WCC NEWS: As WCC executive committee convenes, the global fellowship provides space “for listening and caring for one another”

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee convenes this week, the global fellowship was focusing on the approach to the WCC 11th Assembly as well as the central committee meeting in June. WCC moderator Dr Agnes Abuom, Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 31 May 2022 In welcoming remarks, WCC moderator Dr Agnes Abuom shared highlights of some recent Pilgrim Team Visits and thanked the executive committee for its hard work. “As I was reflecting about this meeting, it just dawned in my mind that, as we move toward the assembly, we are perhaps in our last lap of our pilgrimage since Busan,” she said. “To us, the 11th assembly comes at a time when a number of things have changed globally, nationally and even regionally.” Abuom also noted the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “We continue to reflect and share stories of resilience by communities and churches,” she said. “We continue to share hope, aware of course of the spiritual, economic, and social challenges that the pandemic has actually raised, has created in many countries.” She also mentioned food insecurity as a major issue. “When we talk about the Ukraine-Russia war we probably do not even imagine that countries in Africa are affected because they either cannot access wheat or because there is no more wheat available,” she said. “When they can’t access wheat because of the conflict, it’s really difficult.” In his report, WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed gratitude for the leadership of the WCC central committee as well as for the local host committee for the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe. “I am deeply encouraged and inspired by such powerful dedication,” he said. “We continue to publish monthly accountability reports, keeping you informed about daily work and operations.” Sauca offered a summary of the WCC response to the conflict in Ukraine. “When the executive and central committee met in February, the conflict in the Ukraine had not yet broken,” he said. “All situations of conflict and war are of great concern to the fellowship.” This situation has special implications for the fellowship of member churches, Sauca said. “From the beginning, the WCC has condemned the war, has called for an immediate end to armed hostilities, has appealed also for an immediate end to indiscriminate attacks with an escalating impact on civilians in Ukraine,” he said. “At every step, it has been my prayer that the WCC can provide a space for dialogue; for listening and caring for one another; and for just peace and reconciliation.” The WCC central committee will meet in two weeks for the first time in four years.   WCC Central Committee The 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches Moderator´s Remarks - Dr Agnes Abuom at the WCC executive committee meeting, 30 May-2 June 2022 Report of the Acting General Secretary at the WCC executive committee meeting, 30 May-2 June 2022 WCC executive committee to convene for assembly preparations and governing decisions (news release 30 May 2022) 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 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 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