World Council of Churches: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:52, 18 May 2026

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Infobox religion Template:Christianity

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide Christian inter-church organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism.^[1] Its full members today include the Assyrian Church of the East, most jurisdictions of the Eastern Orthodox Church^[2] (including the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople),^[3] the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Union of Utrecht, the Lutheran World Federation, the Anglican Communion, the Mennonite churches, the World Methodist Council, the Baptist World Alliance, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the Moravian Church, the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, and several Pentecostal churches (but not the Pentecostal World Fellowship or the Assemblies of God).^[1]^[4]^[5] The Catholic Church is not a full member, but it sends delegates who have observer status to meetings.^[1]^[6]

The WCC describes itself as "a worldwide fellowship of 352 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service".^[7] It has no head office as such, but its administrative centre is at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.^[8] The organization's members include denominations which claim to collectively represent over 600 million people across the world in more than 110 countries.^[9]^[10]

Many regional affiliates of the World Council of Churches, such as the Middle East Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches in Australia, work for the cause of Christian unity at the domestic level, with member denominations including the Oriental Orthodox churches, Lutheran churches, Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox churches, Methodist churches, Anglican Communion, and Reformed churches among others.^[11]^[12]

History

The Ecumenical Movement met with initial successes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910 (chaired by future WCC honorary president John R. Mott). In 1920, the former Patriarch of Constantinople, Germanus V, wrote a letter addressed 'To all the Churches of Christ, wherever they may be', urging closer co-operation among separated Christians, and suggesting a 'League of Churches', parallel to the newly founded League of Nations".^[13] Church leaders agreed in 1937 to establish a World Council of Churches, based on a merger of the Faith and Order Movement (under Charles Brent of the Episcopal Church of the United States) and Life and Work Movement (under Nathan Söderblom of the Lutheran Church of Sweden) organisations.

Its official establishment was deferred with the outbreak of World War II until 23 August 1948. Delegates of 147 churches assembled in Amsterdam to merge the Faith and Order Movement and Life and Work Movement.^[14] This was consolidated by a second meeting at Lund in 1950, for which the British Methodist Robert Newton Flew edited an influential volume of studies, The Nature of the Church.^[15] Subsequent mergers were with the International Missionary Council in 1961 and the World Council of Christian Education, with its roots in the 18th century Sunday School movement, in 1971.

WCC member churches include the Assyrian Church of the East and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, almost all of the Eastern Orthodox Churches and Lutheran Churches; the Moravian Church; the Anglican Communion; some Old Catholic Churches; the Methodist churches; the Baptists churches; the Presbyterian and other Reformed churches, a sampling of united and independent churches, and some Pentecostal churches.^[1]^[4]

Many churches who refused to join the WCC joined to form the World Evangelical Alliance.^[16]

Neither the WCC nor the U.S.-based National Council of Churches (NCC) include denominations such as Jehovah's Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and other groups which have historically refused to affirm certain widely accepted creeds of Christendom (for example, the Holy Trinity as canonized by the Nicene Creed).^[17]

File:Meeting with World Council of Churches Delegation. Bp. G. Brook Mosely, Sec. State Dean Rusk, Dr. Kenneth L. Maxwell - NARA - 194177.jpg

President John F. Kennedy with World Council of Churches Delegation. Bp. G. Brook Mosely, Sec. State Dean Rusk, Dr. Kenneth L. Maxwell, Dr. Frederick Nolde, President Kennedy, Archbishop Iakovos of America, Dr. Franklin Clark Fry, Bp. B. Julian Smith, Bp. John Wesley Lord, Judge James M. Tunnell Jr., Dr. Roswell Parkhurst Barnes. White House, Cabinet Room in 1962.

Delegates sent from the member churches meet every seven or eight years in an Assembly, which elects a Central Committee that governs between Assemblies. A variety of other committees and commissions answer to the Central Committee and its staff. Assemblies have been held since 1948.

File:1951 Greek special passport for Italy & Switzerland and used to participate in the work of the "World Council of Churches".jpg

1951 Greek special passport for Italy & Switzerland and used to participate in the work of the "World Council of Churches"

The "human rights abuses in communist countries evoked grave concern among the leaders of the World Council of Churches."^[18] However, historian Christopher Andrew claims that, during the Cold War, a number of important WCC representatives of the Orthodox Church in Eastern Europe had been working for the KGB, and that they influenced the policy of the WCC.^[19] From 1955 to 1958, Robert S. Bilheimer co-chaired a WCC international commission to prepare a document addressing the threat of nuclear warfare during the Cold War.^[20]

At the 1961 conference, a 32-year-old Russian Orthodox Bishop named Aleksey Ridiger was sent as delegate to the assembly, and then appointed to the WCC's central committee. He was later elected as Russian patriarch in 1990 as Alexei II.^[21] At the same conference, the Romanian metropolitan Iustin Moisescu was sent as delegate. In 1977 he became the Romanian patriarch.

The ninth assembly took place in Porto Alegre, Brazil in February 2006, under the theme "God, in your grace, transform the world".^[22] During the first Assemblies, theologians Vasileios Ioannidis and Amilkas Alivizatos contributed significantly to the debates that led to the drafting of the "Toronto Statement", a foundational document which facilitated Eastern Orthodox participation in the organization and today it constitutes its ecclesiological charter.^[23]

The 10th Assembly was held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 30 October to 8 November 2013.^[24]

In 2013 Dr. Agnes Abuom of Nairobi, from the Anglican Church of Kenya, was elected as moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches; she is the first woman and the first African to hold this position.^[25]

The 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches took place in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August to 8 September 2022, under the theme "Christ's love moves the world to reconciliation and unity".^[26]

Member Churches

Members

Source:^[27]

Events and presidents

Assemblies

The World Council of Churches has held 11 Assemblies to date, starting with the founding assembly in 1948:^[28]

Amsterdam, Netherlands, 22 August – 4 September 1948
Evanston, Illinois, United States, 15–31 August 1954
New Delhi, India, 19 November – 5 December 1961
Uppsala, Sweden, 4–20 July 1968
Nairobi, Kenya, 23 November – 10 December 1975
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 24 July – 10 August 1983
Canberra, ACT, Australia, 7–21 February 1991^[29]
Harare, Zimbabwe, 3–14 December 1998
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 14–23 February 2006
Busan, South Korea, 30 October – 8 November 2013
Karlsruhe, Germany, 31 August – 8 September 2022^[30]^[31]

Presidents

Presidents elected at the 11th Assembly^[32] are:

