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Moderated by Rev. Karin van den Broeke, co-moderator of the WCC Pilgrimage Reference Group, the session explored the theological foundations of companionship and asking why this language matters for churches today.
Prof. Dr Fernando Enns, member of the WCC central and executive committees, presented companionship as a theological and spiritual orientation within the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity.
In his presentation, “Towards an Ecumenical Theology of Companionship,” Enns explored how companionship can reshape churches’ understanding of presence, mutual accountability, vulnerability and hope. He proposed a shift from “accompaniment” to “companionship”, moving beyond approaches that can unintentionally reproduce paternalistic or colonial patterns.
Companions – from the idea of those who “share the bread” on the journey – meet one another as equals, learning from one another and being transformed through encounter.
“The pilgrimage promises to be a transformative journey, discovering ourselves anew in new relationships of justice and peace”, he said.
Enns argued that the church’s journey toward justice, reconciliation and unity should not be understood as something it does for others, but as a pilgrimage undertaken with others, in which encounter, difference and vulnerability can transform both theology and the church itself.
The theological foundation of companionship, he said, is incarnation. Because God became present in the concrete reality of the world, including a world marked by injustice and violence, Christians are called to embody Christ’s presence through healing, transformation and reconciliation.
“The incarnation of the Divine Logos is the basic, founding reality for an ecumenical theology of companionship”, said Enns.
Enns also connected companionship with the unity of the church. A pilgrim church is a “liminal” church, standing at borders and in solidarity with migrants and other marginalized peoples. Unity does not mean erasing difference, but creating genuine communion without evacuating difference.
The five-part series will explore the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity as both a theological orientation and an ecclesial practice through the lens of companionship. The next webinar is scheduled for 10 November.
Watch the recording of this webinar
Learn more about the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity
Webinar 2: Theology of Companionship - Method: Companionship as a Pilgrimage Practice - 10 November
Webinar 3: Theology of Companionship - Ethics: Companionship, Power, and Asymmetry - 13 January 2027
Webinar 4: Theology of Companionship - Context: Companionship in Lived Practices - 3 March 2027
Webinar 5: Theology of Companionship - Implementation: From Toolkit to Living Practice - 12 May 2027
