News
At the 2nd General Assembly of the ACT Alliance held in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit congratulated the new leadership of the ACT Alliance, a partner organization of the WCC, which has elected representatives of its governing bodies at the event.
Dr Sushant Agrawal, director of the Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), is the new moderator of the ACT Alliance, a coalition of more than 140 churches, and humanitarian and development agencies, replacing Rev. Dr Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel. Donna Derr from the Church World Service, USA, became the vice-moderator with Wim Hart of the Netherlands-based ICCO & Kerk in Actie, elected as treasurer of the ACT Alliance.
"May God bless you in your great task in this significant ministry of the ecumenical movement. May the theme of this assembly inspire both the WCC and the ACT Alliance to join hands and work together for life in abundance of all people,” Tveit said in his remarks at the assembly, which addressed the theme “Join hands – full life and dignity for all” from 20 to 24 October.
In his speech, Agrawal said his motivation for the position stems from his desire to lead the family of the ACT members. He pointed to three significant reasons: his long attachment to the alliance, his ecumenical allegiance and the wish to give back to the family of the ACT.
“I have been attached to the ecumenical family and the passion I have to be attached to this family comes from the call of God. When I see there is an opportunity to go ahead with a vision of justice, peace and dignity,” Agrawal said.
“If God wants the new moderator to keep the family together, God will guide us in that mission. It has to be God’s mission in reaching out to peace, justice and dignity of life,” he added.
WCC general secretary highlights WCC and ACT Alliance collaboration (WCC news release of 22 October 2014)
Workshop at ACT Alliance assembly focuses on “diakonia” (WCC news release of 24 October 2014)
