I left the Sixth World Conference with a strong sense that the answer to the Conference question “Where now for visible unity”? is that Christians must seek to take context more seriously. The importance of being aware of, and acknowledging our different contexts (e.g. Church tradition or social location) was particularly pronounced in our Conference “Business meetings”, in which delegates collectively sought to discern what the end of Conference message should be. For example, the priorities of delegates who experience more limited religious freedom, or racism, in their home countries, were different to those who do not. As Christians, if we are to grow in our walking together in visible unity, then we need to grow in our abilities to take context more seriously, both in our relating to one another and in our theologising.
A personal highlight for me was the sheer diversity of the participants which provided opportunities to have rich conversations. I particularly valued the insights into the life of the Coptic Orthodox Church who hosted the Conference delegation. I was inspired by their creative use of the visual arts and outdoor space to explore and nurture spirituality, as well as their attention to detail in developing their Museum of Nicaea. The museum in seeking to tell the story not just of the first ecumenical gathering at Nicaea, but what led to it, and what the aftermath of it was like. For me, this was an important reminder of how costly but important ecumenical walking together has always been.
As the only British Baptist delegate at the Conference, I also left with the hope that more British Baptists might become involved in the work of the World Council of Churches, and more aware of the progress the Faith and Order Commission has helped enable over almost 100 years.
Read the final communiques from the Sixth WCC Sixth Faith and Order Conference.
Read a perspective on the conference from URC member Dr Victoria Turner.
Photo credits: G Richards