WCC NEWS: An evening of welcome and a historic pilgrimage along the Rhine

In an evening filled with music and storytelling, performers led an audience of attendees from around the world on a journey through history. The 4 September Host Church Evening event at the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) 11th Assembly centered on the theme, “No one shall be lost: building bridges – living reconciliation.” 4 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: The host churches of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches provided an evening of entertainment and education about the history of the churches in the region of Karlsruhe, where the assembly is taking place from August 31 to September 8. Photo: Mike DuBose/WCC 06 September 2022 The evening began with messages of warm welcome from representatives of churches in Germany, France, and Switzerland, in a symbolic coming together of the different nations to move toward a world of peace and reconciliation. In a greeting from Bishop Petra Bosse-Huber, Evangelical Church in Germany and moderator of the Local Host Committee, she emphasized that reconciliation on the way to unity requires constant dialogue and trust. President of the Protestant Church in Switzerland, Rita Famos encouraged gratitude and bravery as the basis on which we might address the theme and today’s challenges together. Christian Albecker, president of the Union of Protestant Churches in Alsace and Lorraine, recalled the three bloody wars that this  border triangle has witnessed, which also carry the message today, “Everywhere there is war, reconciliation is possible.” After these initial remarks, the performance began, inviting participants on a pilgrimage through time and place using the river Rhine as a guide. The journey was led by two young tour guides, with the support of a surprising source: the scholar and theologian, Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus. September 4 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Members of a choir perform as host churches provide an evening of entertainment and education about the history of the region where the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches is taking place. The August 31-September 8 Assembly's theme is "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Photo: Paul Jeffrey/WCC See more September 4 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: The host churches of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches provided an evening of entertainment and education about the history of the churches in the region of Karlsruhe, where the assembly is taking place from August 31 to September 8. Photo: Simon Chambers/WCC

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