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“The World Council of Churches takes the partnerships and relationships with the regional ecumenical organizations very seriously and we've always been looking at how we can collaborate and work together on different projects and issues. What happens in the regions is of instrumental concern to us,” said Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary.
“Strengthening relationships and working together in God's work and God's mission in the world is crucial,” he said. “We thank each of your regional organizations for your service, sacrifice, and diligence in the work that you do in these extremely difficult times.”
The meeting recognizes a shared experience of conciliar ecumenism and the poly-centric nature of the one ecumenical movement.
The WCC has a particular interest in consulting with regional general secretaries on the strategic directions for engaging the fellowship of member churches and ecumenical partners on a common Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity.
Participants in the meeting came away with updates and concerns from their regions as well as common and unique challenges facing the churches in the different regions.
The group also started to plan for their in-person meeting in February 2025, hosted by the Christian Conference of Asia.
In addition to the WCC general secretary, participants of the online meeting included Rev. Michel Abs, general secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, Rev. James Baghwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Rev. Frank Dieter Fischbach, general secretary of the Conference of European Churches, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, president and general secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, Rev. Dr Fidon Mwombeki, general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches, Pastor Peter Noteboom, general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches, and Dr Marcelo Schneider, WCC programme executive for ecumenical relations and communication.
