Over sixty ecumenical officers from the members churches and communions of the World Council of Churches (WCC) convened online from 21-23 March 2023. They aimed to strengthen the engagement of member churches in the life and work of the WCC, share insights from their respective regional and contextual experience, as well as contribute to WCC future planning. The network of ecumenical officers promotes consultation and collaboration between member churches and the secretariat.
The newly elected WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Jerry Pillay welcomed the participants, underlining the key role that ecumenical officers will play in lifting up the profile of the WCC among its constituency. “We want to increase the participation of our member churches in the many levels of work of the WCC. We want the churches to be more involved in the work that we do”, he said. Ecumenical officers—responsible for relations with the WCC on behalf of their church—are meeting for first time since the WCC 11th Assembly. It is also their first opportunity for engagement with new WCC leadership. The meeting is providing space for discussing the strategic direction of the WCC, the future of WCC programmatic work, and the engagement of the fellowship of member churches in moving together on a pilgrimage of justice, reconciliation, and unity.
Very Reverend Father Hrant Tahanian, Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate, participated on behalf of the Armenin Church, Holy See of Cilicia, under the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. The group also strengthened preparations for the upcoming meeting of the WCC central committee at the WCC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, 21-27 June. This will be the first convening of the new Central Committee, that was elected during the 2022 Karlsruhe General Assembly.
It is noteworthy that during the last assembly, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, who has served as moderator for two consecutive terms (1991-1998-2005) was unanimously elected by the Assembly as one of the Presidents of the World Council of Churches, who are tasked with overseeing the work and life of the Central and Executive Committees.
