World Council of Churches - wikipedia World Council of Churches This article relies too much on references to primary sources. Please improve this by adding secondary or tertiary sources. ( August 2014 ) World Council of Churches logo The World Council of Churches ( WCC ) is a worldwide inter-church organization founded in 1948. Its members today include the Assyrian Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, most jurisdictions of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Old Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, most mainline Protestant churches ( such as the Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Moravian and Reformed ) and some evangelical Protestant churches ( such as the Baptist and Pentecostal ). Notably, the Roman Catholic Church is not a member, although it sends accredited observers to meetings. The WCC arose out of the ecumenical movement and has as its basis the following statement : The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the scriptures, and therefore seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of the one God : Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a community of churches on the way to visible unity in one faith and one eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and in common life in Christ. It seeks to advance towards this unity, as Jesus prayed for his followers, `` so that the world may believe. '' ( John 17 : 21 ) The WCC describes itself as `` a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. '' It is based at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization 's members include denominations which claim to collectively represent some 590 million people across the world in about 150 countries, including 520,000 local congregations served by 493,000 pastors and priests, in addition to elders, teachers, members of parish councils and others. Contents 1 History 2 Events and presidents 2.1 Assemblies 2.2 Presidents 2.3 General secretaries 3 Commissions and teams 3.1 Diakonia and development and international relations commissions 3.2 Faith and Order Commission 3.2. 1 Texts 3.3 Justice, Peace and Creation Commission 3.4 Relations with the Catholic Church 3.5 Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC 4 Peace journalism 5 Spin - offs and related organizations 6 Regional / national councils 7 Criticism 7.1 Alleged neglect of suffering church in Eastern Europe 7.2 Claims of infiltration and influence by the KGB 7.3 Attitude towards Israel 7.4 Opposition to Christian Zionism 8 See also 9 References 9.1 Citations 9.2 Sources 10 Further reading 11 External links History The Ecumenical Movement met with initial successes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910 ( chaired by future WCC Honorary President John R. Mott ). In 1920, the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Germanus V of Constantinople, wrote a letter `` addressed ' To all the Churches of Christ, wherever they may be ', urging closer co-operation among separated Christians, and suggesting a ' League of Churches ', parallel to the newly founded League of Nations ''. Church leaders agreed in 1937 to establish a World Council of Churches, based on a merger of the Faith and Order Movement ( under Charles Brent of the Episcopal Church of the United States ) and Life and Work Movement ( under Nathan Söderblom of the Lutheran Church of Sweden ) organisations. Its official establishment was deferred with the outbreak of World War II until August 23, 1948. Delegates of 147 churches assembled in Amsterdam to merge the Faith and Order Movement and Life and Work Movement. This was consolidated by a second meeting at Lund in 1950, for which the British Methodist Robert Newton Flew edited an influential volume of studies, The Nature of the Church. Subsequent mergers were with the International Missionary Council in 1961 and the World Council of Christian Education, with its roots in the 18th century Sunday School movement, in 1971. WCC member churches include most of the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches ; numerous Protestant churches, including the Anglican Communion, some Baptists, many Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian and other Reformed, a sampling of united and independent churches, and some Pentecostal churches ; and some Old Catholic churches. Many churches who refused to join the WCC joined together to form the World Evangelical Alliance. Delegates sent from the member churches meet every seven or eight years in an Assembly, which elects a Central Committee that governs between Assemblies. A variety of other committees and commissions answer to the Central Committee and its staff. Assemblies have been held since 1948. The `` human rights abuses in communist countries evoked grave concern among the leaders of the World Council of Churches. '' However, historian Christopher Andrew claims that, during the Cold War, a number of important WCC representatives of the Orthodox Church in Eastern Europe had been working for the KGB, and that they influenced the policy of the WCC. From 1955 to 1958, Robert S. Bilheimer co-chaired a WCC international commission to prepare a document addressing the threat of nuclear warfare during the Cold War. At the 1961 conference, a 32 - year - old Russian Orthodox Bishop named Aleksey Ridiger was sent as delegate to the assembly, and then appointed to the WCC 's central committee. He was later elected as Russian patriarch in 1990 as Alexei II. The ninth assembly took place in Porto Alegre, Brazil in February 2006, under the theme `` God, in your grace, transform the world ''. During the first Assemblies, theologians Vasileios Ioannidis and Amilkas Alivizatos contributed significantly to the debates that led to the drafting of the `` Toronto Statement '', a foundational document which facilitated Eastern Orthodox participation in the organization and today it constitutes its ecclesiological charter. The 10th Assembly was held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 30 October