WCC NEWS: WCC expresses great joy upon election of Rev. Dr Carmen Lansdowne as United Church of Canada moderator

The World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed great joy over the election Rev. Dr Carmen Lansdowne as the 44th moderator of the United Church of Canada. The United Church of Canada 25 July 2022 Your election is both historic and inspiring,” said WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca. “God’s calling is upon you, the first Indigenous woman to lead the denomination, and God has blessed you with the gift of leadership for a time such as this.” On behalf of the global WCC fellowship, Sauca offered both heartfelt congratulations and ongoing prayers. “We remain grateful for your leadership from 2006 to 2013 as a member of the WCC executive and central committees,” Sauca said. "We remember also the faithful ecumenical service of your family in the life of the WCC.” Sauca added that the United Church of Canada has been a global leader in the pursuit of truth and reconciliation with First Nations and Indigenous communities. “Your election inspires the church in all times and all places to profess boldly our faith that in Christ Jesus, God reconciled all things on earth and in heaven,” he said. “May you be blessed with spiritual wisdom and understanding to continue the journey of justice, peace, reconciliation and unity among God’s people and all of creation.” Lansdowne will be installed on 7 August at Canadian Memorial United Church in Vancouver. Read the letter here 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