Interview
What were your impressions after your visit to the World Council of Churches?
Kaltenborn: Many people I have talked to here in Norway have experience with the World Council of Churches, and we also have had a well-respected Norwegian – Most Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, Church of Norway presiding bishop – heading the organisation a few years back. I was therefore very happy to finally see and meet the “people behind the brand,” and to get a glimpse of what the organisation is able to lift today. WCC seems well-placed to respond to some of the needs that other organisations might not be able to solve, thanks to their very broad membership base.
Where do you see the greatest potential for deeper collaboration between Norwegian Church Aid and the WCC in the coming years?
Kaltenborn: Norwegian Church Aid and WCC share the conviction that faith-based entities and churches can play a unique role in the world. Therefore, we have potential for collaboration in empowering communities and addressing common global challenges such as climate, conflict, and inequality. I hope we can continue to develop new and better forms of working together so that we complement each other, and learn from each other’s successes.
What does it mean for you personally to join this global fellowship at this time of overlapping crises—climate, conflict, and inequality?
Kaltenborn: I didn’t know that this global fellowship existed, so what a great treat to become part of it and experience it! It was moving to take part in the morning devotion and see the faces of our colleagues in the WCC. The pilgrimage perspective of the World Council of Churches resonates with me – for me, faith means being on a journey where we challenge ourselves on the way. It means not relying solely on our own resources, but trusting that God may have other and better plans.
In your view, what unique contribution can faith-based organizations like Norwegian Church Aid and WCC make in today’s polarized world?
Kaltenborn: I believe faith-based organisations hold unique tools. We say that “If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.” I love this expression, because it really is true of how we humans tend to think. And faith-based organizations have different tools than everyone else. I believe that our approach and our perspective can bridge divides and foster understanding in a polarised world in a way that few others are able to.
What gives you hope as you begin this new chapter of service with Norwegian Church Aid?
Kaltenborn: The fact that we are not alone, we are many who are engaged for a more just world. I believe that God’s love and guidance are available to us, maybe especially in difficult times. I am motivated by the responsibility I have taken on to serve others and to support my colleagues in fulfilling their potential, and this gives me optimism at the start of this exciting, but challenging chapter.
WCC congratulates new secretary general of Norwegian Church Aid
