President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) Rev. Christian Krieger delivered greetings at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly, welcoming the global ecumenical community in Europe with a hope that the assembly will “empower churches to strengthen their vision of reconciliation and unity, in our fractured world today.”

The WCC assembly commenced on 31 August in Karlsruhe, Germany, addressing the theme “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity” with a strong participation from CEC Member Churches and Organisations in Partnership from across Europe.

Krieger said that “reconciliation and unity acquires new meaning in the light of current global realities such as global health crisis, migration, racism, rise of populist polarization and shrinking of democracy, continued destruction of the natural environment, and resurgence of armed conflict, including the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

He went on to say that the “WCC Assembly theme is at the heart of our mission, as we continue to lift up the voices of churches in increasingly plural and secular European societies, and especially with regard to the European political institutions, we are moved by the love of Christ that embraces the whole of creation.”

Krieger also introduced a report from the European Regional Pre-Assembly organised by CEC in February, sharing how the featured reflections show sentiment of the churches in Europe concerning the war in Ukraine, highlighting voices from Ukrainian churches.

He prayed that may the assembly be a “life-transforming event for the global fellowship of churches that will strengthen their common journey towards unity and reconciliation in the power of the Holy Spirit.”