World Council of Churches

]

History

After the initial successes of the Ecumenical Movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910 (chaired by future WCC Honorary President John R. Mott), church leaders (in 1937) agreed to establish a World Council of Churches, based on a merger of the "Faith and Order Movement" and "Life and Work Movement" organisations. Its official establishment was deferred with the outbreak of World War II until August 23, 1948. Delegates of 147 churches assembled in Amsterdam to merge the "Faith and Order Movement" and "Life and Work Movement". Subsequent mergers were with the "International Missionary Council" in 1961 and the "World Council of Christian Education", with its roots in the 18th century Sunday School movement, in 1971.

WCC member churches include most of the Orthodox Churches; numerous Protestant churches, including the Anglican Communion, some Baptists, many Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed, a broad sampling of united and independent churches, and some Pentecostal churches; and some Old Catholic churches.

The largest Christian body, the Roman Catholic Church, is not a member of the WCC, but has worked closely with the Council for more than three decades and sends observers to all major WCC conferences as well as to its Central Committee meetings and the Assemblies. The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity also nominates 12 members to the WCC's "Faith and Order Commission" as full members. While not a member of the WCC, the Roman Catholic Church is a member of some other ecumenical bodies at regional and national levels, for example, the National Council of Churches in Australia and the National Council of Christian Churches in Brazil (CONIC).

Delegates sent from the member churches meet every seven or eight years in an Assembly, which elects a Central Committee that governs between Assemblies. A variety of other committees and commissions answer to the Central Committee and its staff.

These Assemblies have been held since 1948, and last met in Porto Alegre, Brazil in February 2006, under the theme "God, in your grace, transform the world". [ [http://www.wcc-assembly.info Strong impact, lasting memories] ]

Previous Assemblies

*Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 22 August - 4 September, 1948
*Evanston, Illinois, U.S., 15 August - 31 August, 1954
*New Delhi, India, 19 November - 5 December, 1961
*Uppsala, Sweden, 4 July - 20 July, 1968
*Nairobi, Kenya, 23 November - 10 December, 1975
*Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 24 July - 10 August, 1983
*Canberra, Australia, 7 February - 21 February, 1992
*Harare, Zimbabwe, 3 December - 14 December, 1998
*Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 14 February - 23 February, 2006

Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania was unanimously elected World Council of Churches President in the 9th general assembly meeting held at the University of Porto Alegre in Brazil in February 2006. A former president of the WCC was Rev. Martin Niemöller, the famous Lutheran anti-Nazi theologian.

General Secretaries

Commissions and Teams

There are two complementary approaches to ecumenism: dialogue and action. The "Faith and Order Movement" and "Life and Work Movement" represent these approaches [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/whatis-e.html What is Faith and Order?] ] . These approaches are reflected in the work of the WCC in its [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/commissions.html commissions] , these being:
*Commission of the Churches on Diakonia and Development
*Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation
*Commission of the Churches on International Affairs
*Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation
*Commission on World Mission and Evangelism
*Faith and Order Plenary Commission and the Faith and Order Standing Commission
*Joint Consultative Group with Pentecostals
*Joint Working Group WCC – Roman Catholic Church (Vatican)
*Reference Group on the Decade to Overcome Violence
*Reference Group on Inter-Religious Relations
*Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC

Diakonia and Development & International Relations Commissions

The WCC acts through both its member churches and other religious and social organizations to coordinate ecumenical, evangelical, and social action.

Current WCC programmes include a Decade to Overcome Violence, an international campaign to combat AIDS/HIV in Africa and the "Justice, Peace and Creation" initiative.

Faith and Order Commission

WCC's [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/commission-list.htm "Faith and Order Commission"] has been successful in working toward consensus on Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, on the date of Easter, on the nature and purpose of the church (ecclesiology), and on ecumenical hermeneutics.

The 1952 meeting of the Faith and Order Commission, held in Lund, Sweden, produced the Lund Principle for ecumenical co-operation.

