WCC News: What a woman!

These words described the dreams of the kind of woman a young woman aspires to be, illustrated by moving images of women’s involvement in the history of the ecumenical movement. This performance poem was just part of an inspiring meeting of the women of the ecumenical movement that were present at the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee meeting on 22 June. 22 June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland: During a Women's meeting at the World Council of Churches central committee, women applaud to celebrate each other's presence at the committee, which is gathered in Geneva on 21-27 June 2023 for its first full meeting following the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 23 June 2023 Rev. Merlyn Hyde-Riley, the vice-moderator of the WCC central committee, welcomed more than 70 women to the meeting, highlighting that women were already present at the WCC 1st Assembly and continue to play a significant role in the fellowship. In the opening prayer, Rev. Dr Mery Kolimon, a central committee member from Gerejan Masehi Injili di Timor, prayed for these women “who accepted the calling to become involved as central committee members of WCC and also to support the ministry of WCC in different roles and positions.” She noted that this was a special space to “share our stories we bring from our homes, to learn from one another about things we need to celebrate together, but also to identify challenges old and new that we are facing and struggling with.” Being a Thursday, most of these women were dressed in black. Bishop Susan Johnson, a Thursdays in Black ambassador from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, shared practical ideas for further growing and promoting this campaign and countering sexual and gender-based violence in local contexts. She emphasized that her involvement was driven by the need for equality, fairness, and dignity,  and for churches to be safe spaces for survivors. In table discussions, the women discussed some of the wide-ranging challenges that have a particular impact on women but where they can also have a significant effect. The topics addressed issues of health, racial justice, climate justice, gender justice, militarization, and more. The women committed to walking the journey towards justice together over the eight years of this central committee. Photo gallery of the Women's meeting at the Central Committee 2023 Photo gallery of the WCC Central committee meeting WCC Central committee meeting, June 2023 22 June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland: WCC central committee vice-moderator Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley speaks during a Women's meeting at the World Council of Churches central committee, gathered in Geneva on 21-27 June 2023 for its first full meeting following the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 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