News
The gatherings will focus on important encounters on the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, particularly with South African churches. An “Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025-2035): Moving Together in Ecological Metanoia for Transformation,” will officially begin during the central committee meeting.
“It is always a very special opportunity when 150 central committee members from various churches and many national and cultural contexts come together to discuss the role of the WCC in the challenges of our present world,” said WCC moderator of the central committee Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm. “We can show that an exchange with mutual respect and a readiness to really listen to each other is possible on the basis of our common faith.”
Bedford-Strohm reflected that it is always again an “ecumenical miracle when we reach consensus”—even in controversial issues. “I hope that also in this central committee meeting we can be a sign to the world that such consensus beyond our different context loyalties is possible,” he said.
The meeting will begin with an opening prayer, and end with a closing prayer, with daily prayer in between planned as spiritual encounters with member churches in South Africa. Member churches will lead morning prayers, noon prayers, and evening vespers, with a different church preparing and leading each service.
The South African Council of Churches is preparing a welcome prayer on 18 June, followed by a reception.
Expected outcomes
In South Africa, the central committee will initiate a midterm review of strategies and governance. It will also initiate preparations for the next assembly in 2030, inviting churches to host the next assembly. The central committee will elect a second executive committee, beginning in November 2026; a midterm evaluation working group, reporting in June 2027; a governance review working group, reporting in June 2027 and June 2029; and an assembly planning committee and a worship planning committee, reporting in June 2027 and June 2029.
The central committee is expected to receive the application of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim (Nigeria) and to welcome four new member churches: Apostolic Pentecostal Church International (Liberia), Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (Malawi), Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, and Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany.
Other proceedings
The central committee will review the general reserves policy and receive reports from WCC commissions, reference groups, and joint consultive bodies.
The public issues committee will begin with a suggested list of statements on some of the burning issues affecting the life and witness of churches.
There will be a hearing on the report of the working group on Palestine and Israel which, following an assembly mandate, reviewed the current crisis, the use of the term apartheid, and WCC policy supporting a two-state solution.
In addition, there will be regional meetings, confessional meetings, a women’s meeting, and a meeting of Africans and African diaspora.
Facets of the gathering will also focus on:
South African churches. The year 2025 marks the 140th anniversary of the Berlin Conference regulating the colonization of Africa as well as the 40th anniversary of the Kairos theological statement challenging the apartheid regime of South Africa.
Apostolic faith today. The year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the affirmation of faith expressed in the Nicene Creed, the mission of God’s triune love, and the implications this has for the common witness and service of the churches.
Climate justice. The year 2025 marks 100 years of the Life and Work movement, igniting a vision for diaconal ecumenism to unite the churches through service. The climate crisis is among the greatest challenges facing the world today and the churches are at the forefront of the movement for change.
Gender justice. The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women and the Beijing Declaration. The WCC emphasis on the role of women in church and society and its work for a just community of women and men have shaped the ecumenical commitment to gender justice, including Thursdays in Black, which originated in South Africa.
About the WCC central committee
The WCC central committee comprises 150 members and eight presidents, and 100 advisors from the wider ecumenical movement. Its purpose is to implement the assembly mandate, make policy decisions, and address issues affecting the life and witness of the churches. The central committee serves as the chief governing body of the WCC until the next assembly, meeting every two years. It is responsible for carrying out the policies adopted by the assembly, as well as reviewing and supervising WCC programmes and the budget.
Public and media invited
The WCC central committee meeting will be live-streamed from 18-21 June, and then again on 23 June, from 8:30 am to 12:30 South Africa Standard Time.
Media accreditation is still open, and is mandatory for access to open sessions, press conferences, briefings, and seminars – onsite, as well as online.
Apply for accreditation by filling out the online application form.
A landing page provides a framework agenda, descriptions of the WCC constitution and rules, information and the consensus decision making process, and media accreditation information.
Live streaming 18-21 June and 23 June 8:30-12:30 on www.oikoumene.org/live
Learn more about the Central committee meeting on 18-24 June 2025
To media, local church media:
Media accreditation still open for WCC central committee meeting, pilgrimage encounters
