WCC News: WCC general secretary to executive committee: “How can we be God’s healing and restoring presence?”

In his report to the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, which is convening 8-14 November in Abuja, Nigeria, WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay reflected that, in the struggle for peace and justice in the world, the WCC is engaged in bringing justice, reconciliation, and unity.  Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, World Council of Churches general secretary reports at the WCC executive committee convening in Abuja, Nigeria on 8-14 November. Photo: Marianne Ejdersten/WCC 08 November 2023 “It is very easy to get discouraged and to lose hope in the midst of all of these turbulent experiences and disruptions,” Pillay said. “Let us continue to work with God to make the world a better place for all people and creation.” He suggested returning to the vision and mission of the WCC that speaks of Christian unity. “It is obvious that in the fellowship our unity in Christ is affected by our current circumstances, allegiances, and contexts,” he said. “Unity is not uniformity.” He also offered an update on the Implementation Plan 2023-2030, as well as on the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. He noted that God has blessed us with a rich tapestry of diversity and identities. “The WCC remains committed to the task of Christian unity and peace in the world,” he said. “We will certainly keep trying our best to foster dialogue and cooperation in the quest for unity and peace.” The WCC executive committee is meeting to to approve plans and a budget for 2024, and to further develop the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. The WCC governing body will also monitor 2023 and the implementation of WCC strategies.  Report of the WCC general secretary at the executive committee in Abuja, Nigeria WCC executive committee will meet in Nigeria with eye on Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity (WCC news release, 02 November 2023) 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