Norwegian churches mark 70 years of WCC through anniversary service

Through an ecumenical Sunday service, Norwegian churches celebrated the 70^th anniversary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 26 August.

Gathered in the Methodist church in Oslo, Norway, representatives of the United Methodist Church, Christian Council of Norway and the Church of Norway, as well as the World Council of Churches, gathered with congregants and others to celebrate the 70^th anniversary since the foundation of the WCC, which took place in Amsterdam in 1948.

The Oslo service was led by Kari Veiteberg, Bishop of Oslo, and Rev. Knut Refsdal, district superintendent of the United Methodist Church, and followed an ecumenical prayer service held in Amsterdam on 23 August, attended by pilgrims from all over the world.

Delivering the sermon in Oslo, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, himself a Norwegian pastor and theologian, spoke of the way churches in the ecumenical movement have found a way to pray, walk and work together on the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace.

“Today, we hope and pray the our cooperation can be strengthened, that we can dare to do more together, and take new steps together with all those who want to walk the way of peace and justice,” Tveit said.

At the service, the WCC further received congratulations from Prof. Peder Borgen, a former United Methodist pastor who was a delegate in Amsterdam when the WCC was first founded.

Full sermon by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, English (also available in Norwegian)

Church of Norway press release on the 26 August service

Pilgrims gather from far and wide to celebrate 70 years of WCC (WCC press release of 23 August 2018)

WCC member churches in Norway