Africa: Rev. Dr. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, (Church of the Lord (Aladura))^[33]
Asia: Rev. Dr Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang (Gereja Toraja)
Europe: Rev. Dr. Susan Durber (United Reformed Church)^[34]
Latin America and Caribbean: Rev. Philip Silvin Wright (Anglican Diocese of Belize, Church in the Province of the West Indies)
North America: Rev. Angelique Walker-Smith (National Baptist Convention USA)
Pacific: Rev. François Pihaatae (Maòhi Protestant Church)
Eastern Orthodox: H.E. Metropolitan Dr. Vasilios of Constantia – Ammochostos, Church of Cyprus
Oriental Orthodox: H.H. Catholicos Aram I (Armenian Apostolic Church of Cilicia)^[35]

Former presidents of the World Council of Churches include:

The Rev. Gloria Nohemy Ulloa Alvarado (Presbyterian Church in Colombia)
Chang Sang (Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea)
T. C. Chao, Chinese theologian
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (Patriarch of Antioch and all of the East Syriac Orthodox Church)
John X of Antioch (Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch)
Karekin II (Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church)
Rev. Dr. S.A.E. Nababan, Indonesian theologian
Rev. Martin Niemöller, the famous Protestant anti-Nazi theologian
Mele'ana Puloka (Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga)
Mary-Anne Plaatjies van Huffel (Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa)
Archbishop Anders Wejryd (Church of Sweden)

General secretaries

Since the World Council of Churches was officially founded in 1948, the following men have served as general secretary:^[36]

Years	Name	Churches	Nationality
1948–1966	W. A. Visser 't Hooft	Dutch Reformed Church^[37]/Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Geneva	Script error: No such module "flag".
1966–1972	Eugene Carson Blake	United Presbyterian Church (USA)	Script error: No such module "flag".
1972–1984	Philip A. Potter	Methodist Church	Script error: No such module "flag".
1985–1992	Emilio Castro	Evangelical Methodist Church of Uruguay	Script error: No such module "flag".
1993–2003	Konrad Raiser	Protestant Church in Germany (EKD)	Script error: No such module "flag".
2004–2009	Samuel Kobia	Methodist Church in Kenya	Script error: No such module "flag".
2010–2020	Olav Fykse Tveit	Church of Norway	Script error: No such module "flag".
2020–2022	Ioan Sauca	Romanian Orthodox Church	Script error: No such module "flag".
2023–	Jerry Pillay	Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa	Script error: No such module "flag".

Commissions and teams

There are two complementary approaches to ecumenism: dialogue and action. The Faith and Order Movement and Life and Work Movement represent these approaches.^[38] These approaches are reflected in the work of the WCC in its commissions, these being:

Echos – Commission on Youth (ages 18–30)
Commission of the Churches on Diakonia and Development
Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation
Commission of the Churches on International Affairs
Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation
Commission on World Mission and Evangelism
Faith and Order Plenary Commission and the Faith and Order Standing Commission
Joint Consultative Group with Pentecostals
Joint Working Group WCC – Catholic Church (Vatican)
Reference Group on the Decade to Overcome Violence
Reference Group on Inter-Religious Relations
Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC

Diakonia and development and international relations commissions

The WCC acts through both its member churches and other religious and social organizations to coordinate ecumenical, evangelical, and social action.

Current WCC programs include a Decade to Overcome Violence, an international campaign to combat AIDS/HIV in Africa and the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) initiative.

Faith and Order Commission

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". WCC's Faith and Order Commission has been successful in working toward consensus on Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, on the date of Easter, on the nature and purpose of the church (ecclesiology), and on ecumenical hermeneutics.

Texts

Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (Faith and Order Paper No. 111, the "Lima Text"; 1982)^[39]
The Churchː Towards a Common Vision (Faith and Order Paper no. 214; 2013^[40]) after The Nature and Mission of the Church – A Stage on the Way to a Common Statement (Faith and Order Paper no. 198; 2005^[41]) and The Nature and Purpose of the Church (Faith and Order Paper no. 181; 1998^[42])
Towards a Common Date of Easter^[43]

Justice, Peace and Creation Commission

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) has drawn many elements together with an environmental focus. Its mandate is:

To analyze and reflect on justice, peace and creation in their interrelatedness, to promote values and practices that make for a culture of peace, and to work towards a culture of solidarity with young people, women, Indigenous Peoples and racially and ethnically oppressed people.^[44]

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Focal issues have been globalization and the emergence of new social movements (in terms of people bonding together in the struggle for justice, peace, and the protection of creation).^[45]

Attention has been given to issues around:

economy^[46]
environment^[47]
Indigenous Peoples^[48]
peace^[49]
people with disabilities^[50]
racism^[51]
women^[52]
youth^[53]

Relations with the Roman Catholic Church

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The largest Christian body, the Roman Catholic Church, is not a member of the WCC, but has worked closely with the council for more than three decades and sends observers to all major WCC conferences as well as to its Central Committee meetings and the Assemblies (cf. Joint Working Group).

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity also nominates 12 members to the WCC's Faith and Order Commission as full members. While not a member of the WCC, the Catholic Church is a member of some other ecumenical bodies at regional and national levels, for example, the National Council of Churches in Australia and the National Council of Christian Churches in Brazil (CONIC).

Pope Pius XI stated in 1928, that the only means by which the world Christian community was to return to faith, was to return to Roman Catholic worship. In this regard, the Papacy rejected, to a great extent, the idea of the participation of the Catholic Church within the World Council of Churches.

Pius XI stated that the ‘One True Church’ was that of the Roman Catholic denomination, and therefore there was the implication that the Catholic Church was not permitted at this stage to engage with other denominations, which the Papacy considered to be irrelevant. A similar policy was followed by his successor, Pope Pius XII; the Catholic Church, therefore, did not attend the 1948 meeting of the WCC, in addition to the idea that all members of the Church were barred from attending WCC conferences.

Pope John XXIII took a different stance however, and in 1958 he was elected as the head of the Catholic Church. Ecumenism was a new element of Catholic ideology which had been permitted, which was signified to a great extent, when John XXIII met with the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher. This was the first meeting between an Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Pope in the Vatican for 600 years. John XXIII later developed the office of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity; which symbolised a dramatic shift in support for the ecumenical movement, from the Catholic Church, led from the Vatican. 1961 saw Catholic members attend the Delhi conference of the WCC, which marked a significant shift in attitude toward the WCC from the Papacy. There was the idea in addition to this, that the Pope invited non-Catholics to attend the Vatican II Council.^[1] This new approach to inter-denominational relations was marked within the Unitatis Redintegratio decree.

