WCC central committee moderator Dr Agnes Abuom WCC central committee moderator Dr Agnes Abuom delivers her report on opening day of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August to 8 September, under the theme
WCC central committee moderator Dr Agnes Abuom WCC central committee moderator Dr Agnes Abuom delivers her report on opening day of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August to 8 September, under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity" (Aug. 31, 2022). Credit: Albin Hillert/WCC

WCC moderator: ‘In Christ’s love lies the key to our unity’

 — Aug. 31, 202231 aoüt 2022
WCC News

World Council of Churches (WCC) moderator Dr Agnes Abuom called on assembly delegates to “let Christ’s love move us,” as she delivered her opening report at the WCC 11th Assembly on August 3st.

Abuom reflected on the challenges facing members since the last assembly eight years ago and shared her hopes for this assembly. “At its best, the assembly is a spiritual celebration of the power of God’s love to renew our minds and hearts so that we may become a countercultural force driven by solidarity with the most vulnerable people and God’s creation,” she said.

“Listen carefully to youth among us,” urged Abuom, noting that many young people are anxiously struggling as they voice their fears about justice, peace, and the future of the planet. “They are the generation that is experiencing the first catastrophes of climate crisis and the last generation that can take any action to stop global warming.”

The assembly gathers around the theme: Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity. Abuom spoke of the various ways Christ’s compassion and love for those at the margins will be lifted up through all aspects of assembly including morning prayers, thematic plenaries, and home group discussions.

An overarching feature of this gathering is a consensus model for decision-making. “This strong commitment to the unity of the church and the unity of humanity, and our readiness to search for a common mind in the power of the Holy Spirit, mark our deliberations according to consensus procedures,” said Abuom. “I trust that the assembly theme together with the consensus procedures and our shared commitment to go forward together in unity will also help us to address in constructive ways tensions and difficulties that divide humankind today.”

At the conclusion of the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan in 2013, member churches called on one another to embark on a “Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace” and to engage in transformative action. This journey focused around four key areas: the climate crisis and care for creation; economic injustice and the struggle for an economy of life; violence and wars and the work for just peace through peacebuilding and reconciliation; racism, ethic pride, and oppression of women and the affirmation of human dignity.

“We can and must be bold and prophetic, standing up for justice and peace,” declared Abuom. “To proclaim Christ’s love and to struggle for human dignity and the life of creation is our call and our mission in the world.”

“In Christ’s love lies the key to our unity,” she said, strongly encouraging delegates and member churches to “continue walking, praying and working together as pilgrims on the way of justice and peace with the purpose of healing, reconciliation and unity for all.”

Posted: Aug. 31, 2022 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=12364
Categories: Conferences, WCC News • In this article: WCC, WCC Assembly Transmis : 31 aoüt 2022 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=12364
Catégorie : Conferences, WCC News • Dans cet article : WCC, WCC Assembly


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