At an international symposium on “Ecclesiology, Moral Discernment, and the Mission of the Church in a Changing World,” held in Sibiu, Romania, participants received, deepened, and will carry into the life of the churches the insights from the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order (World Council of Churches).
Rev. Fr Prof. Emeritus Dr Vasile Mihoc, cultural vicar of the Metropolis of Transylvania, reflected on the prophetic vision that has shaped the work of the WCC since its beginnings.
Recalling the contribution of Visser ‘t Hooft, he emphasised that the WCC was founded by people of vision who understood that the search for Christian unity must be rooted in faithfulness to the apostolic tradition and in a common witness to the Gospel. Visser ’t Hooft’s vision of restoring and manifesting the apostolic faith in the life of the churches remains, he noted, a defining inspiration for the ecumenical movement today.
“The goal of visible Christian unity has not changed, even if the historical and ecclesial circumstances of the contemporary world have become increasingly complex,” he said, recalling that the church itself, even in apostolic times, was never without tensions, differences, and challenges.
Referring implicitly to the Apostolic Council described in the Acts of the Apostles, he noted that diversity and disagreement have been a part of the church’s life from the beginning.
“These differences were confronted through dialogue, discernment, and fidelity to the work of the Holy Spirit”.
Theological discussion must continue to play a central role in the life of the ecumenical movement. Authentic dialogue is not secondary to the search for unity, but one of its essential expressions. The churches are spiritually and theologically rich, and this richness should become an opportunity for deeper mutual understanding and communion.
“The WCC had and continues to have people of vision, capable of looking beyond immediate difficulties toward the long-term calling of Christian unity. For this reason, the WCC must remain an organization of vision: one that courageously works toward the visible unity of the church and encourages the churches to continue walking together.”
Adapted from WCC article.