WCC NEWS: WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs’ “ministry of witness and action critically needed”

In a public statement, the World Council of Churches executive committee marked the 75th anniversary of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), created in 1946. The CCIA has been instrumental in the WCC’s work over the years in contributing to churches’ advocacy on historic issues such as, for example, the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Here, President Nelson Mandela with Dr. Pauline Webb appearing at the 8th WCC Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe, 1998. Photo: Chris Black/WCC 16 November 2021 “The new United Nations, founded in 1945, bore the hallmarks of the aspirations of the fellowship of churches that it should become an instrument of the world's peoples, not only of the world’s powers” reads the statement. "CCIA was created to serve as an organ in formulating the Christian mind on world issues and bringing that mind effectively to bear upon such issues, particularly in relationship with the United Nations and the new post-war system of international governance.” The WCC executive committee celebrated the CCIA, its history and its vital importance currently. "During this present time of convergent global crises and diminished commitment to multilateral cooperation in facing them, this ministry of Christian faith-based witness and action has never been more critically needed,” the statement reads. CCIA work ongoing, here at the commission’s 58th meeting, in hybrid format from Johannesburg, South Africa, 2021. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC The WCC executive committee is meeting—in-person for the first time in two years—from 12-17 November at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute. Read full text: Minute on CCIA 75th anniversary WCC executive committee member shares reflection on “how are we called to act in love and justice?” (WCC press release of 15 November 2021) WCC executive committee “reimagining the future” with a sense of hope (WCC press release of 12 November 2021) WCC executive committee to hold first in-person meeting in two years (WCC press release of 12 November 2021) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland