An Ecumenical Appeal acknowledging the need for church leaders to gather in a time that cries out for peace was the theme of a meeting held in Sweden in August.
“A peace that is not merely the absence of war, but is marked by justice and reconciliation.” It read, “In this time, God calls us—as churches, as siblings in faith, as fellow human beings—to be bearers of God’s peace.”
This statement reminded those gathered that the mission of the church is not for our own sake, but for the sake of the world.
“We stand together—different in traditions, languages, contexts, and expressions—yet united in Christ,” reads the appeal. “Our unity is not uniformity, but a reconciled diversity that reflects God’s creative love.
The appeal also emphasized the common responsibility to work for peace.
A Common Witness for all Churches
“The pursuit of peace and the possibility of reconciliation are central to the churches’ common witness,” read the statement. “We urge one another to stand against violence, to promote dialogue between religions and cultures, and to be a voice for those who are not heard.” Bishop Ingeborg Mittömme represented the World Council of Churches (WCC) at this service by.
Creating Space for Reconciliation
The appeal reflected that God’s peace is not passive. “It is active. It seeks justice. It builds bridges. It heals wounds and creates space for reconciliation,” reads the appeal. “Therefore, we cannot remain silent when people are displaced, when hatred takes root, when human-caused climate change threatens the future of life.”
Many of the churches that were represented with guests at the 1925 meeting are now established in Sweden.
A 100 years-ago, in 1925, the theme for the Stockholm meeting and the service in Uppsala was that the unity of the church is for the sake of the world. That meeting was part of the efforts for peace and understanding after the First World War, in a tumultuous time when the church sought its mission in relation to modernity, industrialization, and new social forms.
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World Council of Churches website
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