The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 21^st to the 27^th. This is the first Central Committee meeting after the 11^th General Assembly, which took place in September 2022, in Karlsruhe, Germany, under the theme “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”

The plenary focused on strategies and concrete measures for achieving the goals staked out by the assembly, turning priorities into actions in all programmatic areas and further strengthening the WCC’s influence on world affairs in a spirit of pilgrimage, reconciliation, and unity.

Two members of the central committee participated on behalf of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia: Arch. Nareg Alemezian, and V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate. Prof. Teny Pirri-Simonian, the Catholicosate’s Ecumenical Representative in Switzerland, participated as an observer. Ms. Carla Khijoyan continues her ecumenical service as head of WCC’s staff responsible for the Middle East.

It is noteworthy that the WCC commemorated its 75th anniversary with an ecumenical celebration at Saint Pierre Cathedral in Geneva, recalling the founding of the WCC in Amsterdam in August 1948, three years after the end of the Second World War.

During its meetings, the Central Committee approved the applications of four churches for an interim period of participation in the work of the WCC. The strategic plan 2023-2030 was also approved. The Central Committee also elected leaders for its various commissions and bodies that will serve for the next 8 years. Amongst the nominees of the Catholicosate, the following individuals were elected: Ms. Rita Asdikian—Young People in the Ecumenical Movement Commission; Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian-Kabakian—Commission of the Churches on International Affairs; V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian— Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation; Arch. Nareg Alemezian—Permanent Committee on Consensus and Collaboration.