to 8 November 2013. In 2013 Dr. Agnes Abuom of Nairobi, from the Anglican Church of Kenya, was elected as moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches ; she is the first woman and the first African to hold this position. Events and presidents Assemblies The World Council of Churches held 10 Assemblies to date, starting with the founding assembly in 1948 : Amsterdam, Netherlands, 22 August -- 4 September 1948 Evanston, Illinois, United States, 15 -- 31 August 1954 New Delhi, India, 19 November -- 5 December 1961 Uppsala, Sweden, 4 -- 20 July 1968 Nairobi, Kenya, 23 November -- 10 December 1975 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 24 July -- 10 August 1983 Canberra, ACT, Australia, 7 -- 21 February 1991 Harare, Zimbabwe, 3 -- 14 December 1998 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 14 -- 23 February 2006 Busan, South Korea, 30 October -- 8 November 2013 Presidents Presidents of the current 10th Assembly are : Africa : The Rev. Dr. Mary - Anne Plaatjies van Huffel ( Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa ) Asia : The Rev. Dr. Chang Sang ( Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea ) Europe : Archbishop Anders Wejryd ( Church of Sweden ) Latin America and Caribbean : The Rev. Gloria Nohemy Ulloa Alvarado ( Presbyterian Church in Colombia ) North America : The Rt Revd Mark L. MacDonald ( Anglican Church of Canada ) Pacific : The Rev. Dr. Mele'ana Puloka ( Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga ) Eastern Orthodox : John X of Antioch ( Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch ) Oriental Orthodox : Karekin II ( Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church ) Former presidents of the World Council of Churches include : Rev. Martin Niemöller, the famous Protestant anti-Nazi theologian T.C. Chao, Chinese theologian General secretaries Since the World Council of Churches was officially founded in 1948, the following men have served as general secretary : Years Name Churches Nationality 1948 -- 1966 W.A. Visser ' t Hooft Reformed Churches in the Netherlands / Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Geneva Netherlands 1966 -- 1972 Eugene Carson Blake United Presbyterian Church ( USA ) United States 1972 -- 1984 Philip A. Potter Methodist Church Dominica 1985 -- 1992 Emilio Castro Evangelical Methodist Church of Uruguay Uruguay 1993 -- 2003 Konrad Raiser Evangelical Church in Germany ( EKD ) Germany 2004 -- 2009 Samuel Kobia Methodist Church in Kenya Kenya 2010 -- present Olav Fykse Tveit Church of Norway Norway Commissions and teams There are two complementary approaches to ecumenism : dialogue and action. The Faith and Order Movement and Life and Work Movement represent these approaches. These approaches are reflected in the work of the WCC in its commissions, these being : Echos - Commission on Youth ( ages 18 -- 30 ) Commission of the Churches on Diakonia and Development Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation Commission of the Churches on International Affairs Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation Commission on World Mission and Evangelism Faith and Order Plenary Commission and the Faith and Order Standing Commission Joint Consultative Group with Pentecostals Joint Working Group WCC -- Roman Catholic Church ( Vatican ) Reference Group on the Decade to Overcome Violence Reference Group on Inter-Religious Relations Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC Diakonia and Development and International relations commissions The WCC acts through both its member churches and other religious and social organizations to coordinate ecumenical, evangelical, and social action. Current WCC programs include a Decade to Overcome Violence, an international campaign to combat AIDS / HIV in Africa and the Justice, Peace and Creation initiative. Faith and Order Commission Main article : Faith and Order Commission WCC 's Faith and Order Commission has been successful in working toward consensus on Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, on the date of Easter, on the nature and purpose of the church ( ecclesiology ), and on ecumenical hermeneutics. Texts Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry ( Faith and Order Paper No. 111, the `` Lima Text '' ; 1982 ) The Churchː Towards a Common Vision ( Faith and Order Paper no. 214 ; 2013 ) after The Nature and Mission of the Church -- A Stage on the Way to a Common Statement ( Faith and Order Paper no. 198 ; 2005 ) and The Nature and Purpose of the Church ( Faith and Order Paper no. 181 ; 1998 ) Towards a Common Date of Easter Justice, Peace and creation Commission Justice, Peace and Creation has drawn many elements together with an environmental focus. Its mandate is : To analyze and reflect on justice, peace and creation in their interrelatedness, to promote values and practices that make for a culture of peace, and to work towards a culture of solidarity with young people, women, Indigenous Peoples and racially and ethnically oppressed people. Focal issues have been globalization and the emergence of new social movements ( in terms of people bonding together in the struggle for justice, peace, and the protection of creation ). Attention has been given to issues around : economy environment Indigenous Peoples peace people with disabilities racism women youth Relations with the Catholic Church The largest Christian body, the Catholic Church, is not a member of the WCC, but has worked closely with the Council for more than three decades and sends observers to all major WCC conferences as well as to its Central Committee meetings and the Assemblies ( cf. Joint Working Group ). The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity also nominates 12 members to the WCC 's Faith and Order Commission as full members. While not a member of the WCC, the Roman Catholic Church is a member of some other ecumenical bodies at regional and national levels, for example, the National Council of Churches in Australia and the National Council of Christian Churches in Brazil ( CONIC ). Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC A Special Commission was set up by the eighth Harare Assembly in December 1998 to address Orthodox concerns about WCC membership and the Council 's decision - making style, public statements, worship practices, and other issues. It issued its final report in 2006. Specific issues that it clarified were that the WCC does not formulate doctrine, does not have authority to rule on moral issues, nor does it have any ecclesiastical authority. Such authority is entirely internal to each individual member church. It proposed that the WCC adopt a consensus method of decision making. It proposed that Orthodox members be brought in parity with non-Orthodox members. It further proposed clarification that inter-confessional prayer at WCC events is not worship, particularly `` it should avoid giving the impression of being the worship of a church '', and confessional and inter-confessional prayer each be specifically identified as such at WCC events. It also clarified that the so - called `` Lima Liturgy '' is not an interfaith eucharistic service : ' the WCC is not ' hosting ' a eucharist '. Peace journalism The WCC is also a prominent supporter and practitioning body for Peace journalism : journalism practice that aims to avoid a value bias in favor of violence that often characterizes coverage of conflict. Spin - offs and related organizations The ACT Alliance, bringing together over 100 church - backed relief and development organizations worldwide, was born out of the merger of ACT International ( Action by Churches Together International ) and ACT Development ( Action by Churches Together for Development ) in March 2010. Both ACT International, established in 1995, and ACT Development ( 2007 ) were created through the leadership of the World Council of Churches ( WCC ). The two bodies coordinated the work of agencies related to the member churches of the WCC and the Lutheran World Federation in the areas of humanitarian emergencies and poverty reduction respectively. The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance was officially founded in December 2000 at a meeting convened by the WCC. There are currently 73 churches and Christian organizations that are members of the Alliance, from Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant traditions. These members, representing a combined constituency of tens of millions of people around the world, are committed to working together in public witness and action for justice on defined issues of common concern. Current campaigns are on Food and on HIV and AIDS. The Ecumenical Church Loan Fund ( ECLOF ) was founded in 1946 as one of the world 's first international micro-credit institutions in the service of the poor. Willem Visser ' t Hooft, then general secretary of the `` WCC in process of formation '' played an important role in founding ECLOF. It was he who sketched the prospects and challenges for the proposed institution and gave specific ideas on potential sources of funds. His inspiration and teamwork marked the beginning of a long and fruitful cooperation between ECLOF and the WCC. The Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society U.A ( now known as Oikocredit ) was developed from discussions at the 1968 Uppsala 4th Assembly, regarding church divestment from financial institutions supporting apartheid - era South Africa and the war in Vietnam. After several years of planning, the cooperative society was founded in 1975 in the Netherlands to provide an alternative ethical investment vehicle to church institutions, by providing credit to productive enterprises serving economically disadvantaged populations. Originally organized for large institutional members of the WCC, by 1976 local congregations developed Support Associations to enable congregations as well as individuals to participate. EDCS became independent from the WCC in 1977. Ecumenical News International ( ENI ) was launched in 1994 as a global news service reporting on ecumenical developments and other news of the churches, and giving religious perspectives on news developments worldwide. The joint sponsors of ENI, which was based at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, are the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches, which also have their headquarters at the Ecumenical Centre. A shortage of funds led to the suspension of the work of ENI in 2012 As of 2015 ENI remains closed. Regional / national councils The WCC has not sought the organic union of different Christian denominations, but it has, however, facilitated dialogue and supported local, national, and regional dialogue and cooperation. Membership in a regional or national council does not mean that the particular group is also a member of the WCC. Africa -- All Africa Conference of Churches Organization of African Instituted Churches Asia ( including Australia and New Zealand ) -- Christian Conference of Asia ( CCA ), Hong Kong National Council of Churches in Australia National Council of Churches in the Philippines Caribbean -- Caribbean Conference of Churches Europe -- Conference of European Churches, Geneva, Switzerland Latin America -- Latin American Council of Churches Middle East -- Middle East Council of Churches North America Canadian Council of Churches National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA Pacific -- Pacific Conference of Churches, Suva, Fiji Criticism Alleged neglect of suffering Church in Eastern Europe The US State Department alleged that the KGB 's influence directly, or through lobbying by means of a front organization, the Christian Peace Conference, resulted in the WCC 's failure to recognize or act on calls for help from persecuted East European Christians at the 1983 Vancouver General Assembly. Claims of infiltration and influence by the KGB It is claimed the KGB has infiltrated and influenced past WCC councils and policy. In 1992, Father Gleb Yakunin, a vice Chairman of a Russian parliamentary commission that investigated the activities of the