ECLOF and an Economy of Life - WCC general secretary keynote address on the 80th anniversary of ECLOF International

ECLOF and an Economy of Life - WCC general secretary keynote address on the 80th anniversary of ECLOF International

msc

Wed, 11/11/2026 - 16:00

Dear sisters and brothers, representatives of ECLOF International and its member institutions, leaders of churches and national councils of churches, and ecumenical partners, it is such a joy to join you in celebrating the 80 th anniversary of ECLOF International. Eighty years is a significant milestone. 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.

Today, we celebrate more than the longevity of an institution. We celebrate an ecumenical witness to the conviction that finance can serve people rather than profit alone; and that economic relationships can (and must) be shaped by justice, solidarity and mutual responsibility.

ECLOF’s story is a story of faith made practical: of churches and communities sharing resources, building trust, and creating opportunities for people whom conventional financial systems have too often left behind. It is also a story…