Cantwell: Listening to the voices of those on the margins

Today the message that came through most strongly for me is the importance of listening to the voices of those on the margins. Jesus lived his life and exercised his ministry among those on the margins of society. It is those who are excluded, oppressed, ignored and persecuted in society who are best able to see and name injustices and the structures that sustain them. So our theology must have at its centre the experiences and perspective of those who are marginalized. This is a real challenge for those of us who come from a place of privilege… who are used to having our voice and our perspective listened to. We must relinquish our place at the centre and make room for those who have been silenced to be heard and given priority. This both excites and frightens me… I’m not always very good at shutting up and letting others have the spotlight. But as Christians we must be willing to go where Jesus went, love whom he loved, and risk what he risked. May God grant us the courage and the humility to do so.
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Posted: October 31, 2013 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6904
Categories: On the Road to Busan • In this article: WCC, WCC Assembly Transmis : 31 octobre 2013 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=6904
Catégorie : On the Road to Busan • Dans cet article : WCC, WCC Assembly

WCC 2013: the Public Issues Committee

The past few days I have been in almost non-stop committee meetings. The Public Issues Committee drafts statements for the assembly to discuss and adopt. These statements then direct the programmatic priorities of the WCC for the next 7-8 years.

Negotiating linguistic, cultural, and theological differences in order to say something in common about the many urgent issues which confront our churches at this time has been both challenging and fascinating. The committees are a microcosm of the whole assembly. It is inspiring to witness (and participate in) the deep listening to one another that allows for fruitful dialogue and collective action.

Tomorrow we take the draft statements to the whole assembly, where nearly 800 delegates will prayerfully try to reach consensus on pressing (and sometimes controversial) issues. We will need the prayers of all our sisters and brothers in Christ to accompany us through this important and difficult work.

May the God of life truly lead us to justice and peace.
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Posted: November 3, 2013 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6920
Categories: On the Road to Busan • In this article: WCC, WCC Assembly Transmis : 3 novembre 2013 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=6920
Catégorie : On the Road to Busan • Dans cet article : WCC, WCC Assembly

WCC welcomes Pope Francis’ challenging and inviting Apostolic Exhortation

The Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium recently delivered by Pope Francis concerning the proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world has stirred interest and appreciation from the World Council of Churches (WCC) as a challenging and inviting document.

“The Apostolic Exhortation is more than simply conveying the message of the Synod on evangelization, but addresses the need for the renewal of the church at all levels from the perspective of the call to be a missional church,” WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit said.

“The tone of the document is open and both challenging and inviting,” he added. “It is really inspiring to read as we now try to implement the mandate from our recent assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea. It provides an inspiring interaction between ecclesiological reflections, missionary perspectives and concerns about economic, ecological justice and peace building as significant missionary dimensions of the church.”

“At the recent WCC 10th assembly in Busan we too highlighted the need for the renewal of the church both through a new mission statement that speaks of mission being from the margins of society, and the movement of the church and ecumenical movement toward justice and peace,” Tveit said.

Tveit added that he sees parallels between the “pilgrimage of justice and peace” the WCC fellowship of 345 member churches will be embarking on, especially now after the November assembly and the reflections of Pope Francis.
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Posted: December 2, 2013 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6929
Categories: WCC News • In this article: Catholic, evangelism/evangelization, mission, Pope Francis, WCC, WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism Transmis : 2 décembre 2013 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=6929
Catégorie : WCC News • Dans cet article : Catholic, evangelism/evangelization, mission, Pope Francis, WCC, WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism

Guide to WCC Common Vision document published

Aptly released for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Anglican Communion Office has produced a study guide to the World Council of Churches (WCC) document The Church: Towards a Common Vision, the result of 20 years of study and dialogue among the council’s member churches, who represent most of the world’s churches.

The WCC published Towards a Common Vision in March 2013 and asked its members to study it and comment on it. According to the WCC’s introduction, the document asks and offers answers to the questions “What can we say together about the Church of the Triune God in order to grow in communion, to struggle together for justice and peace in the world, and to overcome together our past and present divisions?” It begins by addressing “the Church’s mission, unity, and its being in the Trinitarian life of God” and then looks at ecumenical “growth in communion – in apostolic faith, sacramental life, and ministry – as churches called to live in and for the world.”
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Posted: January 20, 2014 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7195
Categories: Anglican Journal • In this article: church, dialogue, ecclesiology, ecumenism, WCC, WCC Commission on Faith & Order Transmis : 20 janvier 2014 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7195
Catégorie : Anglican Journal • Dans cet article : church, dialogue, ecclesiology, ecumenism, WCC, WCC Commission on Faith & Order

Which global church? The Pentecostal World Fellowship and the WCC

The new Calvary Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was filled nearly to capacity as 3,710 Pentecostals gathered from 73 countries around the world. They came to this mostly Muslim country for the 23rd Pentecostal World Conference, a global gathering which takes place every three years. The host was Calvary Church, a Pentecostal megachurch in Kuala Lumpur whose lead pastor, Prince Guneratnam, is currently chair of the Pentecostal World Fellowship.

Many participants at the August meeting were young and reflected the enthusiasm of the fastest-growing segment of the Christian world. In 1970 Pentecostals accounted for only 5 percent of all Christians, but today Pentecostals and charismatics—including those in other denominations who exercise Pentecostal or charismatic gifts—constitute 25 percent of all the world’s Christians. In Asia, 80 percent of all Christian conversions are to Pentecostal forms of Christianity. Or think of it this way: one out of 12 people alive today is Pentecostal.
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Posted: January 21, 2014 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7197
Categories: Opinion • In this article: Christian unity, Pentecostal World Fellowship, WCC Transmis : 21 janvier 2014 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7197
Catégorie : Opinion • Dans cet article : Christian unity, Pentecostal World Fellowship, WCC

German ecumenical groups respond to a call for “pilgrimage of justice and peace”

More than 400 representatives of German ecumenical groups attending an assembly in Mainz, Germany have affirmed their commitment to move forward in a “pilgrimage of justice and peace” – a call from the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) Busan assembly. The ecumenical assembly in Mainz, held from 30 April to 4 May, addressed the theme “The future we desire – Life not destruction”. The event was organized by a network of ecumenical groups in Germany, encouraging actions from the churches inspired by the call for a “pilgrimage of justice and peace”. Featuring vibrant discussions on political, social, economic and ecological issues, as well as theological reflections, the Mainz assembly focused on themes such as “earth as our home”, ecumenical spirituality, economy of life, climate justice and “just peace”. The sessions at the assembly were attended by local visitors along with the registered participants. Some 151 workshops were organized at the assembly addressing a number of themes, including seminars on transformative spirituality.
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Posted: May 5, 2014 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7543
Categories: WCC News • In this article: ecumenism, WCC Transmis : 5 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7543
Catégorie : WCC News • Dans cet article : ecumenism, WCC

New initiatives explore relationships between ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue

Addressing the urgency of witnessing to the gospel in current ecumenical and multi-religious situations, the World Council of Churches (WCC) will develop materials to assist churches engaged in both ecumenical dialogue and inter-religious dialogue.

Ecumenical dialogue is about conversations between different Christian churches while inter-religious dialogue is concerned with the conversations between different world religions.

The agreement to produce these materials were an outcome of vigorous conversations in a recent meeting, organized by the WCC’s Commission on Faith and Order and the WCC’s programme for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation, from 12 to14 May at the Ecumenical Institute, Bossey, Switzerland.

Questions related to the relationship between ecumenical and inter-religious dialogues, their commonalities and distinctive features, were in focus at the meeting.
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Posted: May 16, 2014 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7565
Categories: Communiqué, WCC News • In this article: dialogue, ecumenism, interfaith, WCC, WCC Commission on Faith & Order Transmis : 16 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7565
Catégorie : Communiqué, WCC News • Dans cet article : dialogue, ecumenism, interfaith, WCC, WCC Commission on Faith & Order

WCC urges Christian responsibility in economic measures related to Israel-Palestine conflict

Continuing with a long-time commitment of the World Council of Churches (WCC), a recent statement issued by Council’s chief governing body reaffirms churches’ “solidarity with those working for peace with justice in Palestine and Israel”. The statement encourages churches to make responsible decisions regarding their investments which have an impact on the current situation in the region.

The statement titled Economic Measures and Christian Responsibility towards Israel and Palestine was adopted at the WCC Central Committee meeting on 8 July in Geneva, Switzerland.

The document calls “targeted economic measures” an important “non-violent strategy for promoting peace and abating violence”. Efforts from the WCC member churches in implementing responsible economic measures with related impact on Israel and Palestine situation were acknowledged in the statement.
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Posted: July 14, 2014 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7719
Categories: WCC News • In this article: Israel, Palestine, WCC Transmis : 14 juillet 2014 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7719
Catégorie : WCC News • Dans cet article : Israel, Palestine, WCC

Global Church groups agree to confront Christian discrimination, persecution and martyrdom together

Discrimination, persecution and violence against Christians and churches around the world is set for further exposure after a group representing high profile Christian churches and organizations agreed to pursue together an international response on the issue.

A meeting convened by the Global Christian Forum in Strasbourg, France, including representatives from the Vatican, the World Council of Churches, the World Evangelical Alliance and the Pentecostal World Fellowship, agreed on 9 September to press ahead with a global gathering on the issue of ‘Christian discrimination, persecution and martyrdom’ for late 2015.
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Posted: September 10, 2014 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7775
Categories: News • In this article: Global Christian Forum, martyrdom, Pentecostal World Fellowship, persecution, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, religious freedom, WCC, World Evangelical Alliance Transmis : 10 septembre 2014 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7775
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Global Christian Forum, martyrdom, Pentecostal World Fellowship, persecution, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, religious freedom, WCC, World Evangelical Alliance

Interfaith declaration on climate change

As hundreds of thousands of people flooded through the streets of New York City on 21 September in a march for action on climate change, 30 faith leaders representing nine religions signed their names to a statement calling for concrete actions to curb carbon emissions. The document was the centrepiece of an interfaith conference jointly hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC), a body that includes 345 churches representing about 560 million Christians worldwide, and Religions for Peace, an interfaith coalition with members in more than 70 countries. Signatories hailed from 21 countries on six continents. “When in January I listened to the general secretary of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, calling the world’s heads of state for a summit on climate change, I thought we also have to get together as leaders of faith communities to offer our contributions,” said Rev. Dr Olav Fkyse Tveit, the WCC general secretary. Large changes require “deep and strong conviction” which, he said, can be found in the “beliefs, rituals, symbols, sacred texts and prayers of faith [that] give meaning and direction for a large portion of the world’s population.”
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Posted: September 22, 2014 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7824
Categories: WCC News • In this article: climate change, interfaith, WCC Transmis : 22 septembre 2014 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7824
Catégorie : WCC News • Dans cet article : climate change, interfaith, WCC