 |
Becker Bible Studies LibraryWorld Council of Churches |
|
World Council of Churches History, Practices and Beliefs IntroductionThe World Council of Churches, also known as WCC, is based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is an international Christian ecumenical organization with the main goal of Christian unity. Samuel Kobia became the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches in January 2004. Reverend Dr. Samuel Kobia is a member of the Methodist Church in Kenya. The World Council of Church meets approximately once every seven years. The first of the Assemblies was in Amsterdam, The Netherlands held in 1948; Evanston, Illinois, The United States in 1954; New Delhi, India in 1961; Uppsala, Sweden in 1968; Nairobi, Kenya in 1975; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1983; Canberra, Australia, 1992; Harare, Zimbabwe in 1998; and Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2006. The World Council of Churches represents many Christian denominations and churches all around the world. It does include Orthodox churches as well as the more traditional Protestant Reformation churches such as the Anglicans, Baptist, Lutherans, Methodists, and many of the Reformed, Independent and United churches. Most of the founding churches were European and North American. The largest numbers come from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Middle East and the Pacific. The World Council of Churches speak, act, worship, work together, challenge, support, and debate with each other. They have one goal...to have visible unity in one faith and one Eucharistic fellowship. They share in Christian service by offering service to mankind and its need. They break down barriers between different people by only seeking justice and peace. They uphold the integrity of creation and cultivate a renewal in unity, worship and service. The World Council of Churches has five themes: 1. Faith and order 2. Mission and ecumenical formation 3. Justice, peace, and creation 4. International affairs 5. Peace and human security Their mission is to visibly unite the churches. They believe this will be accomplished by renewal and changing the churches. Churches can become a member of the World Council of Churches by applying to the central committee. There are specific criteria that must to be met in order to become a member of the World Council of Churches. History The History for The World Council of Churches began around the turn of the 20th century. Christians were starting to cross denominational boundaries and had started praying and working together. There was a worldwide movement for a unity of churches. It was in August of 1948, when over a hundred churches convened together to form the World Council of Churches in Amsterdam, Switzerland. It became evident this international council was going to become very powerful in the ecumenical life of the 20th century churches. The first Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was the first church to embrace the concept of The World Council of Churches in 1920. The first General Secretary of The World Council of Churches was W.A. Visser ‘t Hooft of the Netherlands Reformed Church/National Protestant Church, Geneva. The World Council of Churches under the leadership of the General Secretary Visser ‘t Hooft of Geneva contributed much of the work for the churches during World War II. Many works among the prisoners of war and assistance given to refugees, including Jews, was accomplished. Visser ‘t Hooft held the position from 1948 until 1966. The second General Secretary of World Council of Churches was Eugene Carson Blake from the United States. He belonged to the United Presbyterian Church and held the position from 1967 until 1972. The third General Secretary of The World Council of Churches was Philip A. Potter from the West Indies. He belonged to the Methodist Church and held the position from 1973 until 1984. The fourth General Secretary of The World Council of Churches was Emilio Castro form Uruguay. He belonged tot he Evangelical Methodist Church of Uruguay. He held the position from 1984 until 1992. The fifth General Secretary of The World Council of Churches was Konrad Raiser of Germany. He belonged to the Evangelical Church in German and held the position from 1993 until 2003. The eight Assembly that was held in December 1998 in Harare, Zimbabwe, the delegation were ask to approve a document stating a sharing of understand for the vision for ecumenical commitment. The sixth and present General Secretary of The World Council of Churches is Samuel Kobia of Kenya. He belongs to the Methodist church in Kenya and held the position starting in January of 2004 until present. The World Council of Churches does not want to build a global super church, nor do they want to regulate the order of worship. The World Council of Churches wants to intensify the fellowship of all the Christian Churches and the Christian communities. They want to see a unified holy Catholic and apostolic church where every church member may share in the sacraments everywhere, in any church. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member of the World Council of Churches. It does work closely with the World Council of Churches Central Committee. The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity does appoint representatives to the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission. The Orthodox churches have been a part of the World Council of Churches form the very beginning. The Orthodox church created a Special Commission in December 1998 to concentrate on the Orthodox concerns which focused mainly on membership, decision making plans including public statements, and worship practices. Belief The World council of Churches is a fellowship of churches who confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the Scriptures. They are answering the call to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The World Council of Churches is a community of churches who share the visible unity in one faith and one Eucharistic fellowship. They express this unity in their worship and in the common life in Christ. The purpose is so the world may believe. The World Council of Churches are working toward a common agreement on Baptism, Eucharist, the Ministry, the date of Easter, purpose of the church and ecumenical hermeneutics. The Faith and Order Commission has as its member’s men and women from around the world; including pastors, lay people and church leaders all nominated by their individual churches. The Roman Catholic Church is also included on the Faith and Order Commission committee. The Faith and Order Commission work in partnership with Justice, Peace and Creation Commissions to answer questions about the nature of the church. The Justice, Peace and Creation Commission encourage values and practices that make a culture of peace. They work toward a culture of harmony with young and old people, women, indigenous, disabled and oppressed people, and racial issues. The World Council of Churches does not involve the recognition of a specific doctrine relating to the nature of church unity. Member churches believe that conversation, cooperation and common witness of the different churches is a must for the recognition that Christ is the divine Head of the body of the church. The World Council of Churches recognize any true churches that respect each other and seek to learn of the Lord Jesus Christ. The World Council of Churches believes the Lord Jesus Christ wants these churches to come forth to the world in His name. The churches should recognize their solidarity, and assist each other to understand any misunderstanding of any spiritual relationships. |
|
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Lu 21:36 AV) |
X X Return to List |
|
|
