wfn.org | Tribute to Aaron Tolen

[Sheila MESA <smm@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press UpdateRelease
9 April 1999

A TRIBUTE TO DR AARON TOLEN

cf. WCC Press Release of 7 April 1999

The following tribute to Dr Aaron Tolen, who died on Wednesday 7 April,
has been paid by the Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, General Secretary of the
World Council of Churches (WCC):

"It was with profound shock that we received the sad news about the
untimely death of our brother, friend, and colleague, Dr Aaron Tolen.  As
we share in the grief over the loss of our brother and express our
sincere condolences to his family and all those who were close to him,
we give thanks to God for his life and pray God to rest his soul in eternal
rest and peace.

Aaron was God's precious gift to the ecumenical movement in general
and to the World Council of Churches (WCC) in particular.  His
distinguished service and contribution to the life and well-being of the
ecumenical movement spans a whole generation.  For thirty years he
dedicated his life and abilities to promoting the unity of the church and of
humankind.  He generously put his professional skills and gifts at the
disposal of the ecumenical movement.

Aaron's gifts as a leader and visionary were already evident in the
period 1969-1974, when he served as World Student Christian
Federation (WSCF) secretary for Africa and Madagascar.  In that
capacity he addressed the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC)
General Assembly, Abidjan, 1969, where he very ably articulated the
integral nature of ecumenical work in Africa.  He and his colleagues in
the WSCF Africa region laid a solid foundation that led to the strong
involvement of the African students and youth in global ecumenical work.
 His participation in WCC work started during the same period, when he
served in the Executive Committee of the CCIA (Commission of the
Churches on International Affairs).

Aaron was a very key participant at the WCC's first Assembly in Africa,
Nairobi, 1975.  His insightful contribution led to his election as moderator
of CCPD (Commission of Churches' Participation in Development).  He
served in that capacity from 1976-1983.

^From 1983-1991 he served in the WCC Central Committee as a moderator
of the-then Unit III on Renewal and Education.  During the meetings of the
Central Committee, he moderated the Public Issues Committee, where his
skills as a professional political scientist were put to great use.

Aaron was a president of the WCC from 1991-1998.  During that period,
we called upon him to represent the Council at numerous functions and
occasions.  In 1993 he was a member of a delegation of Eminent
Persons to South Africa to monitor the situation in the run-up to the first
democratic elections in that country.  In October 1994 he headed the
delegation of Eminent Persons visiting the USA for hearings on Racism
as a Violation of Human Rights.  He also led ecumenical delegations to
Burundi in 1995 and to the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) in
pursuit of peace and reconciliation.  On all those and many other
occasions, Aaron provided valuable leadership and made the ecumenical
voice heard and respected.

His most recent involvement was at the WCC's Eighth Assembly in
Harare, Zimbabwe, December 1998.  He very ably moderated the Africa
plenary which helped the assembly to understand the history and
contemporary situation in Africa.  He was a relentless champion of the
African cause and African interest.  For him, the search for a peaceful,
just and democratic society in Africa was a life-long commitment.  He
struggled for the respect of human rights and human dignity for all.

Aaron's departure is a big loss to the ecumenical movement.  His
enormous contribution to its course will be remembered for many years
to come."

Contact:  Karin Achtelstetter, Media Relations Officer         

**********
The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 338, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions.  The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but
works cooperatively with the WCC.  The highest governing body is the
Assembly, which meets approximately every seven years.  The WCC
was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Its staff is
headed by general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church
in Germany.

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