The Commission has 120 members, including representation of churches who are not members of the World Council of Churches, among them the Roman Catholic Church. Members are men and women from around the world - pastors, laypersons, academics, church leaders nominated by their church.

[http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/bem1.html "Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry"] (BEM) was published in 1982. It attempted to express the convergences that had been found over the years. It was sent to all member churches and six volumes of responses compiled. As a result, some churches have changed their liturgical practices, and some have entered into discussions, which in turn led to further agreements and steps towards unity.

A major study on the church ( [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/nature1.html ecclesiology] ) is being undertaken examining the question 'What it means to be a church, or the Church?'

In particular with a focus on ecclesiology and ethics focusing on the churches/Church's 'prophetic witness and its service to those in need'. [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/eeintro.html world council of churches faith and order Ecclesiology and Ethics: Introduction to . . .] ] .

Faith and Order is collaborating with "Justice, Peace and Creation" to answer the questions:
*'How can the search for unity be a source of renewal for both the Church and the world?
*'What does our increasing cooperation on issues of justice, peace and the creation teach us about the nature of the Church?
*'What is the relationship between ethnicity, nationalism, and church unity?

Material for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/wop2004.pdf 04 Worship ] ] is prepared annually with the Roman Catholic Church.

Other work of the Commission includes facilitating the coordination of:
*results from international bilateral dialogues (the Bilateral Forum),
*movements towards local church unions.

Important texts

* "Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry" (Faith and Order Paper No. 111, the “Lima Text”; 1982) [ [http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=2638 Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (Faith and Order Paper No. 111, the “Lima Text”] ]
* "The Nature and Mission of the Church – A Stage on the Way to a Common Statement" (Faith and Order Paper no. 198; 2005 [ [http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-commissions/faith-and-order-commission/15-12-05-the-nature-and-mission-of-the-church-a-stage-on-the-way-to-a-common-statement.html] ] after "The Nature and Purpose of the Church" (Faith and Order Paper no. 181; 1998 [ [http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-commissions/faith-and-order-commission/i-unity-the-church-an-its-mission/11-98-the-nature-and-purpose-of-the-church-a-stage-on-the-way-to-a-common-statement.html] ]
* "Towards a Common Date of Easter" [ [http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-commissions/faith-and-order-commission/10-03-97-towards-a-common-date-for-easter.html] ]

Justice, Peace and Creation Commission

Justice, Peace and Creation has drawn many elements together with an environmental focus. Its mandate is:

:To analyze and reflect on justice, peace and creation "in their interrelatedness", to promote values and practices that make for a culture of peace, and to work towards a culture of solidarity with young people, women, Indigenous Peoples and racially and ethnically oppressed people. [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/index-e.html world council of churches justice, peace and creation] ]

Focal issues have been "globalization" and the emergence of new social movements (in terms of people "bonding together" in the struggle for justice, peace and the protection of creation).

Attention has been given to issues around:
*economy [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/economy.html JPC Concerns - economy ] ]
*environment [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/ecology.html Climate change and water ] ]
*Indigenous Peoples [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/indig.html JPC Concerns - indigenous ] ]
*peace [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/peace.html JPC Concerns - Peace ] ]
*people with disabilities [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/disabil.html] ]
*racism [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/racism-e.html JPC: Racism (E) ] ]
*women [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/women.html JPC Concerns - Women ] ]
*youth [ [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/youth-e.html Youth in the ecumenical movement ] ]

pecial Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC

A "Special Commission" was set up by the eighth Harare Assembly in December 1998 to address Orthodox concerns about WCC membership and the Council's decision-making style, public statements, worship practices and other issues.

The Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC represents the potential for fresh and creative high-level discussion about the structure and life of the Council, a discussion which is explicitly seen as continuing the foundations laid by the process and the policy document [http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/cuv-e.html "Towards and Common Understanding and Vision of the WCC"] .

