WCC NEWS: WCC leaders meet with Chinese religious affairs minister, focusing on peace and unity

World Council of Churches (WCC) leaders, on 20 November, met with Duan Yijun, vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, and director general of the National Religious Affairs Administration in China. Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee meets with Duan Yijun, vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and director general of the National Religious Affairs Administration in China. Photo: Marianne Ejdersten/WCC 24 November 2025 The WCC was represented by Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee; Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley, vice-moderator of the WCC central committee, and WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. WCC leaders were accompanied by Rev. Dr Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang, World Council of Churches president from Asia. The vice minister offered a heartfelt welcome to the WCC as a sign of strong, healthy, and steadfast relations. During the meeting they discussed the role of the WCC working for unity, world peace, and building bridges between religions and churches. They also spoke about the China Christian Council as a member of the WCC working for unity, promoting peace, and human wellbeing, and the longstanding relations between the WCC and the China Christian Council. Since 1991, the China Christian Council has hosted four meetings with WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, in addition to the WCC executive committee in 2016, the WCC Commission on Faith and Order in 2016, and now the WCC executive committee in Hangzhou. Bedford-Strohm said he greatly appreciated the possibility of affirming Christian life in China in the meeting with the vice minister.  “China is a center of global Bible printing,” he said. “The Bible is accessible for all Christians in China.” This is important, reflected Bedford-Strohm, since the Bible is the basis for Christian life. “The contributions Christians in China make in spiritual and social life are to be celebrated,” said Bedford-Strohm. “We welcome all impressive progress that China is making in overcoming poverty and managing ecological transformation.” The WCC executive committee is meeting in Hangzhou, China from 20-25 November. WCC central committee moderator reflects on church unity, climate justice (WCC news release, 20 November 2025) WCC general secretary: “WCC is being looked at as a source of strength and support” (WCC news release, 20 November 2025) WCC executive committee opens in Hangzhou, China (WCC news release, 20 November 2025) Vibrant church in China welcomes WCC leaders (WCC news release, 20 November 2025) WCC shares congratulations on Amity Foundation’s 40th anniversary (WCC news release, 18 November 2025) Photo gallery: WCC executive committee meeting in China WCC leadership meeting Duan Yijun, vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, and director general of the National Religious Affairs Administration in China, 20 November 2025. Photo: Marianne Ejdersten/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