WCC News: WCC moderator sends joyful greetings on 60th anniversary of All Africa Conference of Churches

World Council of Churches moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm shared joyful greetings to the All Africa Conference of Churches as it celebrated its 60th birthday and gathered for its assembly.  World Council of Churches moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm speaking at the preyer service in the Church of the Brethren in Abuja, Nigeria during the WCC executive committee meeting, 10 November 2023.   Photo: Aregbe Segun Abraham/WCC 20 November 2023 “Due to the meeting of our executive committee meeting here in Abuja, I have now had the privilege of enjoying African hospitality already for 10 days,” he said. “And I cannot express how moved and impressed I am with the generosity, the friendship, the cordiality and, above all, the great spiritual inspiration we have experienced from our host churches here in Nigeria.” Bedford-Strohm also reflected about learning what Nigerians have to struggle with, including poverty, corruption, and violence. “Where can be sources of hope in so much despair?!” he asked. “For me, ecumenical gatherings like our executive committee meeting last week and now the All Africa Conference of Churches are such sources of hope.” We trust that this suffering is not the last word, said Bedford-Strohm. “The last word is resurrection,” he said. “The last words are justice, reconciliation, and unity.” Ecumenical bodies have different opinions, struggles, and even divisions, he concluded. “But the love of Christ is stronger, so that we listen to each other, we bear with each other, we pray with each other and for each other, and we act with each other,” he said. “Let us always strive towards being what we are called to be: salt of the earth and light of the world.” Greetings from the WCC moderator to the All Africa Conference of Churches assembly and 60th anniversary All Africa Conference of Churches 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