| The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of Young People in the Ecumenical Movement opened its meeting in Accra, Ghana, on 4 November under the theme “Journeying Together: Creating Healing Spaces.” |
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 | | Youth Commissioners arriving at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Covenant congregation, Dzorwulu. Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC |
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Guided by the Ghanaian expression “Biako Ye” (togetherness), the gathering is bringing young people together to strengthen ecumenical relationships, share experiences, and explore how churches and communities can become spaces of healing, reconciliation, and hope. Rooted in the biblical account of the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35), the theme emphasizes the importance of accompaniment, listening, and solidarity in responding to challenges facing young people today, including injustice, conflict, exclusion, mental health concerns, and the emerging impact of artificial intelligence. |
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 | | Rev. Dr Ibrahim Wushishi Yusuf, coordinator of the World Council of Churches Africa Regional Programme Office in Abuja, reading a message from WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay during the opening service. Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC |
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A message from WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay was read by Rev. Dr Ibrahim Wushishi Yusuf during the opening service at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. “Coherence is a word that appears repeatedly in our strategic documents, and for good reason,” said Pillay. “The WCC cannot be a collection of disconnected programmes.” Coherence, the message added, is the discipline of refusing to let youth engagement become an isolated island. “Sustainability requires more than good intentions,” the message said. “The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has offered you a context for this gathering, and I am grateful for their hospitality.” The message urged young people not to wait for permission to lead. “Do not accept the role of decoration,” the message said. “The ecumenical movement needs your voices not because you are young, but because you are part of the body of Christ.” The message also urged young people to evaluate honestly. “Plan boldly,” the message said. “And continue, even when the road is difficult, because the unity we seek is not our possession to hoard, but Christ’s gift to share.” |
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 | Rev. Karen Erina Puimera (Protestant Church in Western Indonesia), moderator of WCC Young People in the Ecumenical Movement and a youth member of the WCC executive committee, offering a speech of thanksgiving during the opening service. Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC
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Continuing to be the light Rev. Karen Erina Puimera (Protestant Church in Western Indonesia), moderator of WCC Young People in the Ecumenical Movement and a youth member of the WCC executive committee, offered a speech of thanksgiving. “First of all, let us give thanks to God for bringing us together here in Accra, Ghana,” she said. “It is truly a blessing to be able to gather once again, coming from different countries, churches, cultures, and backgrounds, but united in our faith and commitment to the ecumenical movement.” She expressed deep gratitude to the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for hosting the meeting. “Thank you for opening your doors, sharing your hospitality, and becoming a blessing to the World Council of Churches and the wider ecumenical movement,” she said. “We do not take this hospitality for granted.” Puimera noted that the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has a long history of serving not only the church but also the wider society. “We have learned about its significant contribution to healthcare in Ghana, including its hospitals, health centers, clinics, and other healthcare programs,” she said. “This is one of the many ways the church continues to become salt and light in society.” Young people need a church that is willing to listen, a church that takes their experiences seriously, and a church that walks alongside them, reflected Puimera. “We also recognize that young people in Ghana, as in many other parts of the world, are navigating different challenges,” she said. “With a large young population, Ghana has enormous potential through its young people, who are creative, technologically connected, entrepreneurial, and expressive.” At the same time, challenges such as unemployment, economic uncertainty, social inequality, and environmental crises remain important concerns, Puimera added. “These realities remind us that the church cannot simply talk about young people; the church must also walk with them, listen to their voices, and create spaces where they can participate, contribute, and flourish,” she said. “As we have travelled from our respective countries to arrive here in Ghana, each of us has brought our own stories.” Puimera added that journeying together does not necessarily mean always walking at the same speed. “It means that we are willing to make space for one another,” she said. “Sometimes, we may need to slow down so that nobody is left behind.” |
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 | | Paul Ayana, National president of the Young People’s Guild of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC |
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Experiencing Christian heritage National president of the Young People’s Guild of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Paul Ayana delivered a welcoming address. “Beloved in the Lord, if I asked you to picture a typical Christian church today, what might come to mind?” he asked. “For many, perhaps a quiet stone cathedral in Western Europe or a white-steepled chapel in rural America.” Yet, the story of Christianity has changed significantly, he noted. “The centre of gravity of global Christianity has shifted towards the Global South, with sub-Saharan Africa playing an increasingly significant role in the growth and expression of the Christian faith,” said Ayana. “As the National Youth President of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the oldest continuously existing church in West Africa, I humbly invite you to experience our Christian heritage and learn from the practices that have sustained our witness over nearly two centuries.” He also spoke of the realities confronting young people. “We must become part of the healing,” he said. “Through genuine fellowship, we build communities where nobody feels abandoned.” |
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 | Rev. Dr. Rose Buerkie Puplampu, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC |
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Rev. Dr. Rose Buerkie Puplampu, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, offered an exhortation reflecting on the theme “Journeying Together: Creating Healing Spaces.” The theme suggests a journey that is more than a mere walk, she said. “Such a journey involves walking alongside one another through life’s experiences, challenges, and struggles, while creating environments or relationships where people feel safe enough to express their pain and difficulties,” she said. “It means listening, offering support and helping others find healing not only physically, but also emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, leading to restoration and growth.” This kind of journey requires intentionality and thoughtfulness, Puplampu added. “Healing spaces do not emerge by accident; they are created through deliberate actions, genuine care and meaningful relationships,” she said. “Do we intentionally embark on relational journeys with genuine concern to create a healthy environment that facilitates healing?” Each of us may be struggling in one thing or another, Puplampu said. “When we leave here, be intentional in holding the hands of those who need help, and patiently and lovingly lead them to the saving grace available to us and help them reconnect with the risen Lord,” she said. “Remember, when we bury our heads in our problems and the things that frustrate us, we may miss the help that comes our way.” |
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 | Rev. Enock Kofi Obuobi, district minister, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, of Kaneshie-Accra.
Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC |
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Healing spaces Rev. Enock Kofi Obuobi, district minister, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, of Kaneshie-Accra, in a greeting on behalf of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, The Rt Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, said that many of us are walking wounded. “Some of you came here today after crying in your room,” he said. “Some are dealing with anxiety, breakup, exams stress, parents fighting, feeling not good enough, church hurt, unemployment.” We often try to journey alone, masking our pain, said Obuobi. “But God's design for healing is profoundly communal,” he said. “Healing isn't just about emotional comfort; it requires dismantling the things that crush people's spirits,” he said. “A healing space actively works to relieve the burdens of guilt, shame, poverty, and isolation that society places on individuals.” |
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 | | Rev. Stanley Toddison. Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC |
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Rev. Stanley Toddison offered a brief history of Ghana and its rich history of peoples. He reflected on the meaning of the flag of Ghana. “The black star on our flag stands for African freedom and unity,” he said. He also gave a short history of the Christian Council of Ghana, which began in 1929. “May your time among us deepen our shared witness for peace and unity,” he said. |
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 | Rev. Fiabu Felix Yao, AACC General Committee and Alternate Executive committee member.
Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC |
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Rev. Fiabu Felix Yao, All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) General Committee and Alternate Executive committee member, also shared welcome remarks on behalf of the AACC General Secretary, Rev. Dr Fidon Mwombeki. "May this gathering inspire practical commitments that bridge the gap between ecumenical aspirations and grassroots realities, ensuring that young people's voices influence decisions and contribute to lasting transformation," he said. |
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 | | Rev. Emma Gunnarsson, a member of WCC Young People in the Ecumenical Movement Commission. Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC |
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 | | Photo: Rhoda Mphande/WCC |
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