WCC news: WCC general secretary celebrates 80th anniversary of ECLOF International

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay offered a keynote speech on 11 November during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of ECLOF International.  ECLOF is dedicated to promoting social justice and human dignity through microfinance. Operating through a global network, it provides financial resources, technical assistance, and capacity-building support to vulnerable communities, small entrepreneurs, and rural farmers, helping them overcome poverty, develop sustainable livelihoods, and achieve greater economic independence. Photo: ECLOF 11 November 2026 ECLOF is a network of faith-rooted micro-finance institutions. ECLOF International, a Swiss foundation based in Geneva, is the global hub. “Eighty years is a significant milestone,” said Pillay. “It is an occasion to give thanks for the vision and courage of those who came before us, to celebrate the lives transformed through this ministry, and to renew our commitment to the work that remains ahead.” He noted that the shared history of ECLOF and the WCC is evidence of a continuing ecumenical vocation: to connect faith with economic life, and spiritual conviction with practical alternatives. “ECLOF's history records an important insight: churches and communities often value access to a loan that enables them to build through their own efforts, rather than being dependent on charity alone,” said Pillay. “A loan, responsibly designed and fairly administered, recognises people not as passive recipients of assistance but as agents of their own development.” This does not mean that grants and charitable assistance are unnecessary, added Pillay. “In situations of crisis, exclusion or extreme poverty, grants and other forms of public and community support remain indispensable,” he said. "Loans and grants have complementary roles.” ECLOF has sought to balance institutional autonomy with its ecumenical identity, Pillay noted. “That balance enables it to work effectively while remaining connected to churches and communities,” he said. “Our relationship is not merely administrative.” Pillay urged ECLOF to bring its distinctive experience to the WCC Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action, 2025–2034. “Responding to the climate crisis requires investment in the real-world solutions that communities are already developing,” he said. "ECLOF has a meaningful role to play in this regard.” Pillay concluded: "May the next chapter of your journey bring renewed hope to communities, strengthen the ecumenical movement, and contribute to a world in which justice, peace and the integrity of creation are not distant aspirations, but lived realities.” Read the full keynote presentation by the WCC general secretary  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 356 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