By Walt Wiltschek

Dean Anders Gadegaard of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark is a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central and executive committees, and moderator of its finance committee. In an interview near the conclusion of the Council's 15-22 February central committee meeting, he shared his thoughts on the journey of the central committee and the WCC over the past seven years since the last assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe:

What events and trends stand out for you from the central committee's past seven years, leading up to this meeting?

We're really making progress now in the sense that we're a fellowship with unity and diversity. We accept each other's differences, and still strive for common worship, hopefully one day even to be able to celebrate communion together. I think we're now on a much more realistic path to unity. For me, this makes the ecumenical movement appear much more promising.

That's a relief for the committee, and it's due to the success of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC. What you see in the consensus method is that we trust one another so much more. The atmosphere within the central committee has become more joyful than it was in those first couple of years after Harare. Those were the difficult years, with the constraints in finances as well.

Also, the transparency of what the council is doing has increased tremendously. At the beginning, this was not very clear and it was difficult for us to get a grasp of what was happening. But this has increasingly been improving over this period and, while there is still a long way to go, there are clear improvements. It's promising.

For you as finance committee moderator, are finances a concern?

There has been a reduction in contributions on the programme side, but I've not been so depressed by that. Sometimes, reduced financial resources help you focus, and that has been the case here I think. You have to change your methodology: let the member churches and partners do the job, and you assure exposure and knowledge and a network for facilitation and so on.

It was difficult at times, but I actually see that as helpful.

Where do you see the WCC heading after the next assembly?

Firstly, I think we are just beginning now to focus on a few programmatic areas. One challenge will be to integrate these areas, and to maintain and nurture the fellowship with dialogue, theological reflection, and ecumenical education.

Secondly, the area of serving communion in diakonia (compassionate service) is extremely important.

Thirdly, we need to be an advocacy platform for churches to be able to speak out, and to assure their visibility.

To focus on these few main areas, ensure that they are integrated with one another, and making that visible to the secular world – that is the challenge. [480 words]

World Council of Churches
Walt Wiltschek is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren (USA) and editor of the churches' monthly magazine "Messenger."