Fifty years and seven Assemblies later, the reason for member churches of the World Council to hold an Assembly is less readily apparent. Moving pictures taken at the Amsterdam Assembly in 1948 provide glimpses of a different era, from the flickering black and white film itself to the cumbersome manual typewriters in the typing pool. The days required to travel to Amsterdam and the large volumes of preparatory materials to be read reflect a time when life moved at a different pace. The excitement of international contacts, as well as the optimism which accompanied early encounters between Christians of different confessions, made a global gathering of the churches a clear first step to unity. Now In 1998, however, it is no longer unusual for Christians to pray with Christians of other confessions.
International travel is part of life for an increasing number of people.
Television screens bring pictures from all parts of the globe into homes. New communication technologies and information networks provide contacts and resources undreamed of a few years ago. I believe it is. The WCC Constitution requires that delegates elected by member churches meet in Assembly every seven years to elect a Central Committee, to review how previously adopted policies have been implemented, and to determine future policies. But that is a constitutional answer and, correct as it is, not very satisfying.