WCC news: WCC welcomes array of visitors during Advent season

The World Council of Churches (WCC) welcomed an array of visitors during Advent season, including delegations from the Presbyterian Church (USA), World Communion of Reformed Churches, Nordic churches, and the Conference of European Churches. The delegation of the Presbyterian Church USA, the WCC general secretary (right) and members of the WCC staff.  Photo: Gregoire de Fombelle/WCC 20 December 2024 Presbyterian Church (USA) The Presbyterian Church (USA) delegation visited from 11-13 December.  In addition to receiving an introduction to the WCC, the delegation met with WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, as well as members of the WCC staff leadership group.  After an overview of the WCC Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, the delegation also discussed the WCC’s work in the Middle East, as well as work in the areas of Mission and Evangelism, Faith and Order, and Spiritual Life. The delegation also received a tour of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, where discussions centered on WCC’s work on Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation, Ecumenical Formation and Theological Education, and Communication. Members of the delegation from the Presbyterian Church (USA) included: Rev. Jihyun Oh, stated clerk and executive director; Sara Lisherness, deputy executive director for mission; Dr Dianna Wright, director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations; Kerry Rice, deputy stated clerk.  WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and WCRC general secretary Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi. Photo: Gloria Charles/WCC World Communion of Reformed Churches Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi, general secretary of World Communion of Reformed Churches met with Pillay on 17 December.  "It is always a pleasure to have discussions with the general secretary of the WCC and colleagues,” said Nyomi. “This time around we shared how our collaborations around the upcoming World Communion of Reformed Churches 27th General Council and the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed would be of benefit to our member churches and would strengthen the ecumenical movement.  We appreciate the leadership the WCC gives in this.” From the left: Doug Chial, director of the WCC Office of the General Secretariat, Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of Communication, Dr Kimmo Kääriäinen, Executive Director National Church Council, Department for International Relations, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Peter Lindvall, Head of the unit for pastoral development and ecumenical relations, Church and Society, Church of Sweden, Stylianos Pappas, WCC finance director, and Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director for Public Witness and Diakonia. Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/WCC Nordic churches The Nordic delegation that visited the WCC consisted of: Dr Kimmo Kääriäinen, executive director of the National Church Council, Department for International Relations, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland; and Rev. Dr Peter Lindvall, head of the unit for pastoral development and ecumenical relations, Church and Society, Church of Sweden. Conference of European Churches On 19 December, the general secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach, paid his first visit to the WCC since his appointment last March. He met with Pillay and selected members of the WCC staff. Fischbach was accompanied by Ms Katerina Pekridou, CEC programme officer for theology and studies From the left: CEC general secretary Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach, WCC general secretary Rev. Prof Dr Jerry Pillay, and CEC programme officer for theology and studies Ms Katerina Pekridou. Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/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 Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland