WCC Feature: Peace churches call for “more creativity in our peacebuilding”

“We are asked to reflect on the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee and the WCC 11th Assembly,” said Janet Scott, Friends World Committee for Consultation, as she prepared to facilitate the confessional meeting of the Moravian and historic peace churches on the first day of the central committee meeting. “Our historic peace church way to reflect is to consider how to further the cause of peace.” Confessional meeting of the Moravian and historic peace churches during the WCC central committee meeting, 15 June 2022. Photo: Peter Williams/WCC 21 June 2022 That concern for peacemaking indeed became central in the discussion of the 11 participants, particularly as statements coming before the central committee were addressing issues of conflict and war, and calls for divisions and censure are growing across the world. “There is a complication between keeping dialogue open to have some sort of influence, and being prophetic,” said Rev. Prof. Dr Fernando Enns from the Association of Mennonite Congregations in Germany. “If censure and division is one way, what way is reconciliation?” “From my church, we would like to see more creativity in our peacebuilding,” continued Enns. “We have letters and humanitarian aid. From our perspective, a peace church goes to where the fire is.” “How do we put living letters behind our written letters?” asked Rev. Dr Jeffrey Carter, Church of the Brethren, as the group discussed the response to the war in Ukraine. “Peacebuilding is always built off of creativity.” Scott highlighted the need to speak out in the upcoming sessions. “We are encouraging anyone who has the opportunity to be bold.” Participants took the opportunity to share news from their churches and key issues—both concerns and joys—they are addressing. The meeting was opened with Quaker silent worship and finished with prayer in the Mennonite tradition. Although short, the fellowship and sharing was appreciated. “Now I don’t feel that I am the only one,” said Enns. WCC Central committee meeting, June 2022 Photos from the WCC central committee meeting, June 2022   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 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 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