WCC general secretary calls for faithful leadership, reconciliation, and hope

WCC general secretary calls for faithful leadership, reconciliation, and hope

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Fri, 09/18/2026 - 16:19

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay called for courageous, transformative leadership in a world marked by conflict, division, and uncertainty, as the WCC Reference Group for the Pilgrimage for Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity began its meeting in Vancouver, Canada.

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WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay delivers his sermon at the Epiphany Chapel of the Vancouver School of Theology on 17 September.

Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC

In a sermon, delivered on 17 September during the opening welcome service of the new academic semester at the Vancouver School of Theology, joined by the members of the WCC Reference Group, Pillay drew on the biblical story of Esther.

He invited students and ecumenical participants to consider their calling “ for such a time as this,” amid wars, displacement, inequality, racism, religious intolerance, polarization, and the ecological crisis.

The WCC general secretary emphasized that theological education must lead not simply…