News
Following a 6-November ceremony where recently retired Very Rev. Dr Sheilagh Kesting was “knighted”, as Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope Francis, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit now extends congratulations to Kesting, a long-standing colleague and ecumenist from the Church of Scotland.
"For many years, Sheilagh has served the ecumenical movement with tremendous knowledge, dedication and warmth,” says Tveit. “Her ability to build relationships is reflected in this prestigious honour, and she has made a lasting impact within the WCC fellowship as well as other ecumenical bodies.”
Kesting received the award, which is equivalent to papal “knighthood” and rarely awarded to non-Catholics, from Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews & Edinburgh.
“This recognition by the Roman Catholic Church demonstrates the ever deepening bonds of connection between churches of different confessional traditions, and is a testimony to Sheilagh’s great contribution to that end,” continues Tveit. “I am grateful for her gracious manner of leadership and wish her all the best in her retirement."
The ecumenical movement in Scotland will shortly feel the loss also of another ecumenical officer, Elspeth Davey of the Scottish Episcopal Church, who retires at the end of this year. In thanking her, Tveit notes in particular her contribution to the Porvoo full communion agreement between Anglican and Lutheran churches in the Nordic countries. "These bilateral relationships between member churches strengthen the fellowship of churches in many ways and offer inspiration in working through theological differences, to find ways to be in mission and ministry together.”
“Elspeth has enriched the work of the WCC in many ways, and we will miss her wisdom and collegial presence in our meetings," said Tveit.
Both Kesting and Davey have been active members of the WCC's Ecumenical Officers Network, which consists of member church representatives with particular responsibility for ecumenical relations. The network meets every two years, and serves as a mutually-supportive global network of ecumenists.
