WCC NEWS: WCC president opens with call to “put our faith in Christ Jesus and truly embrace ecumenism together"

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee opened its meeting on 8 November with the opening celebrations in the Cathedral Church of the Advent, with prayers, goodwill messages, and a sermon by WCC president from Africa His Holiness Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, of the Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide.  WCC president from Africa His Holiness Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, of the Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide Photo: WCC 8 November 2023 The governing body, in prayers, gave thanks for the gift of being able to gather.  “We give thanks for this meeting of the executive committee, praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all deliberations and decisions,” they prayed. “May your divine wisdom be unfolded among us.” They also remembered the  All Africa Conference of Churches as it convenes its 12th Assembly in Nigeria.  “God of peace, you have promised that those who work for peace will be called your daughters and sons,” they prayed. “Help us, in our Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, to work without ceasing in every corner of the world for the justice which brings true and lasting peace.” The opening proceedings also emphasized unity.  “Make us united in our diversities,” the governing body prayed. “Help us that, through obedience to your laws, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth.” The Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, in his sermon, reflected on the executive committee’s call as a people of God. “We are being called upon to step outside the values of our cultures and denominations, and put our faith in Christ Jesus and truly embrace ecumenism together on our way to the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity,” he said. “The availability of God’s mercy should not become an excuse for careless living and moral laxity.” WCC executive committee opening celebrations in the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Abuja, Nigeria. Photo: WCC He also emphasized that the resurrection of Jesus is the centre of the Christian faith. “Because Christ rose from the dead as he promised, we know that what He said is true—He is God,” said Ositelu. “Because he died for our sins and rose, we have certainty that our sins are forgiven.”  Ositelu reflected that we sometimes find ourselves in situations where we focus on our own problems—just as the disciples did.  “Our world today has not changed its values—a suffering servant of God is not more popular today than 2,000 years ago,” he said. “Without the resurrection we have nothing.” The WCC executive committee is meeting 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.  WCC “source of hope in this world,” says WCC moderator (WCC news release 8 November 2023) WCC general secretary to executive committee: “How can we be God’s healing and restoring presence?” (WCC news release 8 November 2023) WCC executive committee will meet in Nigeria with eye on Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity (WCC news release 2 November 2023) WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and the moderator of the WCC central committee Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm during the opening celebrations in the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Abuja, Nigeria. Photo: 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