This document marked several key reforms within the Catholic approach:

I. ‘Separated brethren’ was the new term for non-Catholics, as opposed to the previously used ‘heretics’ ^[54]

II. Both Catholic and non-Catholic elements are held responsible for the schism between Catholicism and the Protestant movement Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

III. Non-Catholics are recognised for the contributions that they make to Christian belief overall.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Further reforms have been enacted with regard to the nature of the Catholic Church on the world stage, for instance the 1965 union with the Patriarch of Constantinople, whereby the 1054 schism was undermined. In addition to this, Michael Ramsay, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, received an episcopal ring in 1966; a mark of union which had not been seen since prior to the Reformation. Moreover, the Anglican, Roman Catholic International Committee was additionally established as a means of promoting communication and cohesion between the two denominations. This has since marked a new level of participation of the Catholic Faith in the aforementioned ecumenical movement, and therefore is the basis for increased participation from the faith, in the WCC.

Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC

A Special Commission was set up by the eighth Harare Assembly in December 1998 to address Orthodox concerns about WCC membership and the council's decision-making style, public statements, worship practices, and other issues. It issued its final report in 2006.^[55] Specific issues that it clarified were that the WCC does not formulate doctrine, does not have authority to rule on moral issues, nor does it have any ecclesiastical authority. Such authority is entirely internal to each individual member church. It proposed that the WCC adopt a consensus method of decision making. It proposed that Orthodox members be brought in parity with non-Orthodox members. It further proposed clarification that inter-confessional prayer at WCC events is not worship, particularly "it should avoid giving the impression of being the worship of a church", and confessional and inter-confessional prayer each be specifically identified as such at WCC events.

Peace journalism

The WCC is also a prominent supporter and practitioning body for Peace journalism: journalism practice that aims to avoid a value bias in favor of violence that often characterizes coverage of conflict.^[56]

Spin-offs and related organizations

The ACT Alliance, bringing together over 100 church-backed relief and development organizations worldwide, was born out of the merger of ACT International (Action by Churches Together International) and ACT Development (Action by Churches Together for Development) in March 2010. Both ACT International, established in 1995, and ACT Development (2007) were created through the leadership of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The two bodies coordinated the work of agencies related to the member churches of the WCC and the Lutheran World Federation in the areas of humanitarian emergencies and poverty reduction respectively.^[57]

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance was officially founded in December 2000 at a meeting convened by the WCC. There are currently 73 churches and Christian organizations that are members of the Alliance, from Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant traditions. These members, representing a combined constituency of tens of millions of people around the world, are committed to working together in public witness and action for justice on defined issues of common concern. Current campaigns are on Food and on HIV and AIDS.^[58]

The Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (ECLOF) was founded in 1946 as one of the world's first international micro-credit institutions in the service of the poor. Willem Visser 't Hooft, then general secretary of the "WCC in process of formation" played an important role in founding ECLOF. It was he who sketched the prospects and challenges for the proposed institution and gave specific ideas on potential sources of funds. His inspiration and teamwork marked the beginning of a long and fruitful cooperation between ECLOF and the WCC.^[59]

The Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society U.A (now known as Oikocredit) was developed from discussions at the 1968 Uppsala 4th Assembly, regarding church divestment from financial institutions supporting apartheid-era South Africa and the war in Vietnam. After several years of planning, the cooperative society was founded in 1975 in the Netherlands to provide an alternative ethical investment vehicle to church institutions, by providing credit to productive enterprises serving economically disadvantaged populations. Originally organized for large institutional members of the WCC, by 1976 local congregations developed Support Associations to enable congregations as well as individuals to participate. EDCS became independent from the WCC in 1977.^[60]

Ecumenical News International (ENI) was launched in 1994 as a global news service reporting on ecumenical developments and other news of the Christian churches, and giving religious perspectives on news developments worldwide. The joint sponsors of ENI, which was based at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, were the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches, which also had their headquarters at the Ecumenical Centre.^[61] A shortage of funds led to the suspension of the work of ENI in 2012.^[62] As of 2024 ENI remains closed.

Regional/national councils

The WCC has not sought the organic union of different Christian denominations, but it has, however, facilitated dialogue and supported local, national, and regional dialogue and cooperation.

Membership in a regional or national council does not mean that the particular group is also a member of the WCC.

Africa
- All Africa Conference of Churches^[63]
- Organization of African Instituted Churches^[64]
Asia (including Australia and New Zealand)
Caribbean
- Caribbean Conference of Churches
Europe
- Conference of European Churches,^[66] Geneva, Switzerland
- Council of Christian Churches of an African Approach in Europe
Latin America
- Latin American Council of Churches^[67]
Middle East
- Middle East Council of Churches^[68]
North America
- Canadian Council of Churches
- National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Pacific
- Pacific Conference of Churches,^[69] Suva, Fiji

Criticism

Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Alleged neglect of suffering church in Eastern Europe

Some historians, the U.S. State Department and former KGB officers themselves have alleged and provided corroborating evidence that the KGB's influence directly, or through lobbying by means of a front organization, the Christian Peace Conference, resulted in the WCC's failure to recognize or act on calls for help from persecuted East European Christians at the 1983 Vancouver General Assembly.^[70]^[71]Template:Rp

Claims of infiltration and influence by the KGB

It is claimed the KGB has infiltrated and influenced past WCC councils and policy.^[19] In 1992, Father Gleb Yakunin, a vice Chairman of a Russian parliamentary commission that investigated the activities of the KGB, citing verbatim KGB reports, claimed that its Fifth Directorate was actively involved in influencing WCC policy from 1967 to 1989.^[70]^[72] For example, in the 1983 WCC General Assembly in Vancouver, one cited document described the presence and activities of 47 KGB agents to secure the election of an "acceptable" candidate as General Secretary.^[72]^[73] The Mitrokhin Archive reveals more about the depth of the penetration and influence wielded by the KGB over the WCC.^[71] Metropolitan Nikodim was a KGB agent, codenamed SVYATOSLAV, who served as one of six WCC Presidents from 1975 until his death.^[71]Template:Rp^[74] His earlier intervention had resulted in the WCC making no comment on the invasion of Czechoslovakia.^[71]Template:Rp As a result of his influence and that of other agents, it is claimed the USSR was rarely publicly criticised.^[71]Template:Rp In 1989, copies of the KGB documents claim "the WCC executive and central committee adopted public statements (eight) and messages (three)" which corresponded to its own political direction.^[71]Template:Rp Appeals from suffering dissidents both from within the Russian Orthodox Church and Protestants were ignored in 1983.^[71]Template:Rp Metropolitan Aleksi Ridiger of Tallinn and Estonia was repeatedly alleged to be a KGB agent codenamed DROZDOV, who in 1988 was awarded an honorary citation for services to the KGB by its chairman.^[71]Template:Rp^[75]^[76] Despite official disavowals, The Guardian described the evidence as "compelling".^[77] In 1990 he became Alexius II, the 15th Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. Upon his death in 2008, the WCC's official tribute, by its Council officers, described him as "courageous", "supportive and constructive" and the recipient of "abundant blessing", no reference was made to the allegations.^[78]^[79]

