WCC Head: Europe Needs Christian Unity 'Now More Than Ever'
The head of the World Council of Churches (WCC) says finding unity among Europe's churches is "now more urgent than ever."
Speaking in Sibiu, Romania, this week, the global ecumenical body's general secretary, the Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, said: "Now more than ever, the unity of the churches in Europe is needed to bear witness to a future that transcends the vision of a common economic and political future, to embrace a future in which abundant life in Jesus Christ gives hope to all people, everywhere."
The WCC leader was addressing some 2,500 delegates and leaders from Europe's main Church traditions who were attending the opening session of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly, which he termed the "single largest regular gathering of Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant church leaders in the world."
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"We expect to hear the Churches of Europe speak with one voice, not only concerning the future of those countries admitted to an integrated Europe, but also the future of people living in all European countries and the future of the millions of immigrants from Asia, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and the Pacific, living and working in Europe," Kobia affirmed Wednesday.
He also emphasized that "churches around the world … stand ready to accompany the churches in Europe, especially in the face of secularization."
The European Ecumenical Assembly, which began Tuesday and concludes Sunday, comes at a time when religion in Europe seems to have slowed its downward slide and nascent signs of a modest comeback are becoming more visible after decades of secularization.
"Most church pews are still empty," noted Andrew Higgins, a staff reporter for the Wall Street Journal, in a report this year. "But belief in heaven, hell and concepts such as the soul has risen in parts of Europe, especially among the young, according to surveys. Religion, once a dead issue, now figures prominently in public discourse."
And, as prominent U.S. evangelical leader Chuck Colson has noted, even after a century of secularization, "it's not too late."
"It never is with the Gospel," he stated in a past commentary.
According to reports, European identity, other faiths, migration, creation, justice and peace have been on the agenda for the ecumenical assembly, alongside questions of unity, spirituality and witness.
Delegates have been sharing in prayer and worship from different traditions; discovering the Christian heritage and hopes of Romania – a nation which looks forward to playing a full part in Europe; and setting an agenda for common witness and action across Europe at a time of tremendous challenge.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to share my experiences as a young person in the Church of England and learn from those of people in other European churches, especially amid the changing face of European Christianity as a result of migration," said Timi Dorgu prior to the assembly. Dorgu is a student of international business at Warwick University in the United Kingdom and the youngest member of the Church of England's delegation.
And more than what will go on during the six-day gathering, European Christians are looking forward to what will come after.
"The work will go on before, during and well after Sibiu," said Canon Charles Hill of the Council for Christian Unity, who has been encouraging European groups in dioceses to engage with the assembly's themes with partner churches in mainland Europe.
"Sibiu will give new impetus to the churches of Europe to raise their common profile and renew their mission to bring the light, hope and love of Jesus Christ to our continent," he said, according to the Church of England.
The third assembly, which has as its theme "The light of Christ shines upon all. Hope for renewal and unity in Europe," is being organized jointly by the Roman Catholic bishops' conference of Europe (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) – which groups most Anglican, Protestant and Orthodox churches in Europe.
The ecumenical gathering concludes Sunday.
Christian Post correspondent Daniel Blake in London contributed to this report.
