WCC NEWS: Church of Sweden delegation visits WCC, Lutheran World Federation, and ACT Alliance

Visiting from 18-20 April, 13 international secretaries from dioceses of the Church of Sweden visited the World Council of Churches (WCC), Lutheran World Federation, and ACT Alliance. 13 international secretaries from dioceses of the Church of Sweden visit to  the World Council of Churches (WCC), Lutheran World Federation, and ACT Alliance. Photo: Gregoire de Fombelle/WCC 20 April 2023 In addition to receiving a guided tour of the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, as well as the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, the Church of Sweden delegation participated in several study sessions on topics such as perspectives of justice, reconciliation, and unity; peace-building in South Sudan, Ukraine, Russia, and the Korean Peninsula; sustainability and environmental issues; and just peace in the Holy Land. Locally, the delegation also received a reformation tour in Geneva, met with members of the Church of Sweden in Switzerland, and, in turn, shared their  local work in Sweden. At a tray lunch, the international officers presented their experience and the best practices from the local work of the Church of Sweden in areas such as a reconciliation, Indigenous peoples, and the reconciliation process, youth engagement, football projects, and international trainee projects. 13 international secretaries from dioceses of the Church of Sweden visit to  the World Council of Churches (WCC), Lutheran World Federation, and ACT Alliance Photo: Gregoire de Fombelle/WCC Rev. Bimbi Ollberg, from the Diocese of Visby, on the island of Gotland, described a football project with young girls in Sweden and in Kenya. “The idea with the project, is that the church recognizes that life is holistic,” said Ollberg. “We need to engage in every part of daily life.” Football is important for many girls, Ollberg added. “In the refugee camp, it's a question of creating bridges between Muslims and Christian girls,” said Ollberg. “It's creating a possibility for them to be away from home and not be forced to be married when they are young—not be forced to work at home.” On the island of Gotland, girls may not know how girls in other parts of the world are living, so the programme creates awareness. “Why does the church do it? It's because this is what the church has to do,” said Ollberg. “We have to engage in the everyday life of our members and those who are not members yet.” Rev. Dr Ulrica Fritzon, from the Diocese of Skara, described a project of reconciliation in South Africa. “I think that it's the task of the church to be relevant in the times where she lives,” said Fritzon. “Reconciliation is one of the ground pillars from our church, that is the center of our faith.” Joint sessions were also part of the agenda. The Church of Sweden explored the roles churches played during the COVID-19 pandemic, hearing from speakers within the WCC as well as from the World Health Organization and other food security partners. Another joint session—offered by the WCC, Lutheran World Federation, and ACT Alliance— also explained the collaborative work and relationships between the three organizations. On 20 April, the delegation participated in the Thursdays in Black campaign for a world free from gender-based violence. A closing session gave the delegation an opportunity to communicate about how to act together back in Sweden. They answered the key questions: “What do you take with you? How do you inspire the congregations?” Visits to the World Council of Churches Photo gallery of the visit 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