Unity, Mission and Ecumenical Relations
Photo: Joanna Lindén-Montes / WCC
At the core of the WCC’s work is the pursuit of visible Christian unity. The WCC strives for a global fellowship of churches seeking a deeper understanding of one another, developing a wider dialogue and building communities rooted in justice and peace.
The WCC is heir to 100 years of engagement of the churches acting together in mission and evangelism. While mission has always meant a clear witness to the gospel, it increasingly is seen too as fostering solidarity and respect for people’s dignity. The Spirit of God leads all people to seek truth, justice and peace, and in doing so embodying the prayer of Jesus that “they may all be one.”
As a privileged instrument of the global ecumenical movement, the WCC not only creates space for those within the fellowship but reaches out to those beyond its own communities, entering into dialogue and sharing with the Roman Catholic Church, Evangelicals and Pentecostals and now also with those of other faiths through inter-religious dialogue.
Projects and activities include:
Mission from the margins
As an expression of its commitment to justice, human dignity and liberation the WCC, since its inception, has been a reliable partner of discriminated and excluded people in their struggles. This is a theological activity with people who are exposed to racism, indigenous peoples, migrants, Dalits and people with disabilities.
Commission on Faith and Order
The Faith and Order Commission promotes visible unity of Christians by dealing with theological questions that divide churches.
Migration and social justice
The WCC supports churches' networking and advocacy with uprooted people, and their efforts to explore the links between migration, racism and interfaith relations.
Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
The WCC is a committed and consistent partner for Indigenous Peoples in their struggles for land, identity, language and survival of indigenous cultures.
Commission on World Mission and Evangelism
The CWME offers spaces for sharing reflections, experiences, questions and discoveries on content and methods of Christian witness today.
Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN)
Advocating for the participation of persons with disabilities in the spiritual, social and development life of church and society
Ecumenical perspectives on mission and unity
This project brings the WCC's specific ecumenical perspective and experience to international dialogue and debate on mission and evangelism in the 21st century.
JWG with the Roman Catholic Church
Among those churches which are not members of the WCC, the most notable is the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). Since 1965 a Joint Working Group, co-sponsored by the WCC and the RCC, has met regularly to discuss issues of common interest and promote cooperation.
Joint Consultative Group between the WCC and Pentecostals
The Joint Consultative Group between the WCC and Pentecostals (JCG) was set up following a decision of the WCC Assembly in Harare 1998.
