WCC NEWS: At assembly and beyond, WCC publications inspire and move

During an interview recorded during the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlruhe, Germany, Rev. Margarithe Veen, Protestant Congregation of the Achlum-Hitzum in the Netherlands, described what moved her the most when she volunteered in the Networking Zone, helping people connect with WCC publications. 4 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Communicators' networking session in the Networking Zone of the WCC 11th Assembly. The 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches is held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August to 8 September, under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 14 September 2022 A former Bossey student, Veen was on hand to meet and greet people who inquired about WCC publications. “We saw a lot of people coming, listening, and even sharing their thoughts,” said Veen. “It was a wonderful spiritual experience.”  Veen shared that she was touched by the book on the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, and the stories of transformative spiritualities therein.  “It’s a lot of contributions from people everywhere in the world,” she said. “I was reading it and reading it!” Veen particularly enjoyed how the writers shared what they experience in life. “It’s not just systematic theology—it’s what she or he is telling to me,” reflected Veen. “Every writer has something to offer, something new for me. That inspired me a lot.” Lyn van Rooyen, coordinator editor for WCC Publications, urged people to check out the large number of books the WCC publishes every year—both those published for the assembly and those that come beyond. “These publications make the diverse voices of global Christianity heard and enhance the larger visibility and presence of the ecumenical movement,” said van Rooyen.  “WCC publications focus on religious and social issues confronting world Christianity, inform and encourage the ecumenical movement, and provide resources for programmatic work and for research on ecumenical history and theology.” Although available for order, most of the publications are also downloadable as free PDFs from www.oikoumene.org/publications. WCC Publications Watch the video interview with Rev. Margarithe Veen 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