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Dear Rev. Geoffrey A. Black,
Greetings in the precious name of Jesus the Christ, our Risen Lord and Saviour!
It is my pleasure, on behalf of the fellowship of WCC member churches, to congratulate you on your recent installation as General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ. I am certain that the celebration on Sunday at the Federated Church in Chagrin Falls was a wonderful time of praise and commitment. May God bless your leadership with wisdom, may Christ fill you with compassion and may the Holy Spirit sustain you on the journey.
As you serve the UCC in your new capacity as the senior leader of the church, I look forward to working with you personally. The United Church of Christ is an important member of the World Council of Churches fellowship. As a united church, the UCC bears witness to the ecumenical vision of organic unity. As a church rejoicing in diversity, the UCC bears witness to God's inclusive and abiding love for all people. As a forward looking church, the UCC bears witness to a still speaking God, with a message of love and justice.
I look forward to the opportunity to meet you in the course of the year, possibly at the Uniting General Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council in Grand Rapids or at the Annual Assembly of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA in New Orleans.
Once again, blessings for your continuing vigorous leadership in the UCC and congratulations on your installation.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
WCC general secretary
