Religion Watch Archives

Monitoring Trends in Religion - From February 1990 to January 2016

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archives
    • By Issue
    • By Article
    • By PDF (2008-14)
    • By PDF (1985-97)
    • All Articles
  • Sections
    • Current Research
    • Findings & Footnotes
    • On/File
  • Google Search
You are here: Home / Archive / Difficult times ahead for world council of churches

Difficult times ahead for world council of churches

September 1, 2002 by Richard Cimino

Print-friendly

The World Council of Churches central committee has taken steps to substantially cut its programs, while the ecumenical organization’s general secretary, Konrad Raiser, has blamed global economic conditions for massive revenue shortfalls, reports Ecumenical News International (Aug. 28).

It has also called for reforms in the way churches work together to ensure that church bodies remain viable in the 21st century. A recent increase in financial pressure and difficulty in attracting younger people to the ecumenical movement are signs that church organizations need to change their structures, suggested Raiser.

According to a report from the Swiss Telegraphic Agency (Aug. 26), competition from a growing number of secular NGOs in different fields is partly to blame for the depletion in funding.But there are also theological concerns for the WCC.

The need to bridge differences between Protestant and Orthodox Churches in the ecumenical body has led to recommendations for changes in voting and worship practices. A commission entrusted with that task in 1998 has now recommended to drop the term “ecumenical worship” and to call gatherings for prayer just “common prayer.”

This proposal has led to heated debates and criticisms from a number of Protestant participants, who see it as a step back. Regarding decision-making, major issues should be reached by consensus, and no longer by majority vote, according to the Associated Press (Aug. 30).

At stake is the long-term participation of the Orthodox Churches in the WCC.

— By Jean-François Mayer

Print-friendly

Filed Under: Archive

Also in this issue

  • Islamists moving back to government in Turkey?
  • On/File: September 2002
  • Findings & Footnotes: September 2002
  • Evangelical missions toward muslims expand
  • The Anglo-Catholic moment in British society
  • Current Research: September 2002
  • Just war teachings challenged by Catholic activists
  • New vocations growing among single mothers
  • Packed Buddhist festivals, empty temples in Hawaii
  • Alternatives to collection plates find favor
  • Exodus movement from public schools get more clout
  • Hip-hop churches taking root
  • Catholic reform movement faces obstacles
  • Intelligent design and creationism coexisting, quarreling
  • Chinese house church supporters face heterodox movement

Search the Site

Download the first issue of RELIGION WATCH (1980)

Download the first issue of RELIGION WATCH (1980)

Click on the image for downloading

© 2016-2023 Richard Cimino / Religioscope
·News Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress