WCC FEATURE: Students from University of Münster visit WCC: “Faith is a powerful instrument”

Seventeen students from the University of Münster in Germany visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey on 10-11 November.  Students from University of Münster visit WCC Photo:Gloria Charles/WCC 13 November 2025 In addition to receiving an introduction to the WCC and Bossey, the students discussed Life, Justice, and Peace work and Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation. Student Tom Badi Shafizadeh explained that the excursion was part of getting in touch with different faith-based organizations and learning about interreligious dialogue. “For me, I think that faith is a super powerful instrument to use for the betterment of society,” he said.  Pauline Amelung, also a student, was interested in finding out what world religious and faith-based organizations play in international relations. “We are very interested in seeing the work of the WCC and how it is possible that so many churches can work together,” she said. “I take back with me that there are so many possibilities when we go on a genuine dialogue, person-to-person.” Student Lennart Truxa appreciated learning how churches find each other, work together over all their differences, and approach each other to talk about their differences. “I take back with me that maybe that a lot of opinions are not bad, there is not so much right or wrong, and sometimes we can talk about it, reflect on it, and keep your opinion, your tradition, and maybe learn to accept other traditions more without having to refuse everything, every step, so there is no black and white,” he said.  Tulin Kerimoglu, also a student, appreciated meeting so many different faith-based actors. “One thing I see is how beautifully connected people are in these fields,” she said. “The Ecumenical Center in Geneva and the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey are places of authentic intercultural encounter that foster justice and peace through deep learning processes,” said Prof. Dr Simone Sinn, who brought the students from University of Münster. “The colleagues working in these places are outstanding experts in their respective fields.” Sinn said she wanted to give the students from the University of Münster the opportunity to engage with these resource persons, to see the impact of their work at the international level. “Through the personal encounter with the experts in the World Council of Churches, the students connect with the concrete work of the global ecumenical movement,” said Sinn. “In times of multiple global crises the students have heard about concrete entry points to work for justice and peace. More specifically, I encourage students will write their masters and PhD thesis on the impact of the ecumenical movement in the field of human rights, justice, and peace.” Visits to the WCC Students from University of Münster visit WCC Photo: Gloria Charles/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 356 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