WCC president from Africa His Holiness Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, of the Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide Photo: WCC
| WCC- The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee opened its meeting on 8 November with the opening celebrations in the Cathedral Church of the Advent, with prayers, goodwill messages, and a sermon by WCC president from Africa His Holiness Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, of the Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide. |
| The governing body, in prayers, gave thanks for the gift of being able to gather. “We give thanks for this meeting of the executive committee, praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all deliberations and decisions,” they prayed. “May your divine wisdom be unfolded among us.”They also remembered the All Africa Conference of Churches as it convenes its 12th Assembly in Nigeria. “God of peace, you have promised that those who work for peace will be called your daughters and sons,” they prayed. “Help us, in our Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, to work without ceasing in every corner of the world for the justice which brings true and lasting peace.”The opening proceedings also emphasized unity. “Make us united in our diversities,” the governing body prayed. “Help us that, through obedience to your laws, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth.”The Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, in his sermon, reflected on the executive committee’s call as a people of God. “We are being called upon to step outside the values of our cultures and denominations, and put our faith in Christ Jesus and truly embrace ecumenism together on our way to the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity,” he said. “The availability of God’s mercy should not become an excuse for careless living and moral laxity.” |
 WCC executive committee opening celebrations in the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Abuja, Nigeria. Photo: WCC |
| He also emphasized that the resurrection of Jesus is the centre of the Christian faith. “Because Christ rose from the dead as he promised, we know that what He said is true—He is God,” said Ositelu. “Because he died for our sins and rose, we have certainty that our sins are forgiven.” Ositelu reflected that we sometimes find ourselves in situations where we focus on our own problems—just as the disciples did. “Our world today has not changed its values—a suffering servant of God is not more popular today than 2,000 years ago,” he said. “Without the resurrection we have nothing.”The WCC executive committee is meeting to approve plans and a budget for 2024, and to further develop the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity.The WCC governing body will also monitor 2023 and the implementation of WCC strategies. |