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Jeftić, from Serbia, an Eastern Orthodox theologian, has been serving as a research fellow at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory at the University of Belgrade. He also served as a theological consultant for the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe.
Involved in the ecumenical movement since he was a student, his doctoral research focused on the work of ecumenical theologian Thomas F. Torrance. In 2013, he was delegated as a representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church to the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan. Since then, he has served as a member of the WCC central committee and since 2018 as a member of the WCC Assembly Planning Committee. He was also invited to be a course facilitator in the 2022 program of the Global Ecumenical Institute.
“The work and mission of the Faith and Order Commission correspond deeply with my core beliefs and values which have guided my life and theological development,” he said. “In order to be true to Christ’s calling and the very nature of God’s revelation, which can only be understood as a communal event, I believe that theology needs to be ecumenical.”
He also believes theology must be universal. “If locked within imagined boundaries, either academic or ecclesial, theology fails to offer its service to the world whose salvation was brought upon by Christ,” he said.
Rev. Dr Susan Durber, moderator of the Faith and Order Commission, said: “Dr Jeftić impressed all of us who met him with his depth of theological reflection, his creative thinking and his calm personal presence. It is exciting to welcome an Orthodox theologian as director of Faith and Order. He will join an experienced secretariat and committed commissioners as we prepare to mark Nicaea2025 and explore how we can live the apostolic faith in unity in today’s world.”
