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A team from the Church of Westphalia visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey from 27 September to 1 October, exploring a global view of ecumenism by learning about the WCC as a global ecumenical organisation.

Leaders from the Protestant Church in Switzerland visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva on 1 October, focusing on highlights of the WCC’s work in the past two decades and looking ahead to plans for the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2022.

Bishop Johan Tyrberg and a delegation from the Church of Sweden in Lund visited the World Council of Churches on 22-23 September, participating in a morning prayer for Christian unity, receiving a guided tour and discussing the theme of the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly, “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”

A delegation composed of the “collegial general secretariat” of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) visited the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 17 September to discuss with World Council of Churches (WCC) leadership how to strengthen ties between the two organizations by connecting programmatically.

At a conference to promote freedom of religion and preservation of spiritual, cultural and historical heritage, held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin from 8-12 September, World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca reflected on “Holy Places and our Human Identities.”

A small delegation from the Féderation protestante de France visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 31 August. Received by WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, the delegation included Féderation protestante de France president Rev. Clavairoly, pastor Anne-Laure Danet and Madame Aude Millet, communications director.  

During an ecumenical service in Aachen Cathedral, on 28 August, Protestant and Roman Catholic churches in Germany as well as the churches affiliated to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen (Working Group of Christian Churches) will jointly remember and honor the victims of the floods that severely hit the region.

Meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican on 25 June, both the Lutheran World Federation president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa and Pope Francis expressed the hope that the 500th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in 2030 can become common ground on which to strengthen the commitment of Lutherans and Catholics to unity and reconciliation.

Later this year, the Church of Sweden will make an official public apology for its historical role in the “legitimized repression” of Sweden’s indigenous Sámi people, according to a church statement. The church has declared eight commitments toward ongoing reconciliation with the Sámi people.

World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca extended warm congratulations to Rev. Anne Burghardt, who will serve as the new general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The election of Rev. Anne Burghardt marks  the first woman and the first Central and Eastern European pastor to head the LWF.

As the Protestant Church of Switzerland held a synod and installed its next executive president Rev. Rita Famos and a new member of the council Claudia Haslebacher at the Cathedral of Berne on 13 June, World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca offered an intercessory prayer as well as reflections on ecumenism.

The World Council of Churches (WCC), with an open letter and prayer, shared its hopes for peace on the eve of the first summit between the U.S. and Russian presidents, which will take place in Geneva on 16 June.

A collection of documents and publications from the World Council of Churches (WCC) is now available through its longstanding partner organization Globethics.net. The WCC collection, updated weekly, reflects a growing and longstanding electronic bridge between the organizations’ websites.

In a video message, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee Dr Agnes Abuom bid goodbye and expressed deep appreciation to Rev. Prof. Dr h.c. Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, who is retiring as president of "Brot für die Welt" and "Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe" after leading the German charity for 20 years. Füllkrug-Weitzel is also a WCC Thursdays in Black ambassador.

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee meeting opened online on 17 May, moderator of the WCC central committee Dr Agnes Abuom took time to offer a very personal thank-you to the WCC leaders and fellowship surrounding her with care and prayers.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) assembly planned for 2022 in Germany is an opportunity to confront past injustice and trauma and to work for reconciliation and unity, according to the moderator of the WCC central committee, Dr Agnes Abuom.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee will convene from 17-20 May, and if needed on 25 May, with a focus on preparing for the upcoming WCC central committee meeting, planning for the WCC 11th Assembly in Germany in 2022, and issuing a public statement on overcoming global injustice and inequity to defeat COVID-19.