WCC NEWS:Visiting the WCC, Taize youth underscore “we belong to the same family”

As young people from the Taize community visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 6 March, they reflected on how the time impacted the way they view Christian unity and the entire world. Young people from the Taizé Community at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva. Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/WCC 08 March 2023 Fredrick Tuinman, from the Netherlands, said he enjoyed learning more about the mission of the WCC and the opportunity to enter into dialogue. “I learned that we are always already together as brothers and sisters,” he said. “We belong to the same family.” That’s the core message he heard over and over again. “It’s a reality we are invited to participate in and, to become true witnesses of Jesus Christ, we are called to make this unity also visible, which means that we strive to overcome the things that separate us,” he said. “This is what I will take with me and I hope that I can also live from this.” Chapman Canlis, from the USA, said he experienced another form of ecumenism—this time from a global perspective. "Yes, there were individual facts that I’ve learned that were interesting, but the impact that this will leave is that the perspective that we often take in the U.S., in American thinking, is actually much more limited than I expected because we consider ourselves as having many different perspectives and different voices—but we have a very standard way of thinking,” he said. “I met people from all over the world with similar beliefs and similar values but they come at it with a different way of thinking.” Matithia Guignet, from Switzerland, said she realized how ecumenism has an impact on the world. “I see how committed the people are in all different aspects,” she said. “I’m bringing with me some hope that it’s something people are working on, and I feel like it’s getting bigger and bigger, so we can actually have an impact.” Phyllis Mueni, from Kenya, said she was curious about the World Council of Churches. “I didn’t know what really it was,” she said. “I was really, really excited.” She left feeling more united with people than ever. “I felt like we all believe in God, but at the same time, there are so many differences,” she said. “I’m realizing that here is a body to unite every single person and create understanding.” Mueni added: “I’m leaving with the knowledge that there’s so much more to God as a form of community from all walks of life, all walks of culture.” Taizé community youth delegation visits WCC for time of prayer and sharing Brother Alois: Faith in Christ means strengthening unity (WCC interview, 21 December 2021) Learn more about the Taize community Photo Gallery 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