A Special Message on the 78th Anniversary of the World Council of Churches
A Special Message on the 78th Anniversary of the World Council of Churches
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Fri, 08/21/2026 - 14:57
A Special Message by the Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary on the 78th Anniversary of the WCC.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Dear Friends and Partners in the Ecumenical Movement,
On 23 August 2026, the World Council of Churches (WCC) marks its 78th anniversary.
With grateful hearts, we pause to remember the historic journey that began in 1948 in Amsterdam, when representatives of churches from around the world gathered in the aftermath of the Second World War and declared, in faith and hope, that “Christ makes us one.”
Seventy-eight years later, we give thanks to God for the faithfulness that has sustained the World Council of Churches through generations. We remember with gratitude all those who have prayed, served, sacrificed and worked tirelessly for the unity of the church and for God's mission in the world.
This anniversary is, above all, a celebration of God's faithfulness.
The WCC has travelled through remarkable and turbulent times: the Cold War, struggles against racism and apartheid,…