Attitude towards Israel

The World Council of Churches has been described as taking an adversarial position toward the state of Israel.^[80] It has also been claimed the council has focused particularly on activities and publications criticizing Israel in comparison with other human rights issues.^[81]^[82] It is similarly claimed that it downplayed appeals from Egyptian Copts about human rights abuses under Sadat and Mubarak, in order to focus on its neighbour.^[80] In 2009, the Council called for an international boycott on goods produced in Israeli settlements, which it described as 'illegal, unjust' and 'incompatible with peace'.^[83] In 2013, the General Secretary was reported to claim in Cairo, "We support the Palestinians. The WCC supports the Palestinians, because they are in the right."^[84] The WCC's Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) has been criticised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews for promoting "an inflammatory and partisan programme at the expense of its interfaith relations".^[85] The WCC secretariat was involved in preparing and helped disseminate the Kairos Palestine Document, which declares "the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is a sin against God and humanity because it deprives the Palestinians of their basic human rights", and in the view of one critic, its "authors want to see a single state".^[86] On the other hand, the WCC claims "Antisemitism is sin against God and man".^[87]

Opposition to Christian Zionism

Christian Zionism, which has long represented a major thread of historic and contemporary Protestants,^[88]^[89] is characterised as a view which "distort(s) the interpretation of the Word of God" and "damage(s) intra-Christian relations".^[90]

In this context, what is a source of concern is that Islamic fundamentalisms are giving rise to a counter reaction of other religious fundamentalisms, the most dangerous of which is Jewish fundamentalism which exploits the Islamic fundamentalist phenomenon to justify before western societies the distasteful aberrations of Zionism in Palestine.

— Template:Comma separated entries

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Frank Chikane, moderator of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) of the World Council of Churches (WCC), was criticised for using the term 'demons' to describe advocacy for Zionism in 2021.^[92]

On January 4, 2023, World Council of Churches general secretary Jerry Pillay joined the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and all the churches of the Holy Land in condemning the desecration of the historic Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion.^[93]

On 16 May 2023, the World Council of Churches condemned the Nakba, noting that "the catastrophe Palestinian families experienced 75 years ago, continues to cause unresolved dispossession and suffering for many Palestinians". Munther Isaac, moderator of the Global Kairos for Justice Coalition, recalled that a number of Arab Christian villages were destroyed during the Nakba.^[94]

References

Citations

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ ^a ^b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Flew's ODNB entry: Retrieved 18 September 2011. Subscription required. Script error: No such module "webarchive".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ ^a ^b Christopher Andrew, "KGB Foreign Intelligence from Brezhnev to the Coup"', in: Wesley K. Wark (ed), Espionage: past, present, future?, Routledge, 1994, p. 52: "One recently declassified document of 1969 describes the work of five KGB agents on the WCC Central Committee and the appointment of another to a 'high WCC post'. A similar report from 1989 claims that, as a result of agent operations to implement 'a plan approved by the KGB leadership', the WCC Executive and Central Committee adopted public statements (eight) and messages (three) which corresponded to the political course of Socialist [Communist] countries'. While it would be naive to take such boasting entirely a face value, there can be little doubt about the reality of Soviet penetration of the WCC."
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ John Gordon Garrard et al., Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent: Faith and Power in the New Russia., p. 37 f. Google books preview here [1].
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Timeline | | World Council of Churches Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Oikoumene.org. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
↑ 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches — WCC 10th Assembly Script error: No such module "webarchive".. WCC-Assembly.info (2012-10-29). Retrieved on 2013-08-09.
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ WCC general secretaries since 1948 | | World Council of Churches Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Oikoumene.org. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
↑ Grondlegger van Wereldraad van Kerken wilde muren tussen mensen slechten Script error: No such module "webarchive". in Trouw
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "webarchive".
↑ Script error: No such module "webarchive".
↑ Script error: No such module "webarchive".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Wcc-coe.org (2013-08-04). Retrieved on 2013-08-09.
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ ^a ^b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ ^a ^b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Polosin, Vyacheslav (Chair Russian Supreme Soviet's Committee on Denominations and Freedom of Religion), Megapolis Ekspress, January 21, 1992.
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ ^a ^b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Sources

World Council of Churches. Members by country and by church Script error: No such module "webarchive". Retrieved 2010-03-31.

External links

Script error: No such module "Official website".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Template:World Council of Churches Template:Ecumenical Dialogue Script error: No such module "navbox". Script error: No such module "Authority control".

[Harmon2010-1] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[2] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[3] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[Roberson1995-4] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[5] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[6] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[7] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[8] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[9] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[k650-10] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[11] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[12] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[Ware1993-13] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[14] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[15] Flew's ODNB entry: Retrieved 18 September 2011. Subscription required. Script error: No such module "webarchive".

[16] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[17] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[18] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[andrew-19] Christopher Andrew, "KGB Foreign Intelligence from Brezhnev to the Coup"', in: Wesley K. Wark (ed), Espionage: past, present, future?, Routledge, 1994, p. 52: "One recently declassified document of 1969 describes the work of five KGB agents on the WCC Central Committee and the appointment of another to a 'high WCC post'. A similar report from 1989 claims that, as a result of agent operations to implement 'a plan approved by the KGB leadership', the WCC Executive and Central Committee adopted public statements (eight) and messages (three) which corresponded to the political course of Socialist [Communist] countries'. While it would be naive to take such boasting entirely a face value, there can be little doubt about the reality of Soviet penetration of the WCC."

[20] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[21] John Gordon Garrard et al., Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent: Faith and Power in the New Russia., p. 37 f. Google books preview here [1].

[22] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[23] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[24] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[25] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[26] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[27] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[28] Timeline | | World Council of Churches Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Oikoumene.org. Retrieved 2014-01-15.

[29] 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches — WCC 10th Assembly Script error: No such module "webarchive".. WCC-Assembly.info (2012-10-29). Retrieved on 2013-08-09.

[30] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[31] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[32] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[33] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[34] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[35] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[36] WCC general secretaries since 1948 | | World Council of Churches Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Oikoumene.org. Retrieved 2014-01-15.

[37] Grondlegger van Wereldraad van Kerken wilde muren tussen mensen slechten Script error: No such module "webarchive". in Trouw

[38] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[39] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[40] Script error: No such module "webarchive".

[41] Script error: No such module "webarchive".

[42] Script error: No such module "webarchive".