Controversy

There has been controversy within the WCC about its programs and actions. Orthodox and Evangelical member churches have sought to make clear the nature of their involvement and limits on the authority of the WCC to speak on their behalf. Many churches have opted to stay out of the WCC, accusing it of being dominated by liberals and (or) leftists.Fact|date=January 2008 Through the Programme to Combat Racism, the council was involved in several activities that caused controversy and criticism, including the funding for humanitarian purposes of groups engaged in liberation struggles during the 1970s, as in South Africa.

As a member based organization, the WCC has needed to address the concerns raised by member churches and has done so. The Programme to Combat Racism has been changed and Orthodox concerns have been and are being addressed through the "Special Commission".

Additionally, several conservative Eastern Orthodox Christians consider the Council (as well as any union with non-Orthodox Christians) as heretical, and demand officials from the Eastern Orthodox Church to abdicate their membership. [ cite web | title = Τὸ Παγκόσμιο Συμβούλιο τῶν «ἐκκλησιῶν» καὶ ἡ ἀντι-Κανονικὴ συμμετοχὴ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας τῆς Ἑλλάδος
url = http://www.analogion.net/Ekklhsia_kai_Kanonikothta/002_WCC_EkklhsiaEllados.htm Analogion.gr. Retrieved on February 2, 2008 Gr icon] [ cite web | title = Μετέωρο βήμα προς το Συμβούλιο Εκκλησιών Το χρονικό της συμμετοχής των Ορθοδόξων, οι «δυτικίζοντες» αιρετικοί και το μέλλον του θεσμού | url = http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=14773&m=A47&aa=1 Lambrakis Press. Retrieved on February 2, 2008 Gr icon]

Accusations of Anti-Semitism

The council has been described by someFact|date=January 2008 as taking anti-Semitic positions in connection with its criticisms of Israeli policy. They believe the council has focused more on activities and publications criticizing Israel than on other human rights issues. The council members have been characterized by Israel's former Justice minister Amnon Rubinstein as anti-Semitic, saying "they just hate Israel." [ [http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/427/280.html חדשות NRG - "הם פשוט שונאי ישראל" ] ]

The World Council of Churches has rejected this accusation. In 2005, the General Secretary of the WCC, Samuel Kobia, stated that anti-Semitism is a "sin against God and man" and "absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith," quoting from the first assembly of the WCC in Amsterdam in 1948. [ [http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_050725wcc.shtml WCC rejects anti-semitism accusations - news from ekklesia | Ekklesia ] ]

Programme to Combat Racism during the 1970s

There was controversy over the WCC's "Programme to Combat Racism" (PCR) during the 1970s. It funded a number of humanitarian programs of liberation movements while those groups were involved in violent struggle, examples include:

* In 1970, "Reader's Digest" suggested that the PCR was contributing to fourteen groups involved in revolutionary guerrilla activities, some of which were Communist in ideology and receiving arms from the Soviet Union (Reader's Digest, October 1971).

* In 1977 "The Fraudulent Gospel" by Bernard Smith ISBN 0-89601-007-4 was published in the USA and Britain and carried a graphic photo on the front cover of 27 Black Rhodesians it said were "massacred by WCC-financed terrorists in Eastern Rhodesia in December 1976".

* Donating $85,000 to the Patriotic Front of Zimbabwe (ZANU) in 1978, months after the group shot down an airliner, killing 38 of the 56 passengers on board. Members are reported to have killed 10 survivors (this was denied by the Front) [ [http://www.layman.org/layman/news/news-around-church/wcc-returning-to-zimbabwe.htm Returning to Zimbabwe - 12/8/98 ] ]

This caused much controversy in the past among member churches. In a Time Magazine article entitled "Going Beyond Charity: Should Christian cash be given to terrorists?” (October 2, 1978). Further examination of WCC's political programme appeared in "Amsterdam to Nairobi - The World Council of Churches and the Third World" by Ernest W. Lefever (1979, Georgetown University, ISBN 0-89633-025-7 . Further criticism has also been cited by the Christian right, for example in March 1983 issue of Jerry Falwell related "Fundamentalist Journal":

