WCC news: WCC general secretary shares encouragement with WCC education commission

In a special message entitled “The Spirit of Ecumenical Learning,” World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay shared appreciation for the work of the WCC Ecumenical Education and Formation Commission as they start their biannual meeting at the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey.  WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay addressed the opening session of the EEF Commission via video message. He will join the group on 7 October for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 5 October 2026 “As you gather here in these days, I appreciate all of you for traveling long distances to confer about the state of ecumenical education globally and to advance the cause of ecumenical education and formation,” wrote Pillay. “After the celebrations and deliberations in Egypt last year of the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, our theological imperative is clearer than ever: we are called to critical appropriation of that ancient, life-giving faith in every context to face and address our global crisis at its deepest spiritual level.” Pillay noted that ecumenical learning liberates us from our parochial thinking and frees us to throw ourselves into that work with open minds and hearts, wherever we are.  “Discerning the will of God in these changing and challenging times is essential so that we may bring glory to God and relevantly address the needs of our times,” he wrote. “So, dear commissioners, my hopes and prayers are with you as you gather these days.” The EEF Commission meeting goes from 5-9 October, bringing together members for a week of reflection, evaluation, and planning around the future of ecumenical education and formation. Under the theme “Ecumenical Formation as Ethos and as Programme,” the meeting will consider the commission’s mandate and priorities, review current initiatives, and identify directions for its future work.  Read the full message Watch the video recording WCC Commission on Ecumenical Education and Formation to meet at Bossey (WCC news release, 30 September 2026) 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