“Their (the young people’s) aspirations and interests need to be heard and their involvement needs to continue well beyond the event,” Kobia stated. He later mentioned that in all areas, “we need to find new ways of enabling youth participation, and creative approaches to ecumenical formation and leadership training, in order that we may see young people becoming central actors in the WCC, now and in the future.”
“Secondly,” he added, “I am convinced that the ecumenical movement will have to take spirituality much more seriously in order to nourish and more fully undergird our ecumenical experience together.”
The general secretary also emphasised that the WCC “is, first and foremost, a fellowship of churches” and expressed his hope of finding ways of working together “that will strengthen our sense of ownership and participation.”
Kobia reminded WCC members that the core mission of the Council is to promote visible Christian unity.
In concluding, the WCC general secretary urged members not to underestimate “the real potential of the churches together to contribute to the transformation of the world, in spite of the reality of the difficulties we face.”
“With common faith and a renewed hope, anything is possible,” he said.
“May this Assembly once more ‘set up signs’ of a common and visible Christian voice and witness, for a transformed world.”
The 9th assembly of the World Council of Churches will be the fellowship’s first assembly to be held in Latin America. It is being hosted by the National Council of Christian Churches in Brazil (CONIC) on behalf of churches throughout the region. Pre-assembly events for youth and for women will be held from Feb. 11-13.
Joseph Alvarez
Christian Today Correspondent
