted by measures which shrink its space to operate,” said the statement, which concluded with the WCC executive committee again calling “the conscience of the world to the unremitting military occupation of the Palestinian territories and the ongoing marginalization and obstruction of legitimate Palestinian aspirations for equal human dignity and rights.” Myanmar and Sudan The statement expresses grave concern over recurrences of military coups in Myanmar and Sudan. A woman raises her hand into the air to make a peace sign during a protest held in Glasgow, UK, against the military coup in Sudan in October 2021. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF "The military coups in both countries have been accompanied by the arbitrary arrest and detention of civilian political leaders, human rights defenders and journalists, lack of due process for those arrested, the disproportionate and deadly use of force against protestors, and restrictions on independent media and access to information…” reads the statement. “The actions by the military leaders of Myanmar and Sudan constitute an unconscionable assault on the democratic transition and on the people of both countries.” Ethiopia The executive committee joined in prayer and solidarity with the churches and people of Ethiopia as they face a grave and accelerating crisis. The humanitarian situation in Ethiopia has been difficult for many years, with droughts, ethnic tensions and conflict affecting the lives of many. Here, dust and smoke fill the air in Bale Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF, 2019 “The executive committee reiterates and underscores the concerns raised in its November 2020 statement regarding the political instrumentalization of ethnic differences, threatening the very fabric of the nation and the security of all its people,” reads the statement. “Again, we urge all parties to the ongoing violent conflicts to remember the extremity of suffering inflicted on the people of Ethiopia by conflict and division in the past and now.” UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent The executive committee welcomed the establishment of the UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent. A group of women walk towards the Borgop refugee camp, Cameroon. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF, 2019 “We lament the continuing and resurgent challenges of racism, xenophobia and related discrimination and intolerance, and re-affirm the commitment of the global ecumenical fellowship to the equal human dignity and rights of all people as children of God…” reads the statement. “We recognise the establishment of this Forum as a milestone in the fight against racial injustice.” 75 years of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs The statement noted that the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs’ ministry of witness and action is critically needed. The CCIA has been instrumental in the WCC’s work over the years in contributing to churches’ advocacy on historic issues such as, for example, the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Here, President Nelson Mandela with Dr. Pauline Webb appearing at the 8th WCC Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe, 1998. Photo: Chris Black/WCC “The new United Nations, founded in 1945, bore the hallmarks of the aspirations of the fellowship of churches that it should become an instrument of the world's peoples, not only of the world’s powers. CCIA was created to serve as an organ in formulating the Christian mind on world issues and bringing that mind effectively to bear upon such issues, particularly in relationship with the United Nations and the new post-war system of international governance.” Decisions in brief Delegations for WCC 11th Assembly The WCC executive committee confirmed member church delegations and nominated additional delegates. Overcoming racism The executive committee approved a strategic plan for overcoming racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia realizing that the mandate of a strategic plan could only be a mandate up until the next assembly. The acting general secretary was asked to take the content of this plan into account for the period after the assembly. The executive committee requested to add education and church programmes for children as important instruments in overcoming racism. They also underlined the importance of working with ACT Alliance on such a key topic for both ACT and the WCC. The executive committee requested the establishment of an advisory group with a mandate until the assembly. Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace The executive committee discussed the emerging Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace themes beyond the WCC 11th Assembly, and offered advice on the future of the pilgrimage. These plans reflect the ongoing work of the WCC as a Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. In 2022, there is a regional focus on Europe and a thematic focus on Christ’s love. The plans reflect efforts to harvest the past eight years of work and prepare an assembly that will engage the fellowship in providing direction for the future. Diaconal work of the churches in the context of COVID-19 The executive committee discussed and approved the work of the WCC Ecumenical Diakonia Reference Group, which developed an additional resource on the diaconal work of the churches in the context of COVID-19. The document provides an overview of the global context, a theological reflection on churches’ response to the pandemic and the effect of COVID-19 on churches and agencies. It describes the challenges of implementing diaconal work in the context of COVID-19, potential long-term implications, and the response of the churches in serving people. Communications in the 21st century The WCC executive committee received the outline of work on a proposal for developing a new paper on communications for the 21st century, and asked the WCC acting general secretary to continue developing the draft paper for presentation to the central committee.The digital revolution is transforming our world and creating new ways of interacting beyond the boundaries of time and space. It offers powerful tools for living in relation with others, for inclusion, education, encounter, imagination, creativity, and understanding, as many have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Coalition for West Papua The executive committee approved a proposal for WCC serving as the interim host of coordination and advocacy for the International Coalition for West Papua, a network of faith-based and civil society partners focused on monitoring, reporting and collaboration in advocacy initiatives on the human rights situation in West Papua. The International Coalition for West Papua is undergoing an organizational development review to address structural concerns. In the interim, Bread for the World has asked the WCC to act as project holder for one year to ensure the continuation of programmatic activities. Accountability report The WCC executive committee reviewed an accountability report entitled “Pilgrims on the Path of Peace: The Journey of the WCC from Busan to Karlsruhe,” affirming the revised draft and timeline, and forwarded the report to the WCC central committee for approval in February 2022. Programme plans and budget 2022 The executive committee received and approved the programme plans and budget 2022, noting that there would be particular focus for programmes in preparations for the assembly. The pre-assemblies in 2022 would also provide inspiration and guidance for trends in future programmatic work. Towards planning for 2023 The executive committee determined that draft plans 2023, prepared in spring 2022, would be subject to review by the executive committee in June 2022, before being forwarded to funding partners. Financial matters The WCC executive committee received the report of the audit committee, and approved the updated internal controls’ scoping matrix, in accordance with its responsibilities under Swiss law. An amendment to the investment objectives for the general investment fund was approved.  The budget for 2022 was approved, together with the capital expenditure limit for 2022. The executive committee also approved the WCC 11th Assembly budget while noting that income includes estimates which remain to be confirmed, and which could therefore evolve  in 2022. Green Village The executive committee approved the strategy for sale of the Kyoto land and building, as well as the parallel action to seek bridging finance, as may prove necessary for construction works currently underway. The executive committee also considered the strategy for Stockholm, planned as an office building with six floors, to be sold by floor. Given the results of studies in relation to possible land lease, and the recommendations of the steering committee in this respect, the executive committee also approved the strategy for sale of land for the Stockholm project, which will be launched for sale in 2022 in the development phase, before delivery of a building permit.  WCC executive committee member shares reflection on “how are we called to act in love and justice?” (WCC press release of 15 November 2021) WCC executive committee “reimagining the future” with a sense of hope (WCC press release of 12 November 2021) WCC executive committee to hold first in-person meeting in two years (WCC press release of 12 November 2021) Link to the statements: WCC executive committee appeals for 'fundamental conversion towards just and sustainable future' after COP26 | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org) WCC executive committee appeals for peace in Ethiopia | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org) WCC executive committee calls “conscience of the world” to “obstruction of legitimate Palestinian aspirations for equal human dignity and rights” | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org) Military coups in Myanmar and Sudan “an unconscionable assault,” states WCC executive committee | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org) WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs’ “ministry of witness and action critically needed” | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org) WCC executive committee welcomes the establishment of UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org) See more

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 349 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 acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland