WCC NEWS: Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay installed as ninth WCC general secretary

Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay was installed as the ninth general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) during a service in the Ecumenical Centre Chapel on 17 February. Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, the ninth general secretary of the World Council of Churches during the service of his installation in the Ecumenical Centre Chapel on 17 February 2023. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 17 February 2023 Pillay, who was previously dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria, is from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Amid prayers, singing, and a sermon by Pillay himself, the celebration also included special greetings from churches and partners.  In his message, entitled “Church at the Crossroads,” Pillay reflected that the purpose of the Church is to proclaim the saving love and grace of Christ to the world. “It does this as it goes out into the world to preach, teach, baptize, and disciple believers,” he said. “The church ought to live to fulfil the purpose of God.” Yet sometimes, the Church today seems to forget its real purpose in the world, Pillay lamented. “Instead, we want to go our own way, seeking our own agendas and attempting to satisfy ourselves,” he said. “We need to stop and ask: What does the Lord want? How can we fulfil God’s purpose?” The Church must rise up to the challenges and changing times, he added. “We need to stand where God stands with the poor, wretched, neglected, and suffering in the world,” he said. “The question is, as member churches: Where will you stand?” The audience included Swiss church leaders and Geneva civic leaders as well representatives from many Geneva-based UN and governmental partners of the WCC. Also attending were leaders from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa and the South African Council of Churches, as well as family and friends of the general secretary. Other WCC leaders, representatives of WCC member churches and of other faiths, Bossey students, and retirees were also in attendance. Media attended in-person and online as well, expressing global interest in the WCC’s new leader. As participants and observers prayed together, they closed the service with a sense of unity. “We are confident that God is calling us to go on our way together,” they said. “We share a common pilgrimage of justice, reconciliation, and unity as people who hope in the resurrection.” In the invitation, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, WCC moderator of the central committee, wrote: “The celebration is an opportunity to seek God’s blessing for a new term of leadership and to give thanks for the WCC fellowship of member churches’ continued witness for justice, reconciliation, and unity.” Church at the Crossroads, sermon by Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay Order of the service of installation of the WCC general secretary About Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay Photo gallery: Installation of the WCC general secretary  Livestream of the installation service 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 general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. 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