Back to home

Wednesday October 31, 2007

WCC Assembly reaffirms the search for the visible unity of Churches

Edelberto Behs, PORTO ALEGRE, Brasil, February 23, 2006

The IX World Council of Churches General Assembly concluded its activities after 10 days of Taxi Heathrow Airport work reaffirming a commitment to seek the visible unity of Churches and to work in favor of world justice and peace.

In a message to the Churches and society, the Assembly said it had adopted four priorities for the next period: unity, spirituality and mission; ecumenical formation focusing on youth in particular; global justice; and bringing a credible voice and prophetic witness to the world

Future work in mission and evangelism should stimulate Churches to explore new forms of ecclesial life and innovative faith experiences and the contextualization of the Gospel, according to the document from the Program Guidelines Committee, approved this Thursday the Assembly. It also emphasized ecumenical formation.

The document reaffirms the urgent need for Churches and the WCC to seek inter-religious dialogue and cooperation. 

The WCC also prioritizes the defense of a transforming justice; that responds to those who suffer the consequences of injustice, racism and discrimination; that denounces the “scandal of a world divided between rich and poor.” It also proposes contributing to the transformation of unjust social and economic structures and to preserve creation.

A world in rapid transformation was the context for the assembly that brought together representatives from 248 Churches in 110 countries from the Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox families.

The WCC recognizes that it must continue to work in favor of the visible unity of Churches, promoting youth leadership in the life of the body.

The Program Guidelines Committee recommends that ecumenical event for peace be held at the end of the Decade to Overcome Violence in 2010 and that the WCC work on a more clear and firm public image in its testimony to the world, focusing its energies and attention on a smaller number of problems that need a patent, united response on the part of the Churches.