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“Our meeting this time represents a special moment and opportunity in our journey together since Busan when we were elected to serve in this capacity,” said Abuom. “Many have yearned for a moment to connect with each other, to update each other on developments since 2018, to pray together, to bring to closure pending matters, to express our appreciation for each as well as make decisions on delayed issues and, even more important, to say goodbye to each other.”
Abuom acknowledged that the world is in a mode of change and transition that is undoubtedly mirrored in the WCC and the worldwide ecumenical movement.
‘It has often been said that one of the few things in life that we can be guaranteed of is change,” she said. “With the inevitability of change comes a time of transition.”
Amid years of extreme challenges global as well as the loss of leading colleagues in the ecumenical movement, Abuom urged the central committee to remember that God’s abiding presence remains constant.
“The ecumenical movement is challenged to revisit our shared vision for unity - truthfully and realistically - to position the WCC in the global arena as a key faith player in light of the major global trends,” she said.
“The renewal of our minds and hearts will motivate us so that we may become in tomorrow’s world a countercultural force driven by solidarity with the most vulnerable towards the survival of God’s creation, for which so many young people are anxiously struggling today in Germany and in many parts of the world,” she added, referring to the upcoming WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe.
Churches must adopt an ecumenism of the heart, Abuom urged. “This is an ecumenism in which we look at other churches first of all with the eyes of communion in the love of the compassionate Jesus; with the eyes of a common commitment to God’s kingdom, and only look at what separates us from other churches - in matters of ethics or faith - within the solid foundation of that unity in Christ,” she said. “As a fellowship of churches covenanted to grow in our imperfect communion, to pray for each other, support each other, and admonish each other when this proves necessary, we must pause in the assembly to ask ourselves what we can say together about our visible witness to our given unity in Christ.”
The WCC 11th Assembly will be the most comprehensive and inclusive event of world Christianity in our times, concluded Abuom. “An assembly unfolds its theme through common prayer, Bible studies, thematic plenaries, and reflections on the most important challenges of our time that require clear responses by the churches together,” she said. “It is the space where the churches set new directions for their common journey towards reconciliation and unity of all humankind and all creation.”
The WCC central committee is meeting from 15-18 June at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva.
Moderator’s Welcome Remarks, Central Committee meeting June 2022
Moderator’s Address to the Central Committee, June 2022
