The World Council of Churches (WCC), Geneva, Switzerland

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of 350 churches from more than 110 countries, representing over half a billion Christians. Member churches confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the scriptures, and therefore seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of the one God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The broadest and most inclusive among the many organized expressions of the modern ecumenical movement, the WCC is a community of churches on the way to visible unity in one faith and one Eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and in common life in Christ, seeking to advance towards this unity, as Jesus prayed for his followers, “so that the world may believe” [John 17.21]. For its member churches, the WCC is a unique space: one in which they can reflect, speak, act, worship, and work together, challenge and support each other, share and debate with each other.

Please note that although the Catholic Church is not a member of the WCC, it has worked closely with the WCC for more than three decades and sends observers to all major WCC conferences. Since 1968, Catholic theologians have been full members of the Faith and Order Commission of the WCC.

Every year, ecumenical partners in a particular region are invited to prepare a liturgical text for the Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25). Following their preparation, an international team of WCC and Roman Catholic representatives refines their text, which is then published by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the WCC.

This text, as well as many other WCC publications, documents and news can be found online on the WCC website.

Website: www.oikoumene.org