[43] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[44] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[45] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[46] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[47] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[48] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[49] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[50] World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Wcc-coe.org (2013-08-04). Retrieved on 2013-08-09.

[51] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[52] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[53] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[54] Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".

[55] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[56] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[oikoumene-57] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[oikoumene2-58] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[eclof-59] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[60] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[61] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[christianpost-62] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[63] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[64] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[65] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[cec-kek-66] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[67] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[68] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[69] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[active-70] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[mitrokhin-71] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[gleb-72] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[73] Polosin, Vyacheslav (Chair Russian Supreme Soviet's Committee on Denominations and Freedom of Religion), Megapolis Ekspress, January 21, 1992.

[besier-74] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[75] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[CWNrep-76] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[77] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[78] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[79] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[merkley-80] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[vermaat-81] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[Rottenberg-82] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[BDS-83] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[84] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[JChron-85] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[lowe-86] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[oikoumene3-87] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[88] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[lewis-89] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[mnd2-90] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[mnd-91] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[alg-92] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[93] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[94] Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

[50]

[51]

[52]

[53]

[54]

[55]

[56]

[57]

[58]

[59]

[60]

[61]

[62]

[63]

[64]

[65]

[66]

[67]

[68]

[69]

[70]

[71]

[72]

[73]

[74]

[75]

[76]

[77]

[78]

[79]

[80]

[81]

[82]

[83]

[84]

[85]

[86]

[87]

[88]

[89]

[90]

[92]

[93]

[94]

