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Reconciliation in conflict areas is not easy, church leaders tell WCC meeting

Church leaders from Canada, the Holy Land, and South Africa have addressed the central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva on reconciliation, explaining that the process involving communities is not easy and needs hard work and responsibility.

25 June 2023

Publication

Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity: Report of the WCC 11th Assembly

The Report of the WCC 11th Assembly is an important element of a wider collection of resources that offers a flavour of what took place at the assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022, which gathered more than 4500 people, including 659 official delegates from the WCC’s 352 member churches around the theme “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”

This report includes an overview of the assembly, the message and unity statement, various reflections, an overview of the spiritual life of the assembly, reports of the work since the previous assembly, an overview of thematic plenaries and ecumenical conversations, reports of assembly committees, statements and minutes, messages from pre-assemblies, greetings to the assembly and various appendices.

25 June 2023

Moderator of Central Committee

Sermon

Sermon by Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm at Saint Pierre Cathedral

Sermon by the WCC moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm at the Ecumenical Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the WCC - Sunday Worship at Saint Pierre Cathedral, Geneva, 25 June 2023

25 June 2023

Woman in red dress pictured speaking at a podium with people gathered around to listen.

WCC central committee welcomed by local Swiss churches

“Hospitality is one of our main values,” said president of the Protestant Church in Switzerland Rev. Rita Famos as she welcomed members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee to a reception at the Ecumenical Centre on 23 June.

24 June 2023

Photoshelter: Switzerland-2023-Hillert-20230622_AH1_8068.jpg

Unity, diversity, shared resources, companionship dissected by WCC’s central committee

The World Council of Churches (WCC) seeks to create a world treating everyone with dignity and where peace prevails, and the Christian faith stands united in witness to God's love and mercy, a Greek Orthodox leader from the United States said in Geneva this week.

24 June 2023

Climate change comes under churches' microscope as a justice issue

The climate emergency is already causing serious food insecurity on a global scale, members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee heard at a plenary session on 23 June—and they added that climate justice is a matter of both faith and action.

24 June 2023

What a woman!

These words described the dreams of the kind of woman a young woman aspires to be, illustrated by moving images of women’s involvement in the history of the ecumenical movement. This performance poem was just part of an inspiring meeting of the women of the ecumenical movement that were present at the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee meeting on 22 June.

23 June 2023

Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm speaking at the plenary

WCC important “to proclaim healing to a broken world,” moderator urges

World Council of Churches (WCC) moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, speaking at the WCC central committee meeting, focused on how the WCC can possibly address and respond to so many challenges in the world today.

22 June 2023

WCC general secretary speaking at the plenary

WCC general secretary provides insights into Strategic Plan, offers vision for future

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Prof. Rev. Dr Jerry Pillay, in his first report to the WCC central committee, reflected on the WCC 11th Assembly theme, provided insight into the Strategic Plan 2023-2030, shared information about programmatic work, and offered a vision for the future.

22 June 2023

WCC leaders asked about stand on Ukraine at press conference

The World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee meeting brings great joy, its moderator said, as its 148 members met at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva to discuss the governance of one of the planet's most diverse fellowship of churches.

22 June 2023

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivers a sermon

WCC central committee opens in Geneva with prayer recalling 75th anniversary

The World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee opened on 21 June with common prayer that recalled the 75th anniversary of the founding of the WCC in 1948 and remembered those active in the ecumenical movement who have died over the past year.

21 June 2023

Tribute

In Memoriam (WCC Central Committee, June 2023)

The Opening prayer of the WCC Central Committee on 21 June 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland included In Memoriam prayers for ecumenical leaders who passed away since the last central committee meeting, including the late Dr Agnes Abuom, past moderator of the central committee.

21 June 2023

Central Committee

Report

Report of the General Secretary to the WCC Central Committee, June 2023

Report of the WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay to the WCC Central Committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, 21 - 27 June 2023.

21 June 2023

Central Committee

Report

Moderator’s Address to the Central Committee, June 2023

Address of Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee, at the WCC central committee meeting on 21-27 June 2023.

21 June 2023

Central Committee

Event

Sunday worship celebrating 75 years of the WCC

25 June 2023

Sunday worship of the WCC central committee and local churches at Saint Pierre Cathedral in Geneva, celebrating 75 years of fellowship in the World Council of Churches.

Saint Pierre Cathedral, Geneva

Event

Opening press conference of the WCC central committee

21 June 2023

Opening press conference of the World Council of Churches central committee.

Ecumenical Centre in Geneva and online

Event

Members of the Ecumenical centre staff gathered at the chapel for prayer

WCC central committee Opening Prayer and memorial

21 June 2023

Gathering prayer of the WCC central committee in the Ecumenical Centre Chapel.

Ecumenical Centre Chapel

Media advisory

Media accreditation remains open for the WCC central committee meeting,

The World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee will convene at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, 21 – 27 June. Media accreditation is mandatory for access to open sessions, press conferences, briefings, and seminars – onsite, as well as online.

19 June 2023