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Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit receiving an honorary doctorate degree from the Senate of Serampore College. Photo: Serampore College

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit receiving an honorary doctorate degree from the Senate of Serampore College. Photo: Serampore College

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit was invited to address a significant and historic gathering of Theological institutions in India on the 4th of December. The Serampore College celebrated 200 years since its founding by William Carey, Marshmann and Ward.  He also received an honorary doctorate degree from the Senate of Serampore College which represents 60 Theological Colleges in South Asia.

In accepting the honor, Tveit spoke on the theme “A Fellowship of Love: Transformation for Christ’s Sake.”

There is a power in love, Tveit said. “In emphasizing love as the binding force of the ecumenical movement, we should not be tempted to understand it as a sentimental and self-serving notion,” he said.

There is much we can learn together as churches and partners in communion, continued Tveit. “Transformation nurtured by love is marked by particular signs through which it becomes visible,” he said. “Finally, transformation coming through love would be incomplete without consciousness of our need to continuously grow together and learn how we can best serve God and the world.”

We are called to carry forth God’s love planted in us, Tveit said. “Ours is the task to translate this holiness in our daily lives by leading lives of prayer and thanksgiving but also, and perhaps more importantly, by turning to one another with consideration and in acts of service,” he said. “A dedicated life for God means at the same time a life with, and in service to, others.”

Tveit also had a interaction with faculty and students from these institutions the following day.

“The world needs the unity of the church, as we see clearly in India. Our preaching the Gospel together should be tested on whether we give hope to people. As followers of the risen Christ, we do not have the option to lose hope.”

In 2002, Tveit was awarded a doctorate in theology by the Norwegian School of Theology/Menighetsfakultetet in Oslo for his dissertation on Mutual Accountability as Ecumenical Attitude.

Read the full address by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit

Biography Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit in brief