The World Council of Churches celebrated its 60th anniversary 13-20 February. It claims that, “its greatest achievement has not been a particular issue, programme or publication, but the fact that despite all that could have torn it apart, the member churches have held together, maintaining the fellowship they share through the Council. As an Asian ecumenical leader says: ‘The relationships built between churches are the WCC’s finest accomplishment. It’s not unity in the strict sense, but in building a knowledge of heritage and customs and awareness - like a family’.”
In fact little tangible has been achieved over the years. A note of desperation has crept into recent leader’s pronouncements. We suspect that private conversations and meetings behind closed doors, at which plans are made to force the cooperation of an unwilling laity, represent its greatest achievement.
The WCC’s membership has grown down the years, particularly with the accession of the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Rome refuses to join though she sits on individual WCC committees where she can advance her own interests.
However the WCC admits that it currently represents only just over 25 percent of the world’s Christians. It openly states that the mainline churches it represents are shrinking while Evangelicals and Pentecostals who shun the WCC are mushrooming, particularly in the Third World.
“Too many churches are stepping back from ecumenical to unilateral activities and positions,” said General Secretary Samuel Kobia who believes that the next Assembly should be open to non-members, particularly Rome and the Pentecostals.
New expressions of Christianity, the growing prominence of the global South, the impact of globalization and increasing religious diversity are all contributing to a rapidly changing ecclesiastical situation, said Kobia.
He himself has decided not to seek re-appointment as General secretary to the WCC when his term expires at the end of the year. There have been complaints that the WCC is not making its presence felt sufficiently. He has been criticised for travelling too much. Questions have also been raised about his doctorate from Fairfax University, Louisiana, which has been found to lack accreditation to award such degrees.
The WCC also wants to engage with its “interfaith partners” and must be a more representative body of all Christians to convince them.
It is having to cut back financially due to reduced giving and unpaid subscriptions.
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