SEARCHING FOR UNITY MUST REMAIN OUR GOAL, SAYS WCC GENERAL SECRETARY
“Divisions between churches remain a scandal that we have to overcome,”
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit general secretary of the World Council of
Churches (WCC) said today at a “Pilgrimage of the Holy Robe” an ecumenical
preparatory event being held this week.
Tveit made these points in his speech on “ecumenism in motion” at the
International Ecumenical Forum (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/
taking place from 30 January to 3 February in Trier, Germany.
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partnership with the Evangelical Church in Rhineland, the Orthodox
Bishops’ Conference in Germany and other church organizations, focusing
on the theme, “And join together what is separated”.
The theme was based on the woven fabric of the robe worn by Jesus before
his crucifixion (John 19:23).
In his speech, Tveit called ecumenical dialogue a key to addressing changes
in our societies and communities. He stressed that strategic cooperation
requires a strong “will to stay together and search for unity, which
must remain our goal”.
“Unity among the churches is a gift of God and a calling to be received
so that the churches are the living mystery,” said Tveit.
“Unity is the sign and instrument of God’s reign to come and
contributes through their very being to reconciliation and healing of the
world that is suffering from injustice, war and environmental
destruction,” he said.
Tveit also introduced to the audience the theme of the upcoming 10th
Assembly of the WCC in Busan, Korea: “God of life, lead us to justice
and peace”. He called this theme an opportunity to address the
challenges faced in the life of the planet and the future of the
churches.
“The Assembly theme is a liberating statement at a time in history when
part of humanity has accumulated the power to alter and destroy life on
planet earth as we know it,” he said.
“Praying that the God of life will lead us to justice and peace as one
fellowship, the churches are giving account of their hope,” Tveit
added.
Read full text of the speech (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/
http://www.oikoumene.org/
) (WCC press release of 25 January 2012)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant,
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit,
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.