: There has been an 'enormous disturbance' in British churches, says one Executive Committee member. As for West GermanyConfusing|date=January 2008 — which now provides 42 percent of the budget for the financially pressed WCC — official protests are muted, but one top churchman reports 'bitter reaction in our churches.'… In the U.S., important elements in such WCC member groups as the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese are upset [http://stephen.r.clark.home.att.net/hash/a-twoheads1983.html Dead link|date=May 2008] .

uccesses

Some of the notable successes of the World Council of Churches are in the area of increased understanding and acceptance between Christian groups and denominations. Mutual understanding has developed through the "Faith and Order" related activities; the "Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry" process has been positive.

The WCC has not sought the organic union of different Christian denominations — it has however facilitated dialogue and supported local, national, and regional dialogue and cooperation.

Regional/national councils

It should be noted that membership in a regional or national council does not mean that the particular group is also a member of the WCC.
*Africa - All Africa Conference of Churches [ [http://www.aacc-ceta.org All Africa Conference of Churches - Welcome ] ]
*Asia (including Australia and New Zealand) - Christian Conference of Asia [ [http://www.cca.org.hk Index ] ] , Hong Kong
**National Council of Churches in Australia
*Caribbean - Caribbean Conference of Churches
*Europe - Conference of European Churches [ [http://www.cec-kek.org CEC-KEK.org ] ] , Geneva, Switzerland
*Latin America - Latin American Council of Churches [ [http://www.clailatino.org Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias ] ]
*Middle East - Middle East Council of Churches [ [http://www.mec-churches.org The Middle East Council of Churches ] ]
*North America
**Canadian Council of Churches
**National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
*Pacific - Pacific Conference of Churches [ [http://www.pacificforum.com/pcc Pacificforum.com - Stay Tuned! ] ] , Suva, Fiji

