Die ‘klimaatskrisis’, Covid-19 en die oorlog in Oekraïne was van die temas wat dr Ioan Sauca aangespreek het in sy verslag as waarnemende voorsitter van die Wêreldraad van Kerke (WRK) se Algemene Vergadering, wat tot 8 September in Duitsland gehou word.

Hy het die ekumeniese reis as ’n “pelgrimstog van versoening en eenheid beskryf” by die aanvang van hierdie saamtrek, wat sowat 4 000 deelnemers van regoor die wêreld lok en die mees diverse Christelike byeenkoms van sy grootte in die wêreld is. (Lees Sauca se volledige verslag onderaan hierdie berig). 

Sauca meen optrede rondom klimaatsverandering is sentraal tot kerke se getuienis en het dit as teologiese kwessie beskryf, luidens ’n verklaring. “God’s plan in Christ was also the reconciliation and healing of the whole creation.”

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Oor die oorlog tussen Rusland en Oekraïne, wat deur die WRK veroordeel is, skryf Sauca in sy verslag: “A few weeks ago I made a five-day visit to Ukraine. We had to go by car for 1 700 kilometres because there are no flights to Ukraine. We met people in the parishes, people caring for refugees and for those who are victims of the war, as well as the church leaders. Many said that we were the first high-level religious leaders who had visited them. We heard from the church leaders and state officials words of appreciation for the courageous WCC visit of solidarity and support in conditions of danger and insecurity. I am happy to report that as an outcome of that visit, there are 11 Ukrainians representing the major churches and the National Council of Churches who are with us. In the Europe plenary they will speak for themselves and to share the realities and the challenges of the situation and hopes for the future.”

Ekumene: Nuwe gesigte by WRK

Oor nuwe bande met die WRK, ’n reuse-liggaam wat bestaan uit 352 kerke waarvan 295 hierdie jaar se saamkoms bywoon, merk Sauca op: “Evangelicals and Pentecostals who in former times kept their distance from the WCC, I now see coming closer, engaging with us in common actions and partnership on the basis of the kingdom values and of witness to our faith. Maybe surprisingly, most of the recent applications for membership in WCC in the last three years came from Evangelical and/or Pentecostal churches.”