WCC NEWS: Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit: “We are called to be one as churches, as followers of Christ”

In a special greeting to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly, Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit, presiding bishop of the Church of Norway and former WCC general secretary, expressed what a miracle the assembly gathered is. 5 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Greetings by former general secretary Bishop Dr Olav Fykse Tveit to the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, 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 05 September 2022 "It is a miracle that we all are able to gather here. Knowing how much work it is behind such an event, I will particularly commend all staff members and all involved in the preparations in so many ways that we are here,” he said. “The world is already deeply into challenges that humanity has not seen before, through climate change and all its effects on the whole world.” As always, he noted, those most affected are those who already are the most vulnerable. "The issues of justice and peace are raising every day before us,” he said. “The quest for being one in the fellowship of churches is the origin and the goal of our work.” Many efforts have been made and many fruits harvested, he noted. “We see them as we are here together, if we open our eyes to see,” he said. “We, the churches, needs a global ecumenical fellowship of churches leading us in confessing and repenting from our sins, leading us in transformation from the destructions, obstacles and ignorance of the full meaning of being one. We are called to be one as churches, as followers of Christ.” Greetings to the WCC 11th Assembly by bishop Olav Fykse Tveit, presiding bishop of the Church of Norway Livestream of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany Photos of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany 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