The World Council of Churches (WCC) Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order took place from 24 to 28 October. It was the centrepiece of the WCC’s activities to mark the 1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, a key moment in the history of Christian faith and for the ecumenical journey today.
The conference gathered about 400 participants at the Logos Papal Centre of the Coptic Orthodox Church at Wadi El Natrun, Egypt around the theme “Where now for visible unity?”
At the end of the conference, the message A Call to All Christians was issued. It encouraged us “to renew our commitment to faith, mission, and unity in Christ Jesus; to listen together to the Holy Spirit; to walk together as pilgrims: as children of the Father learning together to live out our faith, hope, and love, and in the practice of justice, reconciliation, and unity.”
Read the full text of A Call to All Christians.
Watch A Call to All Christians read by Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London.
This message was preceded by a longer Ecumenical Affirmation, Deepening Unity, Journeying in Love, Restoring Hope.
Several Member Churches of Churches Together in England sent delegates to the conference.
Faith and Order Conference reflections
‘Where now for visible unity?’ A ground-breaking gathering
World Council of Churches President from Europe Rev Dr Susan Durber shares her reflections on the WCC Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order
“It didn’t feel like visible unity when…”
Director of Studies at the Scottish Episcopal Institute, Dr Victoria Turner represented the United Reformed Church at the Sixth WCC Faith and Order conference. Here she shares her perspective on the event.
Take context seriously – how to grow in visible unity
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Regent’s Park College, Oxford, Rev Dr Gale Richards represented the Baptist Union at the WCC conference. Here she shares her thoughts…
In conjunction with the Sixth World Conference, the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) offered space for a new generation of younger and emerging ecumenical theologians and educators from a broad spectrum of Christian traditions to engage with the work of Faith and Order. Joshua Townson, a member of the Oecumenical Patriarchate, was awarded a grant from the CTE Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund to support his participation in GETI.
Find out more about the Sixth World Conference from the World Council of Churches.
Photo credits: Albin Hillert/WCC