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The Ecumenical Institute of Bossey inaugurated its recently renovated guest house and a new conference hall on 14 February, expanding its facilities for the use of churches, ecumenical bodies, local and international organizations and individual visitors.
The institute, which is part of the World Council of Churches (WCC), has provided ecumenical formation and support to the churches, ecumenical bodies and theological institutions through education and dialogue since 1946. The institute is located in a unique setting, overlooking Lake Geneva and the French and Swiss Alps.
The newly renovated guest house, which was previously a traditional Swiss barn, now contains 21 rooms with modern facilities. Similarly, the new conference hall has the capacity of accommodating around 200 people, with the special equipment and assistance required for organizing meetings and events.
“In these times of financial crisis, it was only because of our faith and confidence in this visionary project and the constant support from our colleagues that we have been able to complete this work successfully,” said Prof. Ioan Sauca, director of the Ecumenical Institute, at the inauguration ceremony.
Sauca talked about the financial and logistical constraints that had hindered completion of the conference hall, which he said were overcome with support from the WCC Executive Committee, the WCC general secretariat and constant efforts by the Bossey faculty and administrative staff.
The Executive Committee began their February meetings in the new conference hall shortly after the dedication. The committee meets every six months and is a governing body of the WCC.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by around one hundred guests including the WCC Executive Committee members, Jean-Marc Gambazzi representing the mayor of Bogis-Bossey, Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, moderator of the WCC Central Committee, and Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC.
Among other guests were staff members of the WCC and its sister organizations, representatives of Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist communities in Geneva, the Friends of Bossey and the local press.
At the ceremony Tveit was presented with a symbolic key on behalf of the architect of the renovated facilities.
In his speech, Tveit commended the role of the institute in bringing together people from diverse churches, cultures and regional backgrounds for ecumenical learning, academic study and personal exchange.
He said that the “new facilities will strengthen the role of Bossey as a place for international ecumenical formation as it will offer more space to welcome guests, visitors, researchers and students.”
Tveit called Bossey an “ecumenical guest house”, where he said individuals and groups can come and spend time on work, retreats and celebrations.
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