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 |ministers=
 |publications=
-|website= {{URL|https://www.oikoumene.org/}}
+|website= {{URL|https://oikoumene.org/}}
 |footnotes=
 }}
 {{Christianity|expanded=hide}}
-The '''World Council of Churches''' ('''WCC''') is a worldwide [[Christianity|Christian]] inter-church organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of [[ecumenism]].<ref name="Harmon2010"/> Its full members today include the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], most jurisdictions of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=January 1948 |title=Church of Greece |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/church-of-greece |url-status=live |website=www.oikoumene.org |location=[[Le Grand-Saconnex]], [[Switzerland]] |publisher=World Council of Churches |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718153257/https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/church-of-greece |archive-date=18 July 2024 |access-date=21 January 2025}}</ref> (including the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]),<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=January 1948 |title=Ecumenical Patriarchate |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/ecumenical-patriarchate |url-status=live |website=www.oikoumene.org |location=[[Le Grand-Saconnex]], [[Switzerland]] |publisher=World Council of Churches |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212225240/https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/ecumenical-patriarchate |archive-date=12 December 2024 |access-date=21 January 2025}}</ref> the [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]], the [[Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic)|Union of Utrecht]], the [[Lutheran World Federation]], the [[Anglican Communion]], the [[Mennonites|Mennonite churches]], the [[World Methodist Council]], the [[Baptist World Alliance]], the [[World Communion of Reformed Churches]], several [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal churches]], the [[Moravian Church]], and the [[Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church]].<ref name= "Harmon2010">{{cite book |last1= Harmon |first1=Steven R. |title= Ecumenism Means You, Too: Ordinary Christians and the Quest for Christian Unity |date=15 March 2010 |publisher=Wipf & Stock |isbn= 978-1-62189-277-9 |page=97 |quote= Since its creation, it has also established a cordial cooperation with the World Council of Churches and regularly names Catholic observers at various ecumenical gatherings and invites observers of "fraternal delegates" of other churches or ecclesial communities to major events of the Catholic Church. The PCPCU publishes a journal called ''Information Service'' four times a year, in English and French. The WCC is the broadest and most inclusive among the many organized expressions of the modern ecumenical movement. It brings together 349 churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 100 countries and territories throughout the world, representing over 560 million Christians and including most of the world's Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches.  […] It describes itself as a fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the Scriptures and therefore seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with the goal of visible unity in one faith and one Eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and in common life in Christ.}}</ref><ref name="Roberson1995"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/list |title=Member list |publisher=World Council of Churches |year=2014 |access-date=2014-11-12 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225212121/https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/list%20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Notably, the [[Catholic Church]] is not a full member, although it sends delegates who have observer status to meetings.<ref name="Harmon2010"/><ref>{{cite book |author1=Cross |author2=Livingstone |name-list-style= amp |year=1974 |title= The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church |url= https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780192115454 |url-access= registration |publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn= 978-0-19-211545-4}}</ref>
+The '''World Council of Churches''' ('''WCC''') is a worldwide [[Christianity|Christian]] inter-church organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of [[ecumenism]].<ref name="Harmon2010"/> Its full members today include the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], most jurisdictions of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=January 1948 |title=Church of Greece |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/church-of-greece |url-status=live |website=www.oikoumene.org |location=[[Le Grand-Saconnex]], [[Switzerland]] |publisher=World Council of Churches |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718153257/https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/church-of-greece |archive-date=18 July 2024 |access-date=21 January 2025}}</ref> (including the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]),<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=January 1948 |title=Ecumenical Patriarchate |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/ecumenical-patriarchate |url-status=live |website=www.oikoumene.org |location=[[Le Grand-Saconnex]], [[Switzerland]] |publisher=World Council of Churches |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212225240/https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/ecumenical-patriarchate |archive-date=12 December 2024 |access-date=21 January 2025}}</ref> the [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]], the [[Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic)|Union of Utrecht]], the [[Lutheran World Federation]], the [[Anglican Communion]], the [[Mennonites|Mennonite churches]], the [[World Methodist Council]], the [[Baptist World Alliance]], the [[World Communion of Reformed Churches]], the [[Moravian Church]], the [[Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church]], and several [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal churches]] (but not the [[Pentecostal World Fellowship]] or the [[Assemblies of God]]).<ref name= "Harmon2010">{{cite book |last1= Harmon |first1=Steven R. |title= Ecumenism Means You, Too: Ordinary Christians and the Quest for Christian Unity |date=15 March 2010 |publisher=Wipf & Stock |isbn= 978-1-62189-277-9 |page=97 |quote= Since its creation, it has also established a cordial cooperation with the World Council of Churches and regularly names Catholic observers at various ecumenical gatherings and invites observers of "fraternal delegates" of other churches or ecclesial communities to major events of the Catholic Church. The PCPCU publishes a journal called ''Information Service'' four times a year, in English and French. The WCC is the broadest and most inclusive among the many organized expressions of the modern ecumenical movement. It brings together 349 churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 100 countries and territories throughout the world, representing over 560 million Christians and including most of the world's Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches.  […] It describes itself as a fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the Scriptures and therefore seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with the goal of visible unity in one faith and one Eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and in common life in Christ.}}</ref><ref name="Roberson1995"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/list |title=Member list |publisher=World Council of Churches |year=2014 |access-date=2014-11-12 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225212121/https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/list%20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Catholic Church]] is not a full member, but it sends delegates who have observer status to meetings.<ref name="Harmon2010"/><ref>{{cite book |author1=Cross |author2=Livingstone |name-list-style= amp |year=1974 |title= The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church |url= https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780192115454 |url-access= registration |publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn= 978-0-19-211545-4}}</ref>
 The WCC describes itself as "a worldwide fellowship of 352 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://publications.oikoumene.org/index.php?2070&backPID=2046&alp=A&aalp=A&tt_products=343 |title=Handbook of Churches and Councils |publisher=World Council of Churches |access-date=2013-08-09 |url-status= dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314104545/http://publications.oikoumene.org/index.php?2070&backPID=2046&alp=A&aalp=A&tt_products=343 |archive-date=14 March 2012}}</ref> It has no head office as such, but its administrative centre is at the [[Ecumenical Centre]] in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/en/about-us/faq |publisher=World Council of Churches |title=Frequently Asked Questions |access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref> The organization's members include [[Christian denomination|denominations]] which claim to collectively represent over 600 million people across the world in more than 110 countries.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.oikoumene.org/en/about-us | title = What is the World Council of Churches? | publisher = World Council of Churches | access-date = 2020-04-07 }}</ref><ref name="k650">{{cite web | title=On behalf of global Christian fellowship, WCC calls for explanation of Olympics opening ceremony | website=World Council of Churches | date=2024-07-29 | url=https://www.oikoumene.org/news/on-behalf-of-global-christian-fellowship-wcc-calls-for-explanation-of-olympics-opening-ceremony#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20WCC%20is%20represented%20by,immediate%20response%20to%20our%20request.%E2%80%9D | access-date=2025-01-16}}</ref>
-Many regional affiliates of the World Council of Churches, such as the [[Middle East Council of Churches]] and [[National Council of Churches in Australia]], work for the cause of Christian unity at the domestic level, with member denominations including the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Lutheran churches, Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox churches, Methodist churches, Anglican Communion, Reformed churches, among others.<ref>{{cite web |title= Churches |url= https://www.mecc.org/churches |publisher=[[Middle East Council of Churches]] |access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Member Churches |url= https://www.ncca.org.au/about/memberchurches |publisher= [[National Council of Churches in Australia]] |access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref>
