WCC news: Bossey graduates celebrate "the hard and beautiful work of bridge-building”

A graduation event held 28 January at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey began with a student-led prayer for Thanksgiving in the chapel that included music, followed by a graduation ceremony with speeches, and ending with a banquet celebrating the milestone for all.  Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/WCC 29 January 2026 Throughout, students shared humor, gratitude, and a sense that their work is not yet done.  They earned Certificates of Advanced Studies in Ecumenical Studies or Complementary Certificates in Ecumenical Studies after studying, living, praying, and laughing together.  As student Johan Wahlstrom from Sweden said: “It is now time to bring forward the many things that we as students are grateful for.” On behalf of the student body, Wahlstrom and student Charlotte Fritz, from the Federal Republic of Germany, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover, joined in a humorous dialogue featuring their favorite quotes from their peers.  In moments of seriousness, they also offered a heartfelt thanks to their professors. “You taught us to never stop asking you questions, that listening is sometimes more important than talking,” said Fritz.  Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/WCC The students also expressed gratitude to local churches for giving them a spiritual home during they stay at Bossey.  Fr. Dr Lawrence Iwuamadi, academic dean of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, reflected that the students have shared not only knowledge but hope as well.  “We have just returned from Rome,” he reflected, referring to the recently completed annual study trip in conjunction with the Week of Prayer of Christian Unity. “You are the first group to meet Pope Leo.” He added that, as Bossey approaches its 80th anniversary on 6 October this year, this graduating class now becomes part of a legacy that spans over generations. “You are stepping into a story much bigger than yourself, and you carry it forward with grace, humor, and a remarkable ability to adapt,” he said. “As you leave, remember that your journey with Bossey does not end here.” Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/WCC Rev. Dr Kuzipa Nalwamba, WCC programme director for Unity, Mission, and Ecumenical Formation, reflected that the graduates are celebrating not just an academic conclusion, but the fruition of a transformative journey on the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. “You, our graduates, came here from every corner of the world and every corner of the Christian family,” she said. “You brought your distinct stories, your theological accents, and your liturgical rhythms.” The students learned that unity is not uniformity, but “the hard and beautiful work of bridge-building,” said Nalwamba. "You have been immersed in the ecumenical method, seeking truth together in love, believing we see God more clearly through the eyes of our neighbour.” The students are practitioners of reconciliation, she added. “Carry this Bossey spirit with you,” she said. “Be translators between divided communities.” The road continues, Nalwamba advised. “There will be setbacks,” she said. “Carry the fire of dialogue into cold prejudice. Carry the water of shared understanding into parched landscapes of division.” Prof. Dr Cristophe Chalamet, dean of the Autonomous Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Geneva, expressed great joy over what the students have achieved.  “It is a gift that you have received, I think, in coming here to Bossey and sharing the life, and sharing studies,” he said. “I have been coming to Bossey for over a decade and I have witnessed also the difficulties of arriving. But there’s a lot of beauty in the encounter of differences among a shared faith, a shared baptism. The journey does not end here, of course.” Photo gallery Learn more about the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey 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