World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org For immediate release - 12/03/2008 06:13:57 PM
TRIBUTE TO LUKAS VISCHER
CORRECTING DATE (1965-->1966) IN FOURTH PARAGRAPH.
"The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the ecumenical movement have lost an outstanding ecumenist, a man of vision and great passion for the future of life on earth and a church visibly united in faithfulness to Christ's calling," affirmed WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in a tribute to Prof. Dr Lukas Vischer, who died on 11 March 2008, at the age of 81.
The full text of the tribute follows:
âI live, you also will liveâ John 14:19
The World Council of Churches and the ecumenical movement have lost an outstanding ecumenist, a man of vision and great passion for the future of life on earth and a church visibly united in faithfulness to Christ's calling.
With great sadness, but also with a deep sense of gratitude for his extraordinary service to the ecumenical movement, we report the death of Prof. Dr Lukas Vischer.
Lukas Vischer joined the staff of the WCC as a young theologian in 1961. Participating in the 1961 New Dehli Assembly of the WCC with staff responsibility for the statement on church unity, and sent as an observer to the Second Vatican Council, he developed a deep understanding for the new dynamics in the ecumenical movement. One fruit of the Second Vatican Council was the Joint Working Group between the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. He served as its first co-secretary.
Lukas Vischer left a decisive mark on the WCC and the ecumenical movement through the leadership he provided as Faith and Order director from 1966 to 1979. He initiated and shaped various study processes, in particular the study on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry that is widely recognized as a major milestone in the history of the ecumenical movement.
With his immense theological knowledge, sharp mind, great energy and strong will Lukas Vischer continued to contribute to the ecumenical movement in many ways after he left the WCC in 1979. The WCC is especially grateful for his strong commitment to Godâs suffering creation during the time of the Conciliar Process for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation that followed the 1983 Vancouver Assembly and culminated in a World Convocation in 1990 in Seoul. It was to a large extent thanks to him that the WCC began to work on Climate Change more than fifteen years ago.
During his life, Lukas Vischer built relationships of friendship and trust with many theologians and church leaders around the world. They will mourn with us this loss of a theologian and ecumenist of such a great stature.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Lukasâ family, particularly his wife Barbara. We assure them that his memory will be alive in our midst and give thanks to God for Lukasâ long life and rich ecumenical ministry.
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia WCC General Secretary
Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363media@wcc-coe.org
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
WCC ID:
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