Friday, June 17, 2022

WCC NEWS: WCC, Global Christian Forum sign memorandum of understanding affirming mutual quest for Christian unity

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and Global Christian Forum, in a signing ceremony, affirmed their unique roles in their mutual quest for Christian unity. The agreement marks an historic milestone in the longtime collaboration between the two organizations.
Signing the memorandum of understanding, from left to right: Fr Andrzej Choromanski (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity), Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca (World Council of Churches), Rev. Dr Casely Baiden Essamuah (Global Christian Forum), Thomas Schirrmacher (World Evangelical Alliance), William Wilson (Pentecostal World Fellowship). Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC
16 June 2022

The Global Christian Forum was established in the 1990s following a call from the WCC 8th Assembly in Harare.

“We rejoice in the existence and in the witness of the Global Christian Forum to our common calling to bear witness together to the reconciliation and unity of all things in Jesus Christ, God and Saviour,” said WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca.

Sauca added that he rejoiced in the signing of the memorandum that facilitates the cooperation between the two bodies. “We pray that the Global Christian Forum will be blessed in its service to Christian unity,” he said.  

Rev. Dr Casely Baiden Essamuah, secretary of the Global Christian Forum, also rejoiced at the signing of the memorandum. Essamuah highlighted the complementary roles of both entities, along with the “recognition that the calling for Christian unity requires, indeed deserves, more than one expression of ecumenical commitment and cooperation.”

Both Sauca and Essamuah expressed joy at the recognition of the pivotal role of the four pillars—“namely the WCC, World Evangelical Alliance, Pentecostal World Fellowship and the Roman Catholic Church through the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.”

Essamuah added: “We look forward to the future with great hope as we all work to advance progress on the church’s calling to pursue Christian unity.”

"It was reaffirmed that Global Christian Forum is a platform and a forum, not an institution in itself,” reads the memorandum of understanding, referring to the evolution of the forum. “It has a structure required for administrative purposes but does not itself initiate ‘institutional’ programmes.”

The Global Christian Forum will provide narrative reports of its gatherings and activities, the memorandum clarifies. “Exchanging faith stories of individuals and their churches and perspectives on shared concerns helps Christians to recognize Christ in one another and one another in Christ, to see the communities they represent as places where faith is expressed and nurtured, and, on the basis of new or renewed relationship, to address together matters of common interest,” reads the text. “The WCC will provide annually an undesignated financial contribution.”

Those attending the signing and present at the ceremony also expressed appreciation for the the memorandum, which they regarded as the fruit of many discussions over the years.

Bishop Thomas Schirrmacher, general secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance, said it was gracious of the WCC to host the signing ceremony. “As one of the pillars, we want to be involved, and we want to be part of giving this space,” he said.

Fr Andrzej ChoromaƄski, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, expressed appreciation for the way in which the Catholic Church continues to be involved. “There is a need to have this space which has been conceived,” he said. “This memorandum of understanding is the fruit of many discussions. We will continue to be a part of the Global Christian Forum and we see the future of this unifying platform.”

Dr Billy Wilson, Pentecostal World Federation, thanked those who helped forge the agreement. “I consider it a healthy place of dialogue, relationship-building, and love,” he said. “What I’ve found in the Global Christian Forum is a great place for dialogue—but an even better place to make friends and share the love of Jesus with one another.”
 

Message by the WCC acting general secretary signing the memorandum of understanding with Global Christian Forum

The Global Christian Forum 

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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. 

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