New boss set for World Council of Churches
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- August
- 27
For those interested in global ecumenism…
A Norwegian theologian and pastor was elected today to serve as the 7th secretary general of the World Council of Churches, a fellowship of 349 denominations.
The Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit is only 48, making him the youngest man to get the top job.
He is a pastor in the Church of Norway, a Lutheran church that is the state church of Norway and is headed, officially, by the King of Norway.
Tveit is currently general secretary of the Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations. He is also a member of the WCC Faith and Order Plenary Commission and is co-chair of the WCC Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum “core group.”
“This task I really feel is the call of God. I feel that we have a lot to do together,” Tveit said in his acceptance speech.
The WCC was formed in 1948 to seek “unity, a common witness and Christian service.” Its membership includes most significant Orthodox, Protestant and Anglican churches.
The Roman Catholic Church is not a formal member but works closely with the WCC in many ways.
The current secretary general, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, a Methodist from Kenya, was elected in 2004 but chose not to seek a second term.
One American has served as secretary general. Eugene Carson Blake, a Presbyterian, held the job from 1966 to 1972.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, August 27th, 2009 at 1:27 pm by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
