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Forty retired World Council of Churches (WCC) staff gathered at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey on 22 August to celebrate the WCC’s 75th anniversary and to receive greetings and reflections from WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay.

“It was with sadness that we received the news of the passing of Prof. Dr Julio Hector de Santa Ana, a reference of ecumenical theology in a liberating perspective,” said Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). De Santa Ana passed away in Geneva, Switzerland, on 17 April.

Students at the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at Bossey are enrolled in a Formation en Théologie Interculturelle course of 8 weekends that began in October 2022 and ends on 27 May 2023 The 14 students, all from French-speaking parts of Europe, reflected on the rewards of their studies.

Following a successful pilot project in the spring of 2021, the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey is inviting applications for a renewed version of the 10-week online course entitled “Together Towards Unity. Being Church in a Fragmented World” in 2022.

A compilation of the most-read stories published by the World Council of Churches (WCC) reveals a global fellowship focused on a better future even amid the grave challenges the world faced during 2021.

From peacebuilding to spiritual life, from children’s rights to planning for the 11th Assembly, the World Council for Churches (WCC) is a busy place, as students from the WCC Bossey Ecumenical Institute learned during a “Week of Focus” offered by WCC staff.

“It’s more than just an English course.”  Created specifically for the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey students, the English course is designed to reinforce students’ vocabulary, grammar and writing skills, arming them with the tools necessary to pursue not only their studies at Bossey but also participate in the ecumenical movement. 

Scholars and academics from different religious traditions have gathered online for the first meeting of the editorial board of Current Dialogue, the World Council of Churches’ journal on interreligious encounter.

During its online meeting, 9-13 November, the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee addressed vital international developments, approved plans for 2021 and pledged support and solidarity with churches across the world at a time of multiple concurrent crises.

During his long career, Weber, who passed away on 18 October, made the Bible come alive for thousands of people through Bible studies that he coordinated with groups from many different cultures, contexts and situations.

Moving forward amid the COVID-19 pandemic, seven students were able to attend a one-month course at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, from 3 August to 2 September, to strengthen their English-speaking skills. The short course was designed to help them succeed in their upcoming post-graduate ecumenical studies.

Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith is senior associate for Pan African and Orthodox Church Engagement at Bread for the World. She also serves on the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee. She recently participated in a rally and march in Washington, DC, where thousands gathered to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington in 1963 that included Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream" speech.

On 17 June, six new master students finished their yearlong studies with the graduation ceremony of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Château de Bossey. WCC News met with them at the graduation.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) continues to amplify the voice of the indigenous Papuans in Indonesia, who are oppressed by racism and discrimination.

Concerned about the escalating crisis of violence, racism and discrimination against indigenous Papuans in Indonesia, a side event co-sponsored by the WCC was convened during a fall session of the UN Human Rights Council to discuss patterns that are oppressing and displacing Papuans.

A brand new website now shows the breadth and quality of services offered at the WCC Hotel and Conference Centre at the Château de Bossey.

Every summer the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey runs an intensive English course used to equip students from all over the world for further ecumenical formation. About 15 students come to the institute in June for almost three months of full-time English study. The majority of the students continue in September with certificate and masters programmes in ecumenical studies, which are conducted in English.

Conversations at the World Council of Churches (WCC) exhibition booth at the Kirchentag showed there is a growing interest in ecumenical movement among German churches. The topics of a particularly high interest were the Thursdays in Black campaign and studies at the Ecumenical institute in Bossey.

On Monday 3 June the WCC hosts a half-day seminar on the legacy of one of ecumenism’s leading figures, archishop Nathan Söderblom, followed by a discussion on today’s ecumenical challenges.