WCC NEWS: WCC assembly proposes “A Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity”

In a report released 7 September, the World Council of Churches (WCC) assembly proposed inviting member churches and ecumenical partners to commit to working together as a fellowship in “A Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity,” as a way to go even further on the “Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace” initiated at the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan. 3 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Children enjoy play time in “Domino World” at St. John's Church in Karlsruhe during the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly. The assembly takes place August 31 to September 8 under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Photo: Mike DuBose/WCC 07 September 2022 “The beginning of our work has relationship building at its heart, but we want to go even further and revive a sense that the fellowship is a movement, even a prophetic movement,” reads the report. “We do not want to lose the sense that we are ‘moving’ and that we are on a journey of justice and peace, prepared to struggle for them.” Deepened relationships should lead to radical change, to conversion, reconciliation, justice, and even reparations, the report states, noting that the assembly has listened to the many voices present at the WCC 11th Assembly. ”We affirm an ecumenism of the heart, but also an ecumenism of the feet in which we walk in the sandals of Jesus Christ.” The assembly proposed the conceptual framework, theological framework and practical outworking of the pilgrimage should be reviewed and re-examined to further develop the model of the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. “The intention to ‘move together’ is still present in the fellowship as reflected in the theme of this 11th assembly: Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity,” notes the report. “We continue on this common journey together, celebrating the work of the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace in common witness on the ecumenical journey with the invitation of this assembly for movement toward reconciliation and unity.” The assembly proposed inviting churches and ecumenical partners to commit to working together as a fellowship in “A Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity,” a methodology in which programmatic work has a strong relational nature. The assembly also discussed the importance of connection with the regions, with consideration given to having regional connection in each of the eight WCC regions.  “The move to identify staff to provide regional connections is different than the model of regional desks which were a past model used by the fellowship,” the report reads. “Regional connection would invite more collaboration with member churches by establishing a staff liaison for each region.” The assembly also affirmed the need to strengthen the Young People in the Ecumenical Movement Commission. Report of the Programme Guidelines Committee to the WCC 11th Assembly 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