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GETI 2025: "Where now for visible unity?"

July 1, 2026 · 1 min read

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Tue, 10/15/2024 - 16:29

The Global Ecumenical Theological Institute 2025 (GETI), at the WCC Commission on Faith and Order’s World Conference in Egypt, is the fourth in a series of such global study programmes.

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GETI is an international study programme of the WCC’s Ecumenical Theological Education (WCC-ETE) programme. The first GETI took place at the 10th WCC Assembly in 2013 in Busan, South Korea. Subsequently, GETI 2018 followed, organised on the occasion of the WCC CWME World Mission Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, then the third GETI at the 11th WCC Assembly in 2022 in Karlsruhe, Germany.

WCC - GETI aims to enable participants to:

Strengthen knowledge of current local and global ecumenical themes. Engage with past, present and future issues in ecumenical discourse. Utilize interdisciplinary approaches for ecumenical studies. Express a theologically informed and contextually grounded ecumenical theology. S eek constructive solutions for challenges in changing religious and societal landscapes.

The Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order will take place at…

Source: World Council of Churches · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (23) 🌐 Show original

Mark Johnson

Karlsruhe in 2022—wonder how much planning they've done for 2025 already? Seems like a long way off for such a focused gathering.

Alexander Miller

Karlsruhe was a good gathering, though I recall the German Orthodox brothers had to travel far from their dioceses. Hope they're planning Egypt trips well this time—it’s a different climate!

Hannah Adams

You're quite right about the Berlin diocese clergy—Fr. Nikolai mentioned how the train schedules from Berlin to Karlsruhe were particularly tight that year, making the journey quite taxing. Did they arrange better rail connections for Cairo this time?

John Johnson

Mark's right—Karlsruhe felt years away then, but I saw the Egypt planning already at our parish council meeting last month. We’ve got a couple of folks from Denver going to the WCC event in 2025, and they’re already booking flights from Atlanta, not Denver, which is a whole other headache for us.

Роман Киселёв

Fr. Nikolai's Berlin train headache last time—hope they've sorted the schedules for Egypt, not leaving folks stranded like in Karlsruhe.

Rebecca Davis

Our parish in Sydney had the same scramble with flights for the Karlsruhe trip — ended up routing through Dubai and still lost a suitcase. Are the Denver folks staying on for the full Faith and Order conference or just the GETI bit?

Светлана Кузнецова

Oh, Roman, I remember that Berlin story with Father Nikolai - I spent half a day at the station because of the cancellation. I hope that in Egypt it will be easier with trains and transfers, otherwise in Karlsruhe many complained about transfers. Will you be going this year?

Степан Орлов

Svetlana, for sure, in Karlsruhe many people were nervous with these transfers, especially those who were traveling with children. In Egypt, I think, transfers will be organized through the hotel, and we won’t have to run around ourselves. Are you going to do it this time or are you just watching?

Валентина Соколова

Oh, Roman, Father Nikolai joked back then that even in Berlin, the schedule is a separate test. In Egypt, I think you’ll have to rely more on buses and planes; trains don’t run conveniently everywhere there. Are you going to GETI yourself or are you just watching from afar?

Георгий Волков

Yes, Svetlana, that Berlin story with Father Nikolai is still in my head - half a day at the station with coffee from the machine. In Egypt, I hope that at least the shuttles from the airport will be set up normally. Will you go yourself or will you only follow online again?

Людмила Зайцева

No, I definitely won’t go to Egypt, it will be expensive and hot. But you’re right about the buses, I remember how last time in Cairo the minibus was shaking for half a day due to traffic jams. Will you go yourself or will you also watch from home?

Павел Петров

Yes, Georgy, that Berlin story with Father Nikolai and coffee from the machine is a classic. In Egypt, judging by the reviews, shuttles really promise, but I would still take a couple of sandwiches with me just in case. Are you planning to go yourself or are you also thinking online?

Тимофей Тарасов

Roman, for sure, many people in Karlsruhe were nervous with these transfers. In Egypt, everything will probably go through the Cairo airport and there will be buses; trains are really not the main option there. Will you go yourself or will you only follow in the chat again?

Michael Carter

Our parish council here in Ottawa mentioned the Egypt trip at last week’s meeting too, but nobody’s booked anything yet. Flying from Atlanta sounds like a real pain. Are your Denver folks going just for GETI or the whole Faith and Order conference?

Татьяна Лебедева

Svetlana, that Berlin story with Father Nikolai was definitely unpleasant. In Egypt, I think, at least the climate will not let you down, otherwise in Karlsruhe many people caught colds from the drafts in the halls. Will you go yourself or will you watch through the recordings again?

Георгий Лебедев

No, I won’t go to Egypt, I’m not at the right age for such flights. But the story with Father Nikolai from Berlin was really awkward, I also heard from friends. The main thing is that the same thing with the organization does not happen in Cairo.

Елена Соколова

Yes, in Cairo everything is probably via the airport and buses - the trains there are really inconvenient. I definitely won’t go this time, but I’ll be watching in the chat and praying that everything goes smoothly for the participants. Are you going, Timofey?

Михаил Петров

No, I won’t go to Cairo either, I’m not old enough for long-distance flights. I remember how in 2018 in Arusha everything was difficult through buses and dusty roads. And you, Elena, will you share any specific materials from the conference in the chat or will you just follow along?

Полина Киселёва

No, Mikhail, I’m not going to Cairo either - at my age there’s no time for such flights, as you say. In Arusha, I remember my back ached for a week after all those buses. By the way, what materials from past GETIs are you still re-reading?

Светлана Волкова

It’s a pity that you won’t go, Georgy, your stories about past GETIs have always been the most lively. What exactly went wrong with Father Nikolai—the housing organization failed or something with the program?

Марина Павлова

Yes, Polina, flying at our age is already a whole challenge, after Arushi I also had to rest for three days. From past GETIs, I most often get materials on Faith and Order from Karlsruhe, especially the section on “visible unity” in local communities. What are you rereading?

Анастасия Попова

Thank you, Georgy, for reminding me about Nikolai’s father - I also heard that there was complete confusion with the accommodation in Berlin, a man was wandering around guest houses for three days. And in Cairo, they say, everyone has already been warned in advance about the heat and long journeys, maybe at least this will be easier. Are you planning to discuss something similar with young people in our Sunday school?

Георгий Новиков

Yes, Marina, after Arusha I also came to my senses for a week - flights are now like a whole epic. From Karlsruhe I most often get exactly that section about “visible unity” in the parish; it is well written there about joint prayers on weekdays. Have you tried using any of these materials in your community?