World Council of Churches

A worldwide fellowship of churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service

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Spirituality and worship

This project encourages churches to explore traditional and newer dimensions of ecumenical spiritual life, continue work on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and collect resources for worship and healing in community.
Spirituality and worship in ecumenical context

Worship - including sacramental life, prayer and Bible study - is integral to the life of the churches and the search for unity. This project encourages traditional and newer expressions of spirituality in the churches and explores how these relate to their search for unity.

It develops and gathers materials for worship, and encourages theological reflection on the significance of worship and spiritual life in ecumenical contexts, building on earlier WCC and ecumenical work in these areas.

Tools for analysis and reflection include consultations and use of the Internet to collect and share information on worship and spiritual life practices. Professional expertise in the fields of worship, spiritual life and communication are enlisted to produce materials that are accessible to the churches.

This project also takes advantage of opportunities for common worship and common prayer with member churches and ecumenical partners (while bearing in mind the recommendations from the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC).

Relationships with renewal communities and with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity ensure sensitivity in dealing with treasured texts, symbols and practices from a wide variety of Christian traditions.

Joint (with the RCC) preparation of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity materials focuses on creative ways of using them at a local church level.

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