WCC news:Students in global theological institute will now earn university credits

Students who complete the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) Global Ecumenical Theological Institute will now receive academic credits and a certificate from the University of Geneva—a new addition to the institute, which has been offering its courses for more than a decade.  28 August 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Students gather for the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute, which took place in connection with the World Council of Churches 11th assembly, bringing together some 200 young and emerging ecumenical theologians and educators from a broad spectrum of Christian traditions and all eight regions of the WCC. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 30 August 2024 The Global Ecumenical Theological Institute is a student programme in which about 100 participants from all over the world are trained in ecumenical theology in an intensive seminar lasting 6 weeks (4 weeks distance learning, 2 weeks residential). “They actively experience the work of the ecumenical movement worldwide,” explained Rev. Dr Benjamin Simon, director of the WCC Commission on Ecumenical Education and Formation and dean of the WCC’s Ecumenical Institute at Bossey. The global institute has always taken place at the same time as other major WCC events, so that young colleagues can gain insights and contribute their position and opinions to a wider ecumenical audience. Now the flagship programme is bearing fruit in new ways, with graduates leading church or academic positions and contributing their life-changing experience from the global ecumenical movement.  The next Global Ecumenical Theological Institute will take place in conjunction with the WCC Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order, which will be held under the theme “Where now for visible unity?” from 24-28 October 2025, at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natroun, Egypt. From now on, this and all Global Ecumenical Theological Institutes will be accredited by the University of Geneva with 10 credits within the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. The students will obtain a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Global Ecumenical Theology. The course will have a four-week distance learning component and a two-week intensive residential period of study, research, and community life.  “This academic accreditation is, on the one hand, a confirmation of the academic and content-wise valuable curriculum and, on the other hand, it increases the attractiveness of this programme for students to participate and thus be able to have it credited for their studies,” said Simon. “Young ecumenists are trained and involved actively to include transformative thoughts and ideas into the ecumenical movement.” Apply for global theological institute: “Where now for visible unity?” - WCC news release, 11 July 2024 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