News
During an opening speech at the ACT Assembly in Uppsala, Sweden on 29 October, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit reflected on hope and unity, and how those can bring justice to all people.
“We are gathered here with hope,” said Tveit. “Hope is powerful. Because our hope is given to us from God.”
As participants gathered at the assembly, they do so with the dream that churches can take actions together so that justice and peace can prevail for all.
“ACT Alliance is necessary to respond to our shared call to respond to the needs of our fellow human beings, and to the threats to our common home, the planet earth,” said Tveit. “We are as churches and church-related partners called to be the salt and the light of the world.”
God’s love is for every human being, created equally, women and men, in the image of God, Tveit continued. “We are seeking the unity of love that comes through justice,” he said. “Our faith is in the triune God who cares for all by demanding us to work for justice.”
The ACT General Assembly is the highest governance body of the ACT Alliance. It meets in person every four years, bringing together representatives of all 145+ members of the Alliance to elect its governing board and officers, and its Membership and Nominations Committee, to revise statutes and affirm new strategic direction, and make other major governance decisions.
The Third ACT Assembly in Uppsala will include a variety of programme elements. The full schedule can be found here.
Full speech of Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit at the ACT Assembly in Uppsala
Archbishop Antje Jackelén opens ACT Assembly in Uppsala (WCC press release 29 October 2018)
