Recommended

CCA Keynote Address Highlights Ecumenical Power for Change

The ecumenical movement needs to supply the “ferment of change,” in spite of “internal institutional challenges,” said the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches on April 1.

The ecumenical movement needs to supply the “ferment of change,” in spite of “internal institutional challenges,” said the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches on April 1.

He was giving the keynote address to representatives of over 100 Asian churches gathered in Chian Mai, Thailand at the 12th general assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia, which runs until April 6.

He said that the ability read the signs of the times ahead of others was responsible for the “stirring achievements” of the ecumenical movement in the past. He cited the movement’s “bold and prophetic” opposition to apartheid, military dictatorship and the suppression of human rights.

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

“We seem to have lost some of the spirit that led us to take risks,” he added. “Self-preservation,” has led large religious groups to become trapped in internal, administrative concerns.

Instead of inward “obsession” with those matters, the secretary asked for “active and creative” engagement with the challenges of today’s world.

He mentioned some trends that ecumenists should take note of.

Kobia says that one trend, especially among young people today, is a desire to experience faith by “crossing the boundaries of tradition” and “forming new spiritual and moral networks.”

He said that another trend was the “spirituality of life as experienced among the poor and the social movements that support their cause.”

Their experience was bringing about “new alliances for life,” that are “coalitions of resistance to injustice, oppression and exclusion,” he said.

These new “spiritual and moral networks” along with the “new alliances for life” should be brought together into “creative dialogue,” said Kobia.

He said that the ecumenical movement should search for “new meaning and new ways of being the ecumenical movement.” He added that purpose should be to serve the causes of justice and peace and not the “internal structures of the churches.”

Was this article helpful?

Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone.

By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount, you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone.

We’re sorry to hear that.

Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage.

Most Popular

More Articles