News
The World Council of Churches' (WCC) Central Committee received into the fellowship one joint church membership and six ecumenical organisations in actions on Tuesday, 26 September.
The Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in America, each a founding member of the WCC, applied to combine their membership as the Moravian Church in America. Their application for joint membership came in the light of the Final Report of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC to encourage even more ecumenical cooperation. Acceptance of their joint membership reduces the total number of WCC member churches to 341.
Four councils of churches were granted associate council status. The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) was formed in 1929, and has 14 member churches and six member organisations. More recently, the CCN has worked with the Christian Association of Nigeria, which includes the Roman Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches.
The Christian Council of Norway, established in 1992, has 15 member churches, representing a wide range of confessions, ranging from Orthodox to Salvation Army. It has also applied for association with the Conference of European Churches and the World Evangelical Alliance.
The Council of Churches of Puerto Rico was motivated in its application by its recognition of the role of the WCC in working for the unity of the churches and its desire to be more closely involved with the WCC's members. For 96 years, until 2002, it was the Evangelical Council of Puerto Rico; the change of name came from the desire of its members to open themselves to dialogue with other denominations.
The Protestant Council of Rwanda, established in 1963, has six member churches and two associate member churches. Its decision to apply was motivated, among other reasons, by gratitude for all that the WCC has done in Rwanda.
Two applications for the status of international ecumenical organisation were also accepted. The Global Fellowship of Christian Youth was founded in 1963 under the name of "The World Conference - a family of Christian Youth Organisations". Its oldest affiliate is the Boys' Brigade in the United Kingdom.
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to promoting good housing and eliminating homelessness. Since its inception in 1976, Habitat has built over 100,000 houses worldwide. It wishes to expand and strengthen its partnerships, and its application to the WCC was made in this spirit.
The applications for joint membership, Associate Council and International Ecumenical Organisation can be found on our website at: