Photo essay
“I think it goes back to what we discussed this morning,” said WCC president from North America Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith, referencing plenary discussions on 20 June that reflected on the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea 1700 years ago.
“This is one of the ways into which we enter into the diversity of the family,” she said.
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WCC president Rev. Dr Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang of Toraja Church (Indonesia) moderates the regional meeting of Asia.
Albin Hillert/WCC
In fact, Walker-Smith regards regional meetings as part of our apostolic history.
“They came from different regions for the Nicaea Council,” she said. “We are following the apostolic age as well as the Bible itself. If we don’t do that, then we are isolating ourselves.”
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Regional meeting of the Middle East.
Albin Hillert/WCC
Walker-Smith described the “typical” function of regional meetings, which occur not only during central committee gatherings but in “gap” years as well. Regions may discuss visits by WCC leaders, as well as issues such as racism, poverty, inequality, climate change, and more. They also regularly bring into the meetings the insights and wisdom of Indigenous people.
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WCC president Rev. François Pihaatae of the Église protestante Maohi moderates the regional meeting of the Pacific.
Albin Hillert/WCC
“One of the things that’s important is that the WCC presidents do meet and have conversations between the central committee meetings,” Walker-Smith said. “We talk with one another and pray together with our general secretary as well.”
Having relationships in place between regions strengthens the ecumenical family, Walker-Smith added.
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WCC president Rev. Dr Susan Durber of the United Reformed Church speaks during the regional meeting of Europe.
Albin Hillert/WCC
“We are standing together—a community of believers coming together as an ecumenical family to stand stronger, to resist what we believe are the evils infringing on God’s people,” she said. “We have created a kind of team together.”
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WCC president Rt Rev. Philip Wright of the Church in the Province of the West Indies moderates the regional meeting of the Caribbean.
Albin Hillert/WCC
Regional presidents also have a working and praying relationship with national councils of churches in their regions, noted Walker-Smith.
"Regional meetings help make the central committee inclusive,” she said. “One of the things I think about when I go to a governance meeting is—what happens when you go back home?”
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Regional meeting of Latin America.
Albin Hillert/WCC
She drew an analogy of Jesus traveling from the mountains to the valleys. “In a way, when we come to this meetings, we are fortified, but then we have to go back,” she said.
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Former WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia speaks during the regional meeting of Africa.
Albin Hillert/WCC
The WCC central committee meeting is being live-streamed from 18-21 June, and then again on 23 June, from 8:30 am to 12:30 South Africa Standard Time.
A landing page provides a framework agenda, descriptions of the WCC constitution and rules, information and the consensus decision making process, and media accreditation applications.
WCC Central Committee, June 2025
WCC general secretary reflects on daring to hope amid struggle (WCC news release, 18 June 2025)
Welcomed by African churches, WCC central committee opens (WCC news release, 19 June 2025)
