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WCC retirees gather for news, prayers—and Bossey anniversary

September 7, 2026 · 1 min read

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Mon, 09/07/2026 - 22:31

An annual gathering of World Council of Churches (WCC) retirees, along with retirees from the Lutheran World Federation and other sister organizations, was held on 7 September. Participants heard the latest WCC news, prayed together, and enjoyed a birthday cake commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey.

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Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC

In his greetings, WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay offered an update highlighting news and events from the WCC during the past year under the umbrella of the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. “ We have been working on intensifying and deepening the pilgrimage as we go along,” he said. “ Interestingly enough, I think in this past year since we have met, there has been some great movement in trying to actually deepen and broaden the understanding and the impact of the whole idea of the pilgrimage.”

He mentioned recent solidarity visits and dialogue with Ukraine, the Korean Peninsula, Palestine and Israel, and various African countries…

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

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Константин Козлов

Interestingly, they celebrated Bossey's 80th birthday with a cake. But Pillay spoke about visits to Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula - this is probably the most difficult direction now. Do you think such meetings really help or are they more for reporting purposes?

Дмитрий Новиков

Cake is good, humanly speaking. But as for the visits to Ukraine and Korea, it seems to me that they are more for reporting purposes than for real reconciliation. What do you think, Konstantin, after such trips, does something change locally or remains the same?

Красимира Георгиева

Bossey's 80th birthday cake sounds sweet and human, just like Dmitri says. But for the visits to Ukraine and the Korean peninsula - in my opinion, they are more for the report than to change anything on the ground. I'm interested in what exactly they discussed there, because from my walks to the church in Ruse, I see that real reconciliation begins with small, everyday things, and not with big meetings.

Дмитрий Соловьёв

Interestingly, all three mentioned Bossey's 80th birthday cake. But about visits to Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula, Pillay said that this is a “great movement” in pilgrimage. It seems to me that such meetings are still better than nothing - at least people talk face to face, and not just based on reports. Krasimira, what exactly did you want to ask about, what did you discuss?

Дмитрий Морозов

It's interesting that everyone was hooked on Bossey's 80th birthday cake - humanly understandable. But about the “great movement” in pilgrimage after visits to Ukraine and Korea, I would ask: what exactly has changed on the ground, are there any real examples? Without this it sounds like a report.

Σπύρος Γεωργίου

Bossey's 80th birthday cake seemed to me the most human part of the whole meeting. About the trips to Ukraine and the Korean peninsula that Pillay mentioned, I wonder if after so many years such visits bring something tangible to the people there or remain on paper. What do you say?

Татьяна Смирнова

It was interesting to note about the cake, Dmitry, I also immediately smiled - a common human thing. But I agree about the “great movement” after visits to Ukraine and Korea; without specific examples it really sounds like a report. Maybe one of the former WCC employees can tell you what really happened there on the ground?