KGB, citing verbatim KGB reports, claimed that its Fifth Directorate was actively involved in influencing WCC policy from 1967 to 1989. For example, in the 1983 WCC General Assembly in Vancouver, one cited document described the presence and activities of 47 KGB agents to secure the election of an `` acceptable '' candidate as General Secretary. The Mitrokhin Archive reveals more about the depth of the penetration and influence wielded by the KGB over the WCC. Metropolitan Nikidim was a KGB agent, codenamed ADAMANT, who served as one of six WCC Presidents from 1975 until his death. His earlier intervention had resulted in the WCC making no comment on the invasion of Czechoslovakia. As a result of his influence and that of other agents, it is claimed the USSR was rarely publicly criticised. In 1989, copies of the KGB documents claim `` the WCC executive and central committee adopted public statements ( eight ) and messages ( three ) '' which corresponded to its own political direction. Appeals from suffering dissidents both from within the Russian Orthodox Church and Protestants were ignored in 1983. Metropolitan Aleksi Ridiger of Tallinn and Estonia was repeatedly alleged to be a KGB agent codenamed DROZDOV, who in 1988 was awarded an honorary citation for services to the KGB by its chairman. Despite official disavowals, The Guardian described the evidence as `` compelling ''. In 1990 he became Aleksi II, the 15th Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. Upon his death in 2008, the WCC 's official tribute, by its Council officers, described him as `` courageous '', `` supportive and constructive '' and the recipient of `` abundant blessing '', no reference was made to the allegations. Attitude towards Israel The World Council of Churches has been described as taking an adversarial position toward the state of Israel. It has also been claimed the council has focused particularly on activities and publications criticizing Israel in comparison with other human rights issues. Because the WCC never opposed or had any official comments on the destruction of Jewish religious sites in the Middle East, but has constantly complained about Israel 's alleged crimes towards Christian sites in Israel, Israel has pointedly ignored the WCC for 50 years and often stated that the WCC 's opinions on Israel are hypocritical to the point of being bankrupt. It is similarly claimed that it downplayed appeals from Egyptian Copts about human rights abuses under Sadat and Mubarak, in order to focus on its neighbour. In 2009, the Council called for an international boycott on goods produced in Israeli settlements, which it described as ' illegal, unjust ' and ' incompatible with peace '. In 2013, the General Secretary was reported to claim in Cairo, `` We support the Palestinians. The WCC supports the Palestinians, because they are in the right. '' The WCC 's Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel ( EAPPI ) has been criticised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews for promoting `` an inflammatory and partisan programme at the expense of its interfaith relations ''. The WCC secretariat was involved in preparing and helped disseminate the Kairos Palestine Document, which declares `` the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is a sin against God and humanity because it deprives the Palestinians of their basic human rights '', and in the view of one critic, its `` authors want to see a single state ``. On the other hand, the WCC claims `` Antisemitism is sin against God and man ''. Opposition to Christian Zionism Christian Zionism, which has long represented a substantial proportion of historic and contemporary Protestants, is characterised as a view which `` distort ( s ) the interpretation of the Word of God '' and `` damage ( s ) intra-Christian relations ''. In this context, what is a source of concern is that Islamic fundamentalisms are giving rise to a counter reaction of other religious fundamentalisms, the most dangerous of which is Jewish fundamentalism which exploits the Islamic fundamentalist phenomenon to justify before western societies the distasteful aberrations of Zionism in Palestine. -- WCC working paper, Lebanon, May 2013 See also Christian denominations in English - speaking world International associations Interdenominational associations World Council of Churches World Evangelical Alliance Denominational associations Friends World Committee for Consultation Mennonite World Conference Anglican Communion Baptist World Alliance World Convention of Churches of Christ Eastern Orthodox Church Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference International Lutheran Council Lutheran World Federation World Methodist Council Pentecostal World Conference International Conference of Reformed Churches Reformed Ecumenical Council World Communion of Reformed Churches World Reformed Fellowship Regional associations Africa All Africa Conference of Churches ( AACC ) Association of Evangelicals of Africa ( AEA ) All Africa Baptist Fellowship Africa Lutheran Communion Asia Christian Conference of Asia ( CCA ) Evangelical Fellowship of Asia Asia Pacific Baptist Federation Asia Lutheran Communion Caribbean Caribbean Conference of Churches ( CCC ) Evangelical Association of the Caribbean Caribbean Baptist Fellowship Europe Conference of European Churches ( CEC ) European Evangelical Alliance European Baptist Federation Pentecostal European Fellowship Middle East Middle East Council of Churches ( MECC ) Latin America Latin American Council of Churches ( CLAI ) Latin American Evangelical Fellowship ( FIDE ) Union of Baptists in Latin America North America North American Baptist Fellowship Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council Pacific Pacific Conference of Churches ( PCC ) Evangelical Fellowship of the South Pacific ( EFSP ) Asia Pacific Baptist Federation Australia Christian denominations in Australia Australian interchurch Australian Evangelical Alliance website National Council of Churches Catholic and Anglican Anglican Church of Australia Roman Catholic Church Holiness and Pietist Christian and Missionary Alliance Christian Outreach Centre Church of the Nazarene Salvation Army Seventh - day Adventist Church Historical Protestantism Australian Friends Australian Baptist Ministries Open Brethren Christian Reformed Churches of Australia Churches of Christ Fellowship of Congregational Churches Lutheran Church of Australia Presbyterian Church of Australia Uniting Church in Australia Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia Orthodox Antiochian Orthodox of Australia and New Z. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Serbian Orthodox of Australia and New Z. Non-Chalcedonic Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia Pentecostal and related Australian Christian Churches ( AOG ) Christian City Church Intl. CRC Churches International Revival Centres International Vineyard Churches Australia Worldwide Church of God Other LDS Church Canada Canadian Christian bodies Canadian interchurch Canadian Council of Churches Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America North Am. Presbyterian and Reformed Council Anabaptist and Friends Canadian Mennonite Brethren Churches Canadian Yearly Meeting ( Quakers ) Mennonite Church Canada Baptist and Stone - Campbell Baptist Association of Regular Baptist Churches Baptist General Conference of Canada Canadian Baptist Ministries Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists Fellowship of Evgcl. Baptist Churches, Canada North American Baptist Conference Stone - Campbell Restoration Movement Christian Church ( Disciples of Christ ) Evangelical Christian Church in Canada Catholic and Anglican Anglican Church of Canada Anglican Church in North America Polish National Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg Holiness and Pietist Christian and Missionary Alliance, Canada Church of the Nazarene Evangelical Free Church of Canada The Salvation Army Wesleyan Church Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Lutheran Church -- Canada Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Methodist British Methodist Episcopal Church Free Methodist Church in Canada United Church of Canada Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Eastern Orthodox Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, N.Am. Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto ( Canada ) Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Canada Orthodox Church in America American - Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada Oriental Orthodox Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Am. Coptic Orthodox Church in Canada Syncretic Evangelical Orthodox Church Pentecostal Apostolic Church of Pentecost Canadian Assemblies of God Church of God of Prophecy Intl. Foursquare Gospel, Canada Intl. Pentecostal Holiness Church Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Pentecostal Church of God Oneness Pentecostal United Pentecostal Church Intl. Presbyterian and Reformed Canadian and American Reformed Churches Christian Reformed Church in North America L'Église réformée du Québec Presbyterian Church in Canada Presbyterian Church in America Reformed Church in America United Church of Canada Other Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Plymouth Brethren Seventh - day Adventist Church in Canada LDS Church Vineyard Canada Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada Syncretic Evangelical Orthodox Church Ireland Irish Christian bodies Irish interchurch Irish Council of Churches Churches Together in Britain and Ireland Evangelical Alliance, UK Church of Ireland ( Anglican ) Association of Baptist Churches Roman Catholicism Assemblies of God Elim Pentecostal Church Presbyterian Church in Ireland Nigeria Christian denominations in Nigeria Nigerian interchurch Christian Association of Nigeria Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria African initiated Cherubim and Seraphim Society Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Church of God Mission International Church of the Lord ( Aladura ) Anglican The African Church Church of Nigeria Baptist, Anabaptist, DC Church of the Brethren in Nigeria Churches of Christ in Nigeria Mambila Baptist Convention of Nigeria Nigerian Baptist Convention Catholic Roman Catholic Church Holiness and Methodist African Methodist Episcopal Church in Nigeria Deeper Christian Life Ministry Redeemed Christian Church of God United Methodist Church of Nigeria Lutheran Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria Lutheran Church of Nigeria Pentecostal The Apostolic Church Nigeria Christ Apostolic Church General Council of the Assemblies of God Nigeria Gospel Faith Mission International Church of the Foursquare Gospel The Lord 's Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement New Apostolic Church in Nigeria Winners ' Chapel Presbyterian and Reformed Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria Church of Christ in Nigeria Church of Christ in the Sudan Among the Tiv Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ N.K.S.T Presbyterian Church of Nigeria Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria Other Protestant Evangelical Church of West Africa QIC - United Evangelical Church Seventh - day Adventist Church in Nigeria Word of Faith Ministries South Africa Christian denominations in South Africa South African interchurch South African Council of Churches Catholic and Anglican Anglican Church Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church Roman Catholicism Holiness and AIC Die Heilsleër Zion Christian Church Pentecostal Apostolic Faith Mission ( Assemblies of God ) Protestantism, Other Baptist Union Evangelical Lutheran Church LDS Church Methodist Church Reformed Dutch Reformed : NGK Dutch Reformed : NHK Evangelical Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Church of Africa Reformed Church in Africa Reformed Churches : GKSA United Congregational Church Uniting Presbyterian Church Uniting Reformed Church United Kingdom Christian denominations in the United Kingdom UK