+Many regional affiliates of the World Council of Churches, such as the [[Middle East Council of Churches]] and the [[National Council of Churches in Australia]], work for the cause of Christian unity at the domestic level, with member denominations including the Oriental Orthodox churches, Lutheran churches, Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox churches, Methodist churches, Anglican Communion, and Reformed churches among others.<ref>{{cite web |title= Churches |url= https://www.mecc.org/churches |publisher=[[Middle East Council of Churches]] |access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Member Churches |url= https://www.ncca.org.au/about/memberchurches |publisher= [[National Council of Churches in Australia]] |access-date= 9 October 2020 |archive-date= 5 October 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20241005022429/https://www.ncca.org.au/about/memberchurches |url-status= dead }}</ref>
 ==History==
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 Many churches who refused to join the WCC joined to form the [[World Evangelical Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldea.org/|title=WEA - World Evangelical Alliance Est 1846|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref>
-Neither the WCC nor the U.S.-based [[National Council of Churches]] (NCC) include denominations such as [[Jehovah's Witnesses|Jehovah’s Witnesses]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] ([[Mormons]]), and other groups which have historically refused to affirm certain widely accepted creeds of Christendom (for example, the [[Trinity|Holy Trinity]] as canonized by the [[Nicene Creed]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.equip.org/articles/the-world-and-national-councils-of-churches/|title=The World and National Councils of Churches|via=Christian Research Institute}}</ref>
+Neither the WCC nor the U.S.-based [[National Council of Churches]] (NCC) include denominations such as [[Jehovah's Witnesses|Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] ([[Mormons]]), and other groups which have historically refused to affirm certain widely accepted creeds of Christendom (for example, the [[Trinity|Holy Trinity]] as canonized by the [[Nicene Creed]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.equip.org/articles/the-world-and-national-councils-of-churches/|title=The World and National Councils of Churches|via=Christian Research Institute}}</ref>
 [[File:Meeting with World Council of Churches Delegation. Bp. G. Brook Mosely, Sec. State Dean Rusk, Dr. Kenneth L. Maxwell - NARA - 194177.jpg|thumb|President [[John F. Kennedy]] with World Council of Churches Delegation. Bp. G. Brook Mosely, Sec. State [[Dean Rusk]], Dr. Kenneth L. Maxwell, Dr. [[Frederick Nolde]], President Kennedy, [[Archbishop Iakovos of America]], Dr. [[Franklin Clark Fry]], Bp. B. Julian Smith, Bp. [[John Wesley Lord]], Judge [[James M. Tunnell Jr.]], Dr. [[Roswell Parkhurst Barnes]]. White House, Cabinet Room in 1962.]]
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 The "human rights abuses in communist countries evoked grave concern among the leaders of the World Council of Churches."<ref>{{cite book|last=Forsythe|first=David P.|title=Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Volume 1|year=2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0195334029|page=277}}</ref> However, historian Christopher Andrew claims that, during the Cold War, a number of important WCC representatives of the Orthodox Church in Eastern Europe had been working for the KGB, and that they influenced the policy of the WCC.<ref name= andrew>Christopher Andrew, "KGB Foreign Intelligence from Brezhnev to the Coup"', in: Wesley K. Wark (ed), ''Espionage: past, present, future?'', Routledge, 1994, [https://books.google.com/books?id=vmXGUkB4ZKQC&dq=wcc+kgb&pg=PA52 p. 52]: "One recently declassified document of 1969 describes the work of five KGB agents on the WCC Central Committee and the appointment of another to a 'high WCC post'. A similar report from 1989 claims that, as a result of agent operations to implement 'a plan approved by the KGB leadership', the WCC Executive and Central Committee adopted public statements (eight) and messages (three) which corresponded to the political course of Socialist [Communist] countries'. While it would be naive to take such boasting entirely a face value, there can be little doubt about the reality of Soviet penetration of the WCC."</ref> From 1955 to 1958, [[Robert S. Bilheimer]] co-chaired a WCC international commission to prepare a document addressing the threat of [[nuclear warfare]] during the Cold War.<ref>{{Cite book|page=194|title=Cold War Christians and the Spectre of Nuclear Deterrence, 1945-1959|author=Jonathan Gorry|publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]]|year=2013|isbn=978-1137334244}}</ref>
-At the 1961 conference, a 32-year-old Russian Orthodox Bishop named Aleksey Ridiger was sent as delegate to the assembly, and then appointed to the WCC's central committee. He was later elected as Russian patriarch in 1990 as [[Alexy II of Moscow|Alexei II]].<ref>John Gordon Garrard et al., ''Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent: Faith and Power in the New Russia.'', p. 37 f. Google books preview here [https://books.google.com/books?id=1ZxqRHfRz-QC&dq=world+council+of+churches+kgb&pg=PA37].</ref>
+At the 1961 conference, a 32-year-old Russian Orthodox Bishop named Aleksey Ridiger was sent as delegate to the assembly, and then appointed to the WCC's central committee. He was later elected as Russian patriarch in 1990 as [[Alexy II of Moscow|Alexei II]].<ref>John Gordon Garrard et al., ''Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent: Faith and Power in the New Russia.'', p. 37 f. Google books preview here [https://books.google.com/books?id=1ZxqRHfRz-QC&dq=world+council+of+churches+kgb&pg=PA37].</ref> At the same conference, the Romanian metropolitan [[Patriarch Iustin of Romania|Iustin Moisescu]] was sent as delegate. In 1977 he became the Romanian patriarch.
 The ninth assembly took place in [[Porto Alegre, Brazil]] in February 2006, under the theme "God, in your grace, transform the world".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/assembly/2006-porto-alegre/official-report-of-the-wcc-9th-assembly/@@download/file/poa_report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024213026/http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/assembly/2006-porto-alegre/official-report-of-the-wcc-9th-assembly/@@download/file/poa_report.pdf |archive-date=2014-10-24 |url-status=live |title=Official Report of the Ninth Assembly of the World Council of Churches|publisher=World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref> During the first Assemblies, theologians [[Vasileios Ioannidis]] and Amilkas Alivizatos contributed significantly to the debates that led to the drafting of the "Toronto Statement", a foundational document which facilitated Eastern Orthodox participation in the organization and today it constitutes its ecclesiological charter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/other-meetings/visits/archbishop-christodoulos/wcc-general-secretary-welcome-speech.html|title=WCC General Secretary Welcome Speech of the Official Visit of His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and of All Greece to the World Council of Churches, 29 May 2006|work=World Council of Churches|access-date=2011-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007105411/http://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/other-meetings/visits/archbishop-christodoulos/wcc-general-secretary-welcome-speech.html|archive-date=7 October 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 == Member Churches ==
-=== Members<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-01 |title=Member churches {{!}} World Council of Churches |url=https://oikoumene.org/member-churches |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=oikoumene.org |language=en}}</ref> ===
+=== Members ===
+Source:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-01 |title=Member churches {{!}} World Council of Churches |url=https://oikoumene.org/member-churches |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=oikoumene.org |language=en}}</ref>
 * [[African-initiated church|African Brotherhood Church]]
 * [[African-initiated church|African Christian Church & Schools]]
@@ Line 240: / Line 240: @@
 * [[Pentecostalism|International Evangelical Church]]
 * [[Jamaica Baptist Union]]
-* [[Javanese Christian Church|Javanese Christian Churches]]
+* [[Javanese Christian Church]]es
 * [[Kalimantan Evangelical Church]]
 * [[Karo Batak Protestant Church]]
@@ Line 422: / Line 422: @@
 The World Council of Churches has held 11 Assemblies to date, starting with the founding assembly in 1948:<ref>[http://www.oikoumene.org/en/about-us/organizational-structure/assembly/since-1948 Timeline | | World Council of Churches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116134826/http://www.oikoumene.org/en/about-us/organizational-structure/assembly/since-1948 |date=16 January 2014 }}. Oikoumene.org. Retrieved 2014-01-15.</ref>
 #[[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]], 22 August – 4 September 1948
-#[[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]], 15–31 August 1954
+#[[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston]], [[Illinois]], United States, 15–31 August 1954
 #[[New Delhi]], [[India]], 19 November – 5 December 1961
 #[[Uppsala]], [[Sweden]], 4–20 July 1968
@@ Line 436: / Line 436: @@
 Presidents elected at the 11th Assembly<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Council of Churches elects new presidents |url=https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/world-council-of-churches-elects-new-presidents/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Presbyterian Mission Agency |date=5 September 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> are:
-* Africa: Rev. Dr. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, ([[Church of the Lord (Aladura)]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-11 |title=Ositelu emerges WCC President for African region |url=https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/ositelu-emerges-wcc-president-for-african-region/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}</ref>
+* Africa: Rev. Dr. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, ([[Church of the Lord (Aladura)]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-11 |title=Ositelu emerges WCC President for African region |url=https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/ositelu-emerges-wcc-president-for-african-region/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2022-10-03 |newspaper=[[The Guardian (Nigeria)|The Guardian]]|language=en-US}}</ref>
 * Asia: Rev. Dr Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang ([[Toraja Church|Gereja Toraja]])
 * Europe: Rev. Dr. Susan Durber ([[United Reformed Church]])<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nye |first=Ann-Marie |date=2022-09-07 |title=URC minister elected as WCC president |url=https://urc.org.uk/urc-minister-elected-as-wcc-president/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=United Reformed Church |language=en-GB}}</ref>
@@ Line 488: / Line 488: @@
 ==Commissions and teams==
-There are two complementary approaches to ecumenism: dialogue and action. The ''Faith and Order Movement'' and ''Life and Work Movement'' represent these approaches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/whatis-e.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref> These approaches are reflected in the work of the WCC in its [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/commissions.html commissions], these being:
