WCC General Secretary Encourages Closer Partnership with German Church

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Rev Dr Samuel Kobia concluded his tour of Germany on 2 July. Since 28th June, Rev Kobia has been visiting the most prominent Christian group in Germany - the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) - both in Hanover and its Berlin headquarter, together with the other various EKD member churches. On his first trip as WCC General Secretary to visit member churches in Europe, Rev Kobia said that the visit to EKD signified the “strong relationship between WCC and German churches” and he expressed his intention to deepen that partnership.

In the light of the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010), Rev Kobia especially brought up the world peace issue as he met German political, civic and church leaders at St John’s reception in Berlin on 1st July.

Rev Kobia acknowledged the effort and pioneering work done on the globalisation by the German parliament. He described Germany as a country that could lead efforts to achieve the “global ideals” of “peace, justice and ecological protection”. This was especially meaningful to Germany since the country has been involved in very bloody violence in the past days of Europe.

Concerning globalisation, Rev Kobia lamented that “the process of globalisation driven by the neo-liberal economic paradigm has created a global inequality and inequity” in which 20% of the world's population owns 83% of the global resources. Therefore, he stressed the presence of an alternative, which should become a challenge to modern-day Christians.

The WCC Secretary affirmed his hope that Germany “will develop strong impulses for just peace in the conflict-torn regions, for sustainable use of resources and renewable energies, and for reconciliation of wounded memories and enmity” as he sees the active engagement of German churches in the ecumenical search for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

Rev Kobia also addressed the interfaith relationship with Muslims in the wake of several major terrorist attacks around the world. Europe is believed to be under a high risk of being another target because of Muslim’s growing influence in the continent. He highlighted the need for “inter-religious dialogue and co-operation” in the face of “growing xenophobia”, including “an evolving enemy-image that makes a caricature of our Muslim friends”, and the “blatant misuse of religion in the mobilisation of war”.

The WCC General Secretary sent an urgent call “to nurture non-violent action for change and to work for peace and reconciliation”; all in the aim of lowering the possibility of provoking a war or even brutal torture that will harm the humanity of both the victims and the perpetrators.