wfn.org | Message of The Presidents of The WCC at Pentecost 1998

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13-May-1998 
98157 
 
    Message of The Presidents of The WCC at Pentecost 1998 
 
 
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, 
 
    We bring you greetings in the name of the triune God. 
 
    Fifty days after the resurrection of our Lord, the disciples were 
praying together in one place.  Part of their mission was completed, yet 
they were apprehensive about the direction of 
their way into the future.  As they turned to God in prayer, the spirit of 
the Lord came upon them and filled them with joy and hope. They were 
empowered to break the silence and go back 
into the world with renewed vigor to proclaim the Good News. 
 
    Fifty years after the founding of the World Council of Churches, we now 
celebrate the year of Jubilee.  At the end of the year, the Eighth Assembly 
of the WCC will meet in Harare, Zimbabwe, under the theme: "Turn to God - 
Rejoice in Hope."  We recognize that we are not of one accord on all 
matters, but we reaffirm our intention to stay together and grow together 
towards the fulfilment of the prayer of Jesus for oneness among the 
believers.  This celebration will truly be 
meaningful only when churches, parishes and individual Christians all over 
the world commit themselves to each other and to the common goal of a 
united Christian witness.  We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to join 
in this celebration wherever you may be placed and to work for the 
unity of the people of God in your own situations. 
 
    The Assembly in Harare is called "A Jubilee Assembly."  One of the 
striking principles of the biblical Jubilee is the call to right 
relationships: right relationships with God, resulting in right 
relationships between people and with the earth. 
 
    Consider the way humankind has plundered the resources of the earth - 
consider the lack of power sharing between ethnic majorities and 
minorities, the social inequalities between classes, races and castes. 
 
    Consider the personal relationships between men and women, old and 
young, employers 
and employees.  The year of Jubilee is not a time of respite from taking 
action for another 50 years.  Rather, Jubilee is a time for immediate 
action, the time to bring about drastic and radical changes in situations. 
 
    Therefore we urge you to evaluate the existing pattern of relationships 
this season of 
Pentecost and to take serious note of the biblical imperatives to transform 
these relationships into those based on justice and dignity rather than 
charity and pity. 
 
    The wonder and power of that first Pentecost was experienced as the 
Holy Spirit came upon a diverse group of people, gathering them in common 
witness as all heard and understood the good news being proclaimed.  This 
Jubilee year offers us the possibility of a Pentecost moment in the life of 
the ecumenical movement.  It is a time to be renewed and empowered to 
proclaim the good news in ways that can be understood by all who hear. 
 
    During this season of Pentecost let us commit ourselves to be open to 
all of God's people - whether students or professors, pastors or bishops, 
young or old, men or women, eminent or unknown.  Let us cherish them, learn 
from them and allow the church to change in response to what God is doing 
in  the lives of people and in the world. 
 
    The ecumenical movement and our fellowship of churches have been 
blessed with the energies, ideals, perspectives and visions of the young 
during the time of its formation and in its early years.  Now during our 
Jubilee year, as we move into the third millennium, we make a special call 
to the young people in our churches.  We recognize that the torch is 
already in their hands and we affirm that young people in our churches 
should lead the way.  We invite you to lead this 
fellowship through this Jubilee Assembly and into the next millennium - 
that the believers may be one so that the world may indeed believe. 
 
    May God bless you and may the spirit of Pentecost empower you as you 
respond to the call to right relationships in this Jubilee year and the 
call to a united witness in our divided world. 
 
 
The Presidents of the World Council of Churches: 
 
Prof. Anna Marie Aagaard, Hojbjerg, Denmark 
Bishop Vinton Anderson, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 
The Hon. Rev. Leslie Boseto, Honiara, Solomon Islands 
Mrs. Priyanka Mendis, Idama, Sri Lanka 
The Rev. Eunice Santana, Arecibo, Puerto Rico 
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Cairo, Egypt 
Dr. Aaron Tolen, Yaound, Cameroon 

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