4 October 2011

Responding to the changing ecclesial landscape and challenges facing churches today "our hope grounded in Christ is the means through which to address them," Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee, told a group of 300 delegates at the Global Christian Forum meeting in Indonesia.

"This hope must manifest itself in the relationships we nurture and the community that we build across traditions," he said while in a greeting to the group, which is meeting in Manado, 4-7 October.

This is the second gathering of the Global Christian Forum (GCF) which first met in Kenya in 2008. The GCF brings together representatives from different organizations representing various traditions within Christianity, including the WCC, the World Evangelical Alliance and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The GFC is encouraging relational encounters between churches and organizations that have not been traditionally in dialogue, independent of existing structures. The meetings are organized by the churches in Indonesia and in particular the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI).

The participants were hosted in a reception by the governor of North Sulawesi province, Dr S.H. Sarundayang, and gathered for a plenary to learn more about the issues facing the churches and society in Indonesia.

"The great gift of this forum is the space it provides for building relationships across the breadth of our faith tradition, and exploring together the common challenges before us," Altmann said in his remarks.

After opening the sessions in common prayer, the group spent the first day in a plenary session reviewing the history of the GCF, its strengths, scope and perspectives on the transformative potential of encounter and dialogue.

In small groups, participants shared their faith journeys with one another, an important and valued part of the GCF gatherings.

During a meeting in Manado, participants will examine major trends in world Christianity, engage in meetings by region and tradition, and explore together the theme of the meeting, "Life Together in Jesus Christ, Empowered by the Holy Spirit."

Also representing the WCC are Metropolitan Vasilios of Constantia, moderator of the Faith and Order Commission, Rev. Dr Soritua Nababan, WCC president for Asia, and Natasha Klukach, programme executive for Church and Ecumenical Relations.

More information on the WCC's role within the ecumenical movement (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=5a5638a2c04a35f188d1)

Global Christian Forum website (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=7f34419197ae5f67fd80)

World Council of Churches