Rev. Dr Rufus Akikiola Ositelu, World Council of Churches (WCC) president from Africa, spoke during a virtual conference called to discuss African concerns ahead of the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt. The world conference, convening from 24-28 October under the theme, “Where now for visible unity?” is one of the key events organized by the WCC to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council. “I believe with Christ's love we can achieve that visible unity with humility and mutual respect for one another,” said Ositelu. “In the midst of all challenges and obstacles, we should always be mindful that the vision of unity in Christ nurtures our understanding of the council… and our quest for reconciliation and visible unity.” The All Africa Conference of Churches, in collaboration with the WCC, organized the pre-conference from 13-14 October to amplify African voices ahead of the conference in Egypt. The conference assembled theologians, church leaders, and ecumenists from diverse denominations for discussion around the Council of Nicaea, under the theme, “Revisiting Nicaea: African Perspectives on Controversies and Unity of the Churches Today.” Andrej Jeftic, director of the WCC Commission on Faith and Order, said that, in the nearly 100 years of Faith and Order's existence, this is the first time a world conference has been convened in Africa. “It is a sign of our intentional aim to broaden the table of theological conversation and ensure that voices from every region of the world, and especially from Africa, I would say, are heard in shaping the ecumenical reflections on the theological concerns that shape the church's pilgrimage of unity,” he said. Jeftic observed that the meeting in Egypt is one of the most significant theological encounters of the time, and the voices, insights, and concerns of African churches, shared at the pre-conference, would boost the global conversation at the world conference. “The World Conferences in Faith and Order do not happen that often. We have had only five in almost 100 years of history, but each [of them] has marked a turning point in our search for visible unity,” he said. Rev. Dr Lesmore Gibson Ezekiel, director of peace, ecclesial leadership, development, interfaith, and theology at the All Africa Conference of Churches, said questions of baptism, eucharist, and ministry had constituted a major challenge to unity. “We look forward to a time when we can come to the table of the Lord together with less debate, with less suspicion, with less exclusion, but that we would embrace each other without questions and too much polemics that lead to schism,” said Ezekiel. The participants explored, among other topics, sound biblical teaching or misleading theologies, the unity of worship, interfaith dialogue, the concept of God in the context of African realities, and a common Easter date, especially for the sake of family unions and mission. “We are hoping the meeting in Egypt will give us a fruitful outcome,” said Archbishop Makarios of the Orthodox Church in Kenya. Fr Evangelos Thiani, senior Orthodox lecturer in Nairobi, Kenya, told the gathering that having a common day for Easter celebrations would illustrate Christian unity, that they belong to one God and are evangelizing for one Saviour. “The Africans have not come together yet to discuss this issue, whether the Orthodox or the Western Christians… I would say this is one of the very unique opportunities that we have,” said Thiani. | 
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