Members

*African Christian Church & Schools
*African Church of the Holy Spirit
*African Israel Nineveh Church
*African Methodist Episcopal Church
*African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
*African Protestant Church
*American Baptist Churches in the USA
*Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
*Anglican Church in Japan
*Anglican Church of Australia
*Anglican Church of Canada
*Anglican Church of Kenya
*Anglican Church of Korea
*Anglican Church of Tanzania
*Anglican Communion in Japan
*Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil
*Anglican Province for the Southern Cone of America
*Armenian Apostolic Church (Cilicia)
*Armenian Apostolic Church (Echmiadzin)
*Associated Churches of Christ in New Zealand
*Association of Evangelical Reformed Churches of Burkina Faso
*Association The Church of God
*Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha
*Baptist Association of El Salvador
*Baptist Convention of Nicaragua
*Baptist Union of Denmark
*Baptist Union of Great Britain
*Baptist Union of Hungary
*Batak Christian Community Church
*Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church
*Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany
*Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
*Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the USA
*China Christian Council
*Christian Biblical Church
*Christian Church of Central Sulawesi
*Christian Church of Sumba
*Christian Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt
*Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa
*Christian Evangelical Church of Sangihe Talaud
*Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
*Christian Protestant Angkola Church
*Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia
*Church in Wales
*Church of Bangladesh
*Church of Ceylon
*Church of Christ in Congo
*Church of Christ in Madagascar
*Church of Christ in Thailand
*Church of Christ Light of the Holy Spirit
*Church of Cyprus
*Church of England
*Church of Greece
*Church of Ireland
*Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar
*Church of Jesus Christ on Earth by His Special Envoy Simon Kimbangu
*Church of Nigeria
*Church of North India
*Church of Norway
*Church of Pakistan
*Church of Scotland
*Church of South India
*Church of Sweden
*Church of the Brethren
*Church of the Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine
*Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide
*Church of the Province of Central Africa
*Church of the Province of Melanesia
*Church of the Province of Myanmar
*Church of the Province of Southern Africa
*Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
*Church in the Province of the West Indies
*Church of the Province of West Africa
*Church of Uganda
*Churches of Christ in Australia
*Cook Islands Christian Church
*Communion of Baptist Churches in Bangladesh
*Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa
*Congregational Christian Church in Samoa
*Congregational Christian Church of Niue
*Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu
*Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
*Coptic Orthodox Church
*Czechoslovak Hussite Church
*East Java Christian Church
*Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
*Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil
*Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
*Episcopal Church in the Philippines
*Episcopal Church of the Sudan
*Episcopal Church of Rwanda
*Episcopal Church (USA)
*Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
*Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
*Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
*Ethiopian Evangelical Church
*Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
*European Continental Province of the Moravian Church
*Evangelical Baptist Union of Italy
*Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera
*Evangelical Christian Church in Tanah Papua
*Evangelical Church in Germany
*Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Isles
*Evangelical Church of Cameroon
*Evangelical Church of Congo
*Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
*Evangelical Church of Gabon
*Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria
*Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland
*Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Slovak Republic
*Evangelical Church of the Disciples of Christ in Argentina
*Evangelical Church of the Helvetic Confession
*Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
*Evangelical Church of the Rio de la Plata
*Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia
*Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe
*Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
*Evangelical Lutheran Church of France
*Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
*Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland
*Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
*Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Romania
*Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea
*Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania
*Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia
*Evangelical Methodist Church in Italy
*Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippines
*Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa
*Evangelical Methodist Church in Uruguay
*Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina
*Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana
*Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Egypt Synod of the Nile
*Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Iran
*Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal
*Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Togo
*Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola
*Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy
*Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches
*Free Pentecostal Missions Church of Chile
*Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga
*Greek Evangelical Church
*Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
*Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa
*Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
*Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
*Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East
*Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China
*Hungarian Reformed Church in America
*Iglesia Christiana Biblica
*Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil
*Indonesian Christian Church
*International Council of Community Churches
*International Evangelical Church
*Javanese Christian Churches
*Jamaica Baptist Union
*Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church
*Kiribati Protestant Church
*Korean Christian Church in Japan
*Korean Methodist Church
*Lao Evangelical Church
*Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
*Lesotho Evangelical Church
*Lusitanian Church of Portugal
*Lutheran Church in Hungary
*Lutheran Church in Liberia
*Malagasy Lutheran Church
*Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church
*Maohi Protestant Church
*Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar
*Mara Evangelical Church
*Mennonite Church in Germany
*Mennonite Church in the Netherlands
*Methodist Church
*Methodist Church Ghana
*Methodist Church in Brazil
*Methodist Church in Cuba
*Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma
*Methodist Church in Kenya
*Methodist Church in India
*Methodist Church in Indonesia
*Methodist Church in Ireland
*Methodist Church in Malaysia
*Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas
*Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
*Methodist Church Nigeria
*Methodist Church of Chile
*Methodist Church of Great Britain
*Methodist Church in Mexico
*Methodist Church of New Zealand
*Methodist Church of Peru
*Methodist Church of Puerto Rico
*Methodist Church of Samoa
*Methodist Church of Southern Africa
*Methodist Church of Sri Lanka
*Methodist Church of Togo
*Methodist Church of Uruguay
*Methodist Church Sierra Leone
*Methodist Church, Upper Myanmar
*Mission Covenant Church of Sweden
*Moravian Church
*Moravian Church, Eastern West Indies Province
*Moravian Church in Jamaica
*Moravian Church in Nicaragua
*Moravian Church in South Africa
*Moravian Church in Suriname
*Moravian Church in Tanzania
*Myanmar Baptist Convention
*National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
*National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
*Native Baptist Church of Cameroon
*Nias Christian Protestant Church
*Nigerian Baptist Convention
*Old Catholic Church in Austria
*Old Catholic Church in the Netherlands
*Old Catholic Church of Switzerland
*Old Catholic Mariavite Church in Poland
*Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
*Orthodox Church in America
*Orthodox Church in Japan
*Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands and Slovakia
*Orthodox Church of Finland
*Pasundan Christian Church
*Pentecostal Church of Chile
*Pentecostal Mission Church
*Philippine Independent Church
*Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Poland
*Polish Catholic Church in Poland
*Polish National Catholic Church in America
*Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
*Presbyterian Church in Cameroon
*Presbyterian Church in Canada
*Presbyterian Church in Rwanda
*Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
*Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea
*Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago
*Presbyterian Church of Africa
*Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
*Presbyterian Church of Cameroon
*Presbyterian Church of Colombia
*Presbyterian Church of East Africa
*Presbyterian Church of Ghana
*Presbyterian Church of Liberia
*Presbyterian Church of Korea
*Presbyterian Church of Mozambique
*Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
*Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
*Presbyterian Church of the Sudan
*Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu
*Presbyterian Church of Wales
*Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba
*Progressive National Baptist Convention
*Protestant Christian Batak Church
*Protestant Christian Church in Bali
*Protestant Church in Sabah
*Protestant Church in South-East Sulawesi
*Protestant Church in the Moluccas
*Protestant Church in the Netherlands
*Protestant Church in Timor Lorosa’e
*Protestant Church in Western Indonesia
*Protestant Church of Algeria
*Protestant Evangelical Church in Timor
*Protestant Methodist Church of Benin
*Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi
*Province of the Episcopal Church in Rwanda
*Reformed Christian Church in Serbia & Montenegro
*Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia
*Reformed Church in America
*Reformed Church in Hungary
*Reformed Church in Romania, Cluj
*Reformed Church in Romania, Oradea
*Reformed Church in Zambia
*Reformed Church in Zimbabwe
*Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine
*Reformed Church of France
*Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea
*Religious Society of Friends
*Remonstrant Brotherhood
*Romanian Orthodox Church
*Russian Orthodox Church
*Salvadoran Lutheran Synod
*Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches
*Scottish Congregational Church
*Scottish Episcopal Church
*Serbian Orthodox Church
*Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Czech Republic
*Simalungun Protestant Christian Church
*Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia & Montenegro
*Spanish Evangelical Church
*Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church
*Swiss Evangelical Church Federation
*Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
*The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide
*The African Church
*Toraja Church
*Union of Baptist Churches in Cameroon
*Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
*United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
*United Church in Papua New Guinea
*United Church in the Solomon Islands
*United Church of Canada
*United Church of Christ
*United Church of Christ – Congregational in the Marshall Islands
*United Church of Christ in Japan
*United Church of Christ in the Philippines
*United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe
*United Church of Zambia
*United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
*United Evangelical Lutheran Church
*United Evangelical Lutheran Churches of India
*United Methodist Church
*United Methodist Church of Ivory Coast (now in union with The United Methodist Church)
*Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
*United Presbyterian Church of Brazil
*United Protestant Church
*United Protestant Church of Belgium
*United Reformed Church
*Uniting Church in Australia
*Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
*Waldensian Church
*Waldensian Evangelical Church

ee also

*John R. Mott
*Nathan Soderblom
*Charles Henry Brent
*Christian ecumenism

References

*World Council of Churches. [http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3652 Churches] (lists all churches, members marked with asterisk) Retrieved 2008-07-13

External links

* [http://www.oikoumene.org/ World Council of Churches]
* [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/ecumenical/ts-e.html WCC Central Committee Toronto statement on "The Church, the Churches, and the World Council of Churches"]
* [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/index-e.html WCC Justice, Peace and Creation]
* [http://www.bossey.ch Bossey Ecumenical Institute]
* [http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/special-01-e.html Special Commission to address Orthodox concerns] set up by the eighth assembly in December 1998
* [http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/ The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity]
* [http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/all-news-english/display-single-english-news/browse/4/article/1634/consensus-a-colourful-fa-1.html Press release for 9th Assembly: Consensus: a colourful farewell to majority rule] at the Assembly in Porto Alegre in February 2006
* [http://www.wcc-assembly.info Official Site for 9th Assembly]