WCC news: Webinar will explore historic breakthrough on East–West Christian unity

In the lead-up to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 6th World Conference on Faith and Order, the Faith and Order Commission—together with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Lutheran World Federation—will host a webinar titled “Bridging East and West: A Joint Statement on Filioque” on 28 April. Photo: Nikos Kosmidis/WCC 17 April 2025 Part of a broader webinar series addressing vital theological and ecclesiological issues, this event will spotlight a recent Common Statement on the Filioque—a historic point of theological division between Eastern and Western Christianity—issued by the Joint International Commission on Theological Dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation and the Orthodox church. The webinar will reflect on the significance of returning to the original Greek form of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, without the Filioque clause, as a sign of renewed commitment to reconciliation and visible Christian unity. Opening remarks will be offered by Prof. Dr Maria Munkholt, WCC Faith and Order commissioner, who will highlight the initiative’s relevance to the 2025 World Conference theme: “Where Now for Visible Unity?” Divided into two parts, the session will feature Orthodox perspectives from Protopresbyter Prof. Dr Demetrios Bathrellos and Lutheran reflections from Prof. Dr Jennifer Wasmuth, moderated by ecumenical leaders Rev. Prof. Dr Dirk Lange and Rev. Deacon Œcumenius Amanatidis. This conversation aims to offer theologians, church leaders, and ecumenical partners a unique opportunity to engage in bridge-building dialogue that addresses deep-rooted theological challenges and envisions new paths toward shared Trinitarian understanding and deeper communion. Click here to register for this webinar More details about this event 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 general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland