wfn.org | WCC mourns Fr Ion Bria

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

World Council of Churches
Press Release PR-02-19
For Immediate Use
5 July 2002

WCC mourns death of former colleague

The World Council of Churches (WCC) was deeply grieved to learn
of the sudden death of a former member of staff, Father Ion Bria,
on 2 July 2002, in Geneva. In 1973, Bria took up the post of
executive secretary for mission and  relations with Orthodox
churches within the WCC, and in 1987 became the director of the
WCC Sub-unit for Renewal and Congregational Life. Shortly before
his retirement in 1994, Father Ion took up the post of director
of the Faith and Witness Unit.

Over the years, Father Ion acquired world-wide renown as a
theologian and ecumenist, largely because of his important
publications in the mission field: Martyria-Mission, Go forth in
peace; Liturgy after the Liturgy. His years of service in the WCC
were devoted not only to a rich and relevant study of missiology,
but also to training and encouraging a new generation of
theologians.  

On behalf of WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, who is
presently visiting churches in Africa, and also of the moderator
of the Central Committee, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
Cilicia , WCC deputy general secretary Georges Lemopoulos
expressed the Council's deep grief at the loss of Father Ion Bria
"the colleague, friend and spiritual father" to his widow in a
letter dated 2 July. "I am sure," he added, "that the World
Council of Churches, the institution that Father Ion served with
such special devotion for so many years, will find the occasion
to honour the memory of such a precious friend and colleague."

Born in Telega, Romania, in 1929, Father Ion Bria studied
theology at the Bucharest Theological Institute from 1950-54.
Following post-graduate studies, he was ordained in 1972. In
1978, he was appointed professor of dogmatic theology and
missiology at the Institute and, in 1995, became an associate
professor at the "Andrei Saguna" Theological Faculty in Sibiu,
Romania.

The funeral will take place in Romania on Monday 8 July 2002.

For further information, please contact Karin Achtelstetter,
Media Relations Officer,
Tel.:  (+41.22) 791.61.53   Mobile:  (+41) 79.284.52.12

**********

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches,
now 342, 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, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general
secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Media Relations Office
Tel: (41 22) 791 6153 / 791 6421
Fax: (41 22) 798 1346
E-mail: ka@wcc-coe.org 
Web: www.wcc-coe.org 

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