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Greetings of the WCC General Secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
Berlin, Germany, November 28, 2018
Dear Rev. Dr h.c. Cornelia Füllkrug – Weitzel,
Distinguished guests, dear friends,
The sixtieth birthday of Bread for the World! This is indeed a reason to celebrate for millions of people who survived brutal famines, were helped to overcome the destruction of natural catastrophes and wars, and were empowered to struggle for their livelihoods, rights and human dignity thanks to the solidarity and support of Bread for the World. It is a reason to celebrate for the many partners of Bread for the World and to thank wholeheartedly not only for financial support – as vital as it is -, but also for accompaniment, cooperation and common action for change and transformation. The World Council of Churches owes Bread for the World a lot. We are extremely grateful for the reliable partnership over all these years, support for the programmes and projects of the WCC and companionship on the joint pilgrimage of justice and peace, working together for people and planet Earth.
This is a moment to be grateful for all those who enabled Bread for the World to be who it is thanks to their donations; we thank also the German government for its cooperation with and support of Bread for the World and its network of partners all over the world; and we are indebted to the leadership and staff of the organization for their wonderful work over the years, developing the organization and making it a key player for sustainable development, justice and peace also internationally.
This is also an opportunity to thank especially you, dear Cornelia, for your leadership as president of Bread for the World, for your personal solidarity and support of the WCC, your involvement in governing bodies, the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs and the Reference Group of the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. I also want to thank you personally for your accompaniment, your friendship and your counsel and advise that have proven to be extremely helpful and critical for me as WCC General Secretary.
We recently asked staff colleagues in the WCC to tell us how they cooperate with churches and partners in Germany. Of course, Bread for the World has a major part in most of the activities of the WCC in the common journey of the member churches and partners especially in the area of diakonia and public witness. The cooperation includes activities ranging from gender justice and the Thursdays in Black campaign against violence against women, the ecumenical water network, the work on climate change, HIV and Aids, food security and sustainable development to cooperation in international advocacy for human rights, the sustainable development goals, and common presence and advocacy in situations of crises and conflicts. There are many things the WCC could not be doing without the support, solidarity and partnership of Bread for the World.
We are happy and proud to see that you included the moderator of the Central Committee of the WCC, Dr Agnes Abuom, among the five heroes of Bread for the World you are honouring at this occasion. Her example shows the importance of international solidarity in the context of oppression and violations of human rights, the vital role of women in the struggles for justice and peace and the great contribution they make to the life of the churches and the ecumenical movement. Her portrait on the Bread for the World website speaks for itself.
Dear Cornelia, distinguished guests, dear friends! Let us take this opportunity to renew our shared commitment to working together for justice, peace and the care for creation. There remains so much to do. There is such a need for Bread for the World today and in the future!
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General Secretary