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“The Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity—I think that captures the direction of the ecumenical work that’s so badly needed in the world today,” said Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the WCC.
Representatives of specialized ministries gathered at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, outside Geneva, 24-25 April in order to strengthen collaboration and mutual support, particularly in relation to programmatic work, and to enhance planning and reporting mechanisms.
Pillay addressed many facets of the pilgrimage. “In terms of justice, our focus has been and will continue to be on economic justice,” he said. “Inclusive of that is the issue of decolonization dealing with racism.”
He also spoke about digital justice. “Technology advancement is great. But we just also think about the down side of that: that it leaves a lot of people behind,” he said.
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Ivars Kupcis/WCC
ACT Alliance general secretary Rudelmar Bueno de Faria said it is important to consider the entire world context as faith-based groups. “That’s affecting the ecumenical movement,” he said. “It’s affecting the work of the churches. We have a big crisis of faith in humanity today, and we as churches, and as church-related organizations, must intersect with the secular dynamics that exist.”
Patricia Talbot, United Church of Canada, who was moderating the discussion, said that the opportunity to work, think, and reflect on how best to collaborate is ever more important in the current global context of instability and uncertainty.
“A highlight of the 2024 Working Together gathering was a discussion with Jerry Pillay and Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, the general secretaries of the WCC and ACT Alliance, respectively,” she said. “They affirmed the compelling urgency for the ecumenical fellowship to ‘act together,’ particularly in places of conflict and human suffering. For us in the ecumenical fellowship, acting together is not a choice, but an imperative. Responding to the challenges of the world requires collaboration, whether our starting points are humanitarian or ecumenical.”
Working Together is an annual meeting to increase the shared knowledge between specialized ministries and the WCC in order to strengthen collaboration and mutual support, particularly in relation to programmatic work, and to enhance planning and reporting mechanisms.
Berit Hagen Agøy, from the Church or Norway, said: “This has been a very inspiring meeting. I get the impression that the WCC is vibrant and on track after challenging years with pandemic, assembly and change of leadership. I notice the emphasis on closer cooperation between the secretariat in Geneva, Commissions, Member Churches and other partners. This is much appreciated,” she said.
During the meeting, participants also engaged with WCC programme staff in small group discussions, focusing on programmatic work under the 2023-2030 Strategic Plan, challenges they predict, and potential areas for collaboration.
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The Working Together meeting was held at Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, outside Geneva, 24-25 April.
Ivars Kupcis/WCC