+There are two complementary approaches to ecumenism: dialogue and action. The ''Faith and Order Movement'' and ''Life and Work Movement'' represent these approaches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/whatis-e.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09|archive-date=7 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107151202/http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/whatis-e.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> These approaches are reflected in the work of the WCC in its [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/commissions.html commissions], these being:
 *Echos – Commission on Youth (ages 18–30)
 *Commission of the Churches on Diakonia and Development
@@ Line 519: / Line 519: @@
 Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) has drawn many elements together with an [[environment (biophysical)|environmental]] focus. Its mandate is:
-{{blockquote|To analyze and reflect on justice, peace and creation ''in their interrelatedness'', to promote values and practices that make for a [[Culture of Peace|culture of peace]], and to work towards a culture of solidarity with young people, women, Indigenous Peoples and racially and ethnically oppressed people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/index-e.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref>}}
+{{blockquote|To analyze and reflect on justice, peace and creation ''in their interrelatedness'', to promote values and practices that make for a [[Culture of Peace|culture of peace]], and to work towards a culture of solidarity with young people, women, Indigenous Peoples and racially and ethnically oppressed people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/index-e.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09|archive-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114102536/http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/index-e.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
 Focal issues have been [[globalization]] and the emergence of [[new social movements]] (in terms of people ''bonding together'' in the struggle for justice, peace, and the protection of creation).<ref>{{Cite book
@@ Line 533: / Line 533: @@
 Attention has been given to issues around:
 *economy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/economy.html|title=JPC Concerns - economy|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref>
-*environment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/ecology.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref>
+*environment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/ecology.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09|archive-date=17 May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050517073642/http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/ecology.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-*Indigenous Peoples<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/indig.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref>
+*Indigenous Peoples<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/indig.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09|archive-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114102514/http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/indig.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 *peace<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/peace.html|title=JPC Concerns - Peace|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref>
 *people with disabilities<ref>[http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/disabil.html World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050502073921/http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/disabil.html |date=2 May 2005 }}. Wcc-coe.org (2013-08-04). Retrieved on 2013-08-09.</ref>
-*[[Programme to Combat Racism|racism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/racism-e.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref>
+*[[Programme to Combat Racism|racism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/racism-e.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09|archive-date=2 May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050502072039/http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/racism-e.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-*women<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/women.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref>
+*women<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/women.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09|archive-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114111054/http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/women.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-*youth<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/youth-e.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09}}</ref>
+*youth<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/youth-e.html|title=World Council of Churches — World Council of Churches|access-date=2015-07-09|archive-date=2 May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050502074610/http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/youth-e.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 ===Relations with the Roman Catholic Church===
-{{unreferenced section|date=March 2019}}
+{{morerefs|section|date=May 2026}}
 The largest Christian body, the [[Roman Catholic Church]], is not a member of the WCC, but has worked closely with the council for more than three decades and sends observers to all major WCC conferences as well as to its Central Committee meetings and the Assemblies (cf. [[Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches|Joint Working Group]]).
@@ Line 555: / Line 555: @@
 This document marked several key reforms within the Catholic approach:
-I.	‘[[Separated brethren]]’ was the new term for non-Catholics, as opposed to the previously used ‘heretics’ {{citation needed|date=February 2019}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Welsh |first=Robert K. |date=2013 |title=The Ecumenical Legacy of the Second Vatican Council: A Disciples Perspective |url= |journal=Journal of Ecumenical Studies |volume=48 |issue=2 |page=180 |via=EBSCO}}</ref>
+I.	‘[[Separated brethren]]’ was the new term for non-Catholics, as opposed to the previously used ‘heretics’ <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Welsh |first=Robert K. |date=2013 |title=The Ecumenical Legacy of the Second Vatican Council: A Disciples Perspective |url= |journal=Journal of Ecumenical Studies |volume=48 |issue=2 |page=180 |via=EBSCO}}</ref>
 II.	Both Catholic and non-Catholic elements are held responsible for [[Reformation|the schism between Catholicism and the Protestant movement]] {{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
-III.	Non-Catholics are recognised to the contributions that they make to Christian belief overall {{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
+III. Non-Catholics are recognised for the contributions that they make to Christian belief overall.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
 Further reforms have been enacted with regard to the nature of the Catholic Church on the world stage, for instance the 1965 union with the Patriarch of Constantinople, whereby the 1054 schism was undermined. In addition to this, [[Michael Ramsey|Michael Ramsay]], the then Archbishop of Canterbury, received an [[Ecclesiastical ring|episcopal ring]] in 1966; a mark of union which had not been seen since prior to the [[Reformation]]. Moreover, the Anglican, Roman Catholic International Committee was additionally established as a means of promoting communication and cohesion between the two denominations. This has since marked a new level of participation of the Catholic Faith in the aforementioned ecumenical movement, and therefore is the basis for increased participation from the faith, in the WCC.
@@ Line 627: / Line 627: @@
 On January 4, 2023, World Council of Churches general secretary [[Jerry Pillay]] joined the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and all the churches of the Holy Land in condemning the desecration of the historic Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-condemns-desecration-of-historic-protestant-cemetery-in-jerusalem |title=WCC condemns desecration of historic Protestant cemetery in Jerusalem |work=World Council of Churches |date=4 January 2023 |access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref>
+On 16 May 2023, the World Council of Churches condemned the [[Nakba]], noting that "the catastrophe Palestinian families experienced 75 years ago, continues to cause unresolved dispossession and suffering for many Palestinians". Munther Isaac, moderator of the Global Kairos for Justice Coalition, recalled that a number of [[Arab Christians|Arab Christian]] villages were destroyed during the Nakba.<ref>{{cite web |title=Seventy-five years since Al-Nakba, religious leaders reiterate calls for a just, lasting peace|url=https://www.oikoumene.org/news/seventy-five-years-since-al-nakba-religious-leaders-reiterate-calls-for-a-just-lasting-peace |publisher=[[World Council of Churches]] |access-date=8 April 2026  |date=16 May 2023}}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 646: / Line 648: @@
 *[[Jennifer Marianne Hart]]
 *[[Buku Ende]]
-*[[:id:Buku Nyanyian HKBP|Buku Nyanyian HKBP]]
 {{Clear}}
@@ Line 668: / Line 669: @@
 {{Christianity footer}}
 {{Authority control}}
+<!-- DO NOT add any specific CHURCH DENOMINATION as a category -->
 {{DEFAULTSORT:World Council Of Churches}}
-<!-- DO NOT add any specific CHURCH DENOMINATION as a category -->
 [[Category:World Council of Churches| ]]
 [[Category:World Christianity]]

World Council of Churches: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:52, 18 May 2026

Contents

History

Member Churches

Members

Events and presidents

Assemblies

Presidents

General secretaries

Commissions and teams

Diakonia and development and international relations commissions

Faith and Order Commission

Texts

Justice, Peace and Creation Commission

Relations with the Roman Catholic Church

Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC

Peace journalism

Spin-offs and related organizations

Regional/national councils

Criticism

Alleged neglect of suffering church in Eastern Europe

Claims of infiltration and influence by the KGB

Attitude towards Israel

Opposition to Christian Zionism

See also

References

Citations

Sources

Further reading

External links

Navigation menu

World Council of Churches: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:52, 18 May 2026

History

Member Churches

Members

Events and presidents

Assemblies

Presidents

General secretaries

Commissions and teams

Diakonia and development and international relations commissions

Faith and Order Commission

Texts

Justice, Peace and Creation Commission

Relations with the Roman Catholic Church

Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC

Peace journalism

Spin-offs and related organizations

Regional/national councils

Criticism

Alleged neglect of suffering church in Eastern Europe

Claims of infiltration and influence by the KGB

Attitude towards Israel

Opposition to Christian Zionism

See also

References

Citations

Sources

Further reading

External links

Navigation menu

Search