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World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 12/05/2009 08:52:39

MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE WCC AT PENTECOST 2009

â??Brothers and sisters, what should we do?â?? (Acts 2:37b)

The year 2009 began with grave concern about the catastrophic
economic situation of the world of wealth. Towards the end of
2008, in the midst of a life that to many was apparently without
problems, disastrous financial and economic difficulties suddenly
came to light.

It was reminiscent of the first Pentecost of the Christian era
when everything seemed to be going well for believers of the
time. Many had made the customary pilgrimage to Jerusalem to mark
the festival. They came in large numbers with good intentions of
worshipping as usual. Then, when like a mighty rushing wind the
Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, filling them and leading
them â??to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them
abilityâ??, the pilgrims were astonished and amazed: â??How is it
that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?â?? (Acts
2:1-13)

This was an extraordinary and overwhelming experience for these
pilgrims from all over the world. Peter, completely transformed
and courageous, offered clear responses to their questions in the
form of an invitation to a change of heart and behaviour. (Acts
2:14-36)

Following Peterâ??s stirring speech the pilgrimsâ?? hearts were
