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Rev. Dr Ester Pudjo Widiasih has recently been appointed as programme executive for spiritual life at the World Council of Churches (WCC). Widiasih, who comes from the Javanese Christian Churches in Indonesia, is experienced in the field of church music and worship.

With a specialization in liturgical studies, Widiasih was educated at Drew University and the Princeton Theological Seminary, USA, the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, the Philippines, and the Jakarta Theological Seminary, Indonesia. As a member of the assembly worship committee, Widiasih was engaged in planning and guiding worship activities held at the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea in 2013.

Widiasih, who taught liturgy and church music at the Jakarta Theological Seminary, hopes to promote diverse practices of spirituality and prayer in the traditions of the WCC member churches. She said, “Through my work I hope to contribute to the spiritual life of the WCC and its member churches, especially as we focus on the theme ‘pilgrimage of justice and peace’”.

“In this new ministry I hope to promote the spirit of ecumenical prayer gatherings where Christians from different confessional and cultural backgrounds may worship together. This also includes sharing spiritual expressions with people of other faiths,” she said.

Widiasih commenced work in her new position in early October at the WCC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Spirituality and worship in ecumenical context

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