Nouvelle
Meeting on 7-8 June and 10-11 June, the groups will reflect on reports on the situation in North America through the lens of the WCC’s global thematic focus on racism and indigenous peoples in cooperation with member churches, the Canadian Council of Churches, National Council of Churches of Christ in USA, and other regional partners.
Those who participated in Pilgrim Team Visits will offer theological reflections not only from North America but also from meetings in the Pacific (2020), Asia (2019), Latin America and Caribbean (2018), Africa (2017) and the Middle East (2016).
A “Harvest Gathering” will highlight achievements and some key lessons learned from the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace from 2013 to 2021.
The group will also explore ways to strengthen the unity of member churches and ecumenical partners through the theological reflection of the intersectional approach of the four themes of Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace: truth and trauma, land and displacement, gender justice, and racial justice.
Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the WCC central committee, opened the meeting by expressing great joy that the group could gather, pray together and share stories of communities of faith.
As the group looks back to the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, during which the overarching theme of the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace was developed, they are also considering a world gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Abuom.
“Our reflection is also to discern the signs of the times in which we are living, and how they are likely to impact the way to justice and peace,” said Abuom, asking the group to explore how the seven years of work on the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace has been retroactively impacted by COVID-19.
She also posed a question about how the fruits of the group will uniquely reach the 11th WCC Assembly and its host region: “How about the German context and Europe as a whole?” Abuom asked.
The outcome of this week’s meeting will form part of the contribution to the thematic plenary on reconciliation and unity at the WCC 11th Assembly in 2022, as well as to workshops and to a Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace exhibition in the “Brunnen” portion of the assembly.
Arctic communities to WCC pilgrims: “We need your voice” - WCC feature story 11 May 2021
The pandemic does not stop the pilgrimage— it deepens the accompaniment - WCC interview 27 May 2021
