The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the highest decision-making body of the WCC, convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 15th to the 18th. This is the first time the Central Committee has met in person since the beginning of the pandemic.
The plenary focused primarily on preparing for the 11th WCC Assembly, which will take place in September of this year, in Karlsruhe, Germany, under the theme “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.” The Assembly will be the most comprehensive and inclusive event of world Christianity in our times, as stated by the moderator Dr. Agnes Abuom. “An assembly unfolds its theme through common prayer, Bible studies, thematic plenaries, and reflections on the most important challenges of our time that require clear responses by the churches together. It is the space where the churches set new directions for their common journey towards reconciliation and unity of all humankind and all creation.”
The central Committee also elected a new general secretary. Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. He is the eighth general secretary in the WCC’s history since the fellowship of churches was founded in 1948. Pillay is currently dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, and a member of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.
Two members of the Central Committee participated on behalf of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia: V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate, and Prof. Teny Pirri-Simonian, Catholicosate’s Ecumenical Representative in Switzerland. Ms. Carla Khijoyan, continues her ecumenical service as head of WCC’s staff responsible for the Middle East.
