WCC NEWS: WCC welcomes diverse array of visitors

The World Council of Churches (WCC) hosted a diverse array of visitors from across the world last week, engaging in discussions on topic ranging from children’s rights to unity, communication strategies and health and healing to the Middle East. Robyn Davis Sekula, vice president of Communications and Marketing for the US-based Presbyterian Foundation, meets with the WCC communications team. Photo: WCC 09 September 2024 Fifteen people from the Church of Sweden, St Johannes congregation in Stockholm received a welcome and introduction to the WCC and the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey.   The Swedish group also dialogued on WCC’s Engagement with Children and Thursdays in Black. They then spoke with WCC staff from the Jerusalem Liaison Office about Inter-religious dialogue and peacebuilding efforts. They completed their visit with a meeting with the Church of Sweden Switzerland and walk through Old Town Geneva.   Rev. Dr Catharina Segerbank from the Church of Sweden, St Johannes congregation recalled that, in the early 2000s, she worked as director of ecumenical theology at Sweden's Christian Council, and made a study trip to the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey. “It was really only then and there that I fully understood that the Christian church is worldwide!” she said. “I remember thinking that, if I ever become a parish priest, I will bring my work team here to let them discover what I discovered.” Now, as the anniversary year of the Stockholm meeting headed by Nathan Söderblom in 1925 approaches, the parish found it appropriate to relocate the annual staff trip to the World Council of Churches and Geneva. Visitors from the Church of Sweden. Photo: WCC “After the visit to the Old Town we talked about what we had learned on our study trip to the World Council of Churches,” said Segerbank. “Each participant had to summarize the visit in just one word.” The words named in the conversation were: knowledge, patience, community, peace, justice, and hope. “Everyone in the group was completely satisfied by everything we had heard and seen and we said to each other: ‘What if the World Council of Churches had not been formed in 1948—what would the world have looked like then?’ “ she said. “We were all blown away by how much good is being done in many places in our world by the WCC and its member churches.” She added that it was pleasing to hear about the good relations with the Roman Catholic Church. “We are so grateful for the friendly and respectful way we as a congregation from Sweden were welcomed,” Segerbank said. "We will recommend a visit to WCC and Chateau de Bossey to other parishes! A study trip with ecumenism at the center is right on time in many ways!” Connections and resources  Robyn Davis Sekul, vice president of Communications and Marketing for the US-based Presbyterian Foundation, met with the communications team to receive information and exchange ideas about WCC in general, communication strategies, social media, the WCC archives, and other topics.   Professors from the Faculty of Theology at the University of Arad, Romania, accompanied by professors from University of Geneva, spent a day visiting the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey as well as the Faculty of Theology at the University of Geneva. Dr Samuel Kabue, former executive secretary of the WCC's Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network and now UN representative, visited also the Ecumenical Centre and met with the Health and Healing team. Dr Samuel Kabue, former executive secretary of the WCC's Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network and now UN representative, pictured with Manoj Kurian, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing. Photo: WCC Andrew Johnson, incoming general secretary of the Uniting Church Australia, said he was privileged to hear firsthand the important work of the WCC. “The World Council of Churches continues to bear witness to Christ’s reconciling work in the world,” he said. “It reminds us all of our connection to the global church. I look forward to continuing the Uniting Church’s longstanding participation in the work of the WCC.” Andrew Johnson, incoming general secretary of the Uniting Church Australia, pictured with World Council of Churches director of communication Marianne Ejdersten. Photo: WCC Visits to the WCC   2025 – An Ecumenical Year on the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity Nicaea 2025  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