News
The World Council of Churches (WCC) mourns the death of Lois M. Dauway, a former member of the WCC Central Committee and Executive Committee, who made a significant contribution in the fields of mission, evangelism and Christian unity, known for her distinguished career in ecumenical service.
Dauway, from the United States, served the General Board for Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church as interim general secretary. She passed away on 4 February following a long illness. She also had worked for the Women’s Division of Global Ministries.
Dauway was a recipient of the J. Irwin Miller Award from the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, which she received in 2009 honouring her life and work in the ecumenical movement.
While conveying condolences and assuring prayers, the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit and the WCC Central Committee moderator Dr Agnes Abuom remembered Dauway as “an extraordinary ecumenist” and a “gift” to the WCC.
They said that Dauway’s “faith and sense of dedication reflected a deep commitment and calling to service in the life of the church, not only within her own denomination, but to the global fellowship.”
Dauway’s “focus on issues of justice has been, and will continue to be, an inspiration to the council,” they added.
Full text of the WCC letter of condolence on death of Lois Dauway
Message from Thomas Kemper, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries
