WCC came through merging of life & work/faith & order commissions in 1948: statement of purpose grew from initial formulation to “carry out the work of the world movements for faith and order and life and work”
Brings together 349 denoms.: over 110 countries
Toronto 1950: central committee stated that it‘s not/must never become superchurch: its mission isn’t to negotiate union, but to bring churches into living contact
rationale/mission 2
WCC states that “it is a community of churches on the way to visible unity in one faith an one Eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and in common life in Christ”
uses statement of JC as its rationale: “that all of them may be one, father… may they also be in us so that the world may believe you have sent me” (Jn 17:21)
aim of WCC is to pursue “visible unity of the church”: involves renewal and changes in which member churches pray, worship, discuss, & work together
general assemblies
made up of mainly protestant churches: Orthodox Church is an active participant: Roman Catholic observers attended the Third General Assembly in New Delhi (1961) & Pope John XXIII invited WCC observes to Vatican II (1963)
Tenth General Assembly in busan, South Korea (2013) focused on issues of justice & peace
continuation committee on ecumenism in C21st
held a ‘continuation committee on ecumensim in the 21st century’ (2007-2012): reopened questions of the vision & agenda of the ecumenical movement; across 3 meetings reported the movement had lost some of its common vision & structure due to the changing religious landscape but affirmed that the theological foundation of the search for the full visible unity of the church & its common witness to the world as rooted in scripture
elements of visible unity
common acceptance of apostolic faith
common sacramental life
mutual recognition of all members & their ministries
common mission in spreading the gospel
participation of all churches locally & internationally in agreed structures
common service to the world so that all might believe
work of WCC in unity, mission, & ecumenical relations
devoted to pursuit of visible Christian unity and strengthening relationship between christian churches; also includes the commission of faith & order which is responsible for the document ‘baptism, Eucharist, and ministry’
challenges:
WCC sees its mission as fostering solidarity/respect for people’s dignity & focusing on social justice projects— this is a ’watering down’ of the focus on evangelism
not all churches are members of the WCC; Roman Catholic & number of evangelical/pentecostal
work of WCC in witness and diakonia (service)
Recognises that Christians share areas of social responsibility; 2 main goals:
Offer a highly public ‘prophetic voice’ which calls awareness to areas the churches need to pay special attention. Eg. Peace building in Sudan/syria/korean peninsula; observers may be sent to Palestine
Bring Christian’s together o live out Christian values of social responsibility; diakonia refers to care of the poor and oppressed, eg. In areas around climate change, global health, womens’ rights, & water rights
work of WCC in ecumenical formation
ecumenical formation is area of study, training, & education so that knowledge & convictions of ecumenism can take shape in the livers of individuals and churches
WCC provides training & education opportunities throughout the world but has its own institute in Bossey, Switzerland
sponsors seminars to counteract tendency of an inward orientation in church bodies & sustain the vibrancy of the ecumenical vision— that Christians may be one in fiath, communion, witness, & service