interchurch Affinity ( formerly British Evangelical Council ) Churches Together in Britain and Ireland Evangelical Alliance, UK Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches Churches Together in England Action of Churches Together, Scotland ( ACTS ) Churches Together in Wales Evangelical Movement of Wales Anglican Church of England Church of Ireland Scottish Episcopal Church Church in Wales Baptist Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland Baptist Union of Great Britain Baptist Union of Scotland Baptist Union of Wales Catholic Roman Catholicism Roman Catholicism in England and Wales Roman Catholicism in Ireland Roman Catholicism in Scotland Holiness and Pietist Church of the Nazarene Salvation Army Seventh - day Adventist Church Wesleyan Holiness Church Lutheran Lutheran Church in Great Britain Methodist and Wesleyan Methodist Church of Great Britain Methodist Church in Ireland New Church Movement Newfrontiers Pioneer Church Orthodox Greek Orthodox of G.B. ( Eastern Orthodox ) Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church of God in Christ Elim Pentecostal Church Presbyterian and Reformed Asso. Presbyterian Churches, Scotland Church of Scotland Congregational Federation Evangelical Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Church in Ireland Presbyterian Church of Wales United Free Church of Scotland United Reformed Church Other Newfrontiers LDS Church in England United States Christian denominations in the U.S. U.S. interchurch National Association of Evangelicals National Council of Churches Churches Uniting in Christ Anabaptist and Friends Church of the Brethren Mennonite Church USA Amish Anglican Anglican Church in North America Episcopal Church Baptist Alliance of Baptists American Baptist Association American Baptist Churches Baptist Bible Fellowship International Baptist Missionary Association of America Conservative Baptist Association of America Converge General Association of Regular Baptist Churches National Association of Free Will Baptists National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A. North American Baptist Conference Southern Baptist Convention Independent Baptist Churches African - American Baptist National Baptist Convention of America National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America Progressive National Baptist Convention Catholic Catholic Church in the United States Eastern Christian Eastern Orthodox Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Orthodox Church in America Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Serbian Orthodox Church in USA Oriental Orthodox Armenian Apostolic Church in USA Coptic Orthodox Church in USA Syriac Orthodox Church Holiness and Pietist Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of God ( Anderson, Indiana ) Evangelical Covenant Church Evangelical Free Church of America Church of the Nazarene The Salvation Army Seventh - day Adventist Church Wesleyan Church Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod North American Lutheran Church Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Methodist African Methodist Episcopal Church African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Free Methodist Church United Methodist Church Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church of God ( Cleveland, Tennessee ) Church of God in Christ Church of God of Prophecy Church on the Rock International Full Gospel Fellowship International Church of the Foursquare Gospel International Pentecostal Holiness Church Pentecostal Church of God Oneness Pentecostal Pentecostal Assemblies of the World United Pentecostal Church Intl. Presbyterian and Reformed Christian Reformed Church in North America Conservative Congregational Christian Conference Cumberland Presbyterian Church Evangelical Presbyterian Church Korean Presbyterian Church in America International Council of Community Churches National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Presbyterian Church ( USA ) Presbyterian Church in America Reformed Church in America United Church of Christ Stone - Campbell Christian Church ( Disciples of Christ ) Christian churches and churches of Christ Churches of Christ International Churches of Christ Other LDS Church Community of Christ Grace Gospel Fellowship IFCA International Jehovah 's Witnesses Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Plymouth Brethren Vineyard USA John R. Mott John Romanides Joseph Oldham Nathan Soderblom Charles Henry Brent Christian ecumenism Conference of Secretaries of World Christian Communions Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians World Summit of Religious Leaders Programme to Combat Racism Authorship of the Bible List of the largest Protestant bodies References Citations Jump up ^ `` Member list -- World Council of Churches ''. oikoumene.org. 2014. Retrieved 2014 - 11 - 12. Jump up ^ Cross & Livingstone The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church OUP ( 1974 ) art. Jump up ^ `` About us -- World Council of Churches ''. oikoumene.org. 2017. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 27. Jump up ^ single. Publications.oikoumene.org. Retrieved on 2013 - 08 - 09. Jump up ^ World Council of Churches -- World Council of Churches. Oikoumene.org ( 2013 - 08 - 04 ). Retrieved on 2013 - 08 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Who are we ? ''. World Council of Churches. 2003. Retrieved 2007 - 04 - 10. Jump up ^ Ware, Kallistos ( 29 April 1993 ). The Orthodox Church. Penguin Adult. p. 322. ISBN 9780140146561. From the beginning of the twentieth century the Ecumenical Patriarchate has shown a special concern for Christian reconciliation. At his accession in 1902, Patriarch Joachim III sent an encyclical letter to all the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches, asking in particular for their opinion on relations with other Christian bodies. In January 1920 the Ecumenical Patriarchate followed this up with a bold and prophetic letter addressed ' To all the Churches of Christ, wherever they may be ', urging closer co-operation among separated Christians, and suggesting a ' League of Churches ', parallel to the newly founded League of Nations. Many of the ideas in this letter anticipate subsequent developments in the WCC. Constantinople, along with several of the other Eastern Orthodox Churches, was represented at the Faith and Order Conferences at Lausanne in 1927 and at Edinburgh in 1937. The Ecumenical Patriarchate also participated in the first Assembly of the WCC at Amsterdam in 1948, and has been a consistent supporter of the work of the WCC ever since. Jump up ^ `` WCC Assemblies 1948 - today ''. World Council of Churches. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 22. Jump up ^ Flew 's ODNB entry : Retrieved 18 September 2011. Subscription required. Jump up ^ `` WEA - World Evangelical Alliance Est 1846 ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ Forsythe, David P. ( 2009 ). Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Volume 1. Oxford University Press. p. 277. ISBN 0195334027. ^ Jump up to : Christopher Andrew, `` KGB Foreign Intelligence from Brezhnev to the Coup '' ', in : Wesley K. Wark ( ed ), Espionage : past, present, future ?, Routledge, 1994, p. 52 : `` One recently declassified document of 1969 describes the work of five KGB agents on the WCC Central Committee and the appointment of another to a ' high WCC post '. A similar report from 1989 claims that, as a result of agent operations to implement ' a plan approved by the KGB leadership ', the WCC Executive and Central Committee adopted public statements ( eight ) and messages ( three ) which corresponded to the political course of Socialist ( Communist ) countries '. While it would be naive to take such boasting entirely a face value, there can be little doubt about the reality of Soviet penetration of the WCC. '' Jump up ^ Jonathan Gorry ( 2013 ). Cold War Christians and the Spectre of Nuclear Deterrence, 1945 - 1959. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 194. ISBN 113733424X. Jump up ^ John Gordon Garrard et al., Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent : Faith and Power in the New Russia., p. 37 f. Google books preview here ( 1 ). Jump up ^ `` Official Report of the Ninth Assembly of the World Council of Churches '' ( PDF ). World Council of Churches. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. 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Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry ( Faith and Order Paper no. 111, the `` Lima Text '' ) ``. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ Archived index at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Archived index at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Archived index at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Towards a Common Date for Easter ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` World Council of Churches -- World Council of Churches ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ Schmitthenner, Ulrich ( 1999 ). Contributions of churches and civil society to justice, peace and the integrity of creation : a compendium ( with CD - ROM ). Frankfurt, Germany : IKO. ISBN 3 - 88939 - 491 - 4. Jump up ^ `` JPC Concerns - economy ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` World Council of Churches -- World Council of Churches ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` World Council of Churches -- World Council of Churches ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` JPC Concerns - Peace ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ World Council of Churches -- World Council of Churches. Wcc-coe.org ( 2013 - 08 - 04 ). Retrieved on 2013 - 08 - 09. Jump up ^ `` World Council of Churches -- World Council of Churches ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` World Council of Churches -- World Council of Churches ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` World Council of Churches -- World Council of Churches ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ World Council of Churches ( 14 February 2006 ). `` Final report of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC ''. World Council of Churches. World Council of Churches. Retrieved 2014 - 08 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Living Letters visits to churches ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` WCC press release : Churches launch major humanitarian alliance ( 24 / 03 / 2010 ) ''. oikoumene.org. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 15. Jump up ^ `` WCC press release : Christian alliance for advocacy marks successes, future challenges ( 09 / 12 / 2010 ) ''. oikoumene.org. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 15. Jump up ^ `` ECLOF press release : Happy Birthday WCC ! ( Dec. 1998 ) ''. eclof.org. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 15. Jump up ^ Oikocredit. `` History of Oikocredit ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` eni.ch ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Ecumenical News International Suspends Operations ''. christianpost.com. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 15. Jump up ^ `` All Africa Conference of Churches ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Organization of African Instituted Cburches ''. Berkley Centre for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. Georgetown University. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 13. Jump up ^ `` Index ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` www.cec-kek.org ''. cec-kek.org. Archived from the original on 2005 - 07 - 14. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 15. Jump up ^ `` clailatino.org ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Middle East Council of Churches ''. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Pacificforum.com - Stay Tuned ! ''. Archived from the original on 2007 - 10 - 10. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Soviet Influences : A Report on Active Measures and Propaganda 1986 - 7 '' ( PDF ). US State Department Report. August 1987. p. 12. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2015 - 02 - 27. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 27. ^ Jump up to : Andrew, Christopher ; Mitrokhin, Vasili ( 1999 ). The Mitrokhin Archive. London : Penguin. ISBN 9780140284874. ^ Jump up to : Yakunin, Gleb ( January 1992 ). `` Argumenty i Fakty article cited in ' Soviet Active Measures in the `` Post-Cold War '' Era 1988 - 1991 ' - for the United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations by the United States Information Agency ``. Argumenty i Fakty ( published June 1992 ). Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 26. Jump up ^ Polosin, Vyacheslav ( Chair Russian Supreme Soviet 's Committee on Denominations and Freedom of Religion ), Megapolis Ekspress, January 21, 1992. Jump up ^ Besier, Gerhard ; Boyens, Armin ; Lindemann, Gerhard ( 1999 ). Nationaler Protestantismus und ökumenische Bewegung : kirchliches Handeln im Kalten Krieg ( 1945 - 1990 ). Berlin : Duncker & Humblot. p. 1074. ISBN 9783428100323. Jump up ^ Felix Corley ( 8 December 2008 ). `` Patriarch Alexy II : Priest who stayed close to the Kremlin while guiding the Russian Orthodox Church into the post-Soviet era ''. The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2008 - 12 - 07. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Confirmed : Russian Patriarch Worked with KGB ''. Catholic World News citing Keston Institute. 2000 - 09 - 22. Archived from the original on 2015 - 03 - 03. Retrieved 2015 - 03 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Russian Patriarch `` was KGB spy '' ) ``. The Guardian. 1999 - 02 - 12. Archived from the original on 2015 - 03 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Tributes from the General Secretary ''. World Council of Churhces. Archived from the original on 2015 - 02 - 27. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Patriarch Alexy II : a powerful voice, constructive and critical ''. World Council of Churches. 2008 - 12 - 05. Archived from the original on 2015 - 02 - 27. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 28. ^ Jump up to : Merkley, Paul ( March 1, 2007 ). Christian Attitudes Towards the State of Israel. Montreal : Mcgill Queens Univ Press. p. 284. ISBN 9780773532557. Jump up ^ Vermaat, J.A. Emerson ( November 1984 ), `` The World Council of Churches, Israel and the PLO '', Mid-Stream : 3 -- 9 Jump up ^ Rottenberg, Isaac ( 1989 ). The Turbulent Triangle : Christians - Jews - Israel : A Personal - Historical Account. Hawley, Pa. : Red Mountain Associates. pp. 61 -- 2. ISBN 9780899627465. Jump up ^ `` Statement on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ''. World Council of Churches website. 2009 - 09 - 02. Archived from the original on 2015 - 08 - 11. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 11. Jump up ^ `` World Council of Churches condemns Israeli occupation ''. World Bulletin. 2013 - 04 - 24. Archived from the original on 2015 - 02 - 20. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Board of Deputies statement on the Synod EAPPI vote ''. Jewish Chronicle. 2012 - 07 - 12. Retrieved 2014 - 08 - 02. Jump up ^ Lowe, Malcolm ( April 2010 ). `` The Palestinian KairosDocument : A Behind - the - Scenes Analysis ''. New English Review. Archived from the original on 2015 - 02 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Rosh Ha - Shanah greetings 2015 -- World Council of Churches ''. oikoumene.org. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 15. Jump up ^ `` A Wesley ' Zionist ' Hymn ? Charles Wesley 's hymn, published in 1762 and included by John Wesley in his 1780 hymn - book, A Collection of Hymns for the use of the People called Methodists ''. The Wesley Fellowship. 2010 - 07 - 01. Archived from the original on 2014 - 07 - 05. Retrieved 2014 - 07 - 05. Jump up ^ Lewis, Donald ( 2 January 2014 ). The Origins of Christian Zionism : Lord Shaftesbury And Evangelical Support For A Jewish Homeland. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. p. 380. ISBN 9781107631960. Jump up ^ `` Statement on Christian presence and witness in the Middle East ''. World Council of Churches and The Middle East Council of Churches International. 2013 - 05 - 25. Archived from the original on 2015 - 02 - 21. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 21. Jump up ^ `` World Council of Churches - Middle East Council of Churches International & Ecumenical Conference `` Christians in the Middle East : Presence and Witness '' '' ( PDF ). World Council of Churches website. 25 May 2013. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2015 - 02 - 20. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 20. Sources World Council of Churches. Members by country and by church Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 31. Further reading W.A. Visser ' t Hooft, The Genesis of the World Council of Churches, in : A History of The Ecumenical Movement 1517 -- 1948, R. Rose, S. Ch. Neill ( ed. ), London : SPCK 1967, second edition with revised bibliography, pp. 697 -- 724. External links Official website Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=World_Council_of_Churches&oldid=833324456 '' Categories : Religious organizations established in 1948 Christian organizations based in Europe Organisations based in Geneva World Council of Churches World Christianity Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Articles lacking reliable references from August 2014 All articles lacking reliable references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Ænglisc Asturianu Беларуская Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara Français 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Kiswahili Latina مصرى Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Română Русский Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Українська اردو 中文 31 more Edit links This page was last edited on 30 March 2018, at 21 : 35. 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Question: when was the world council of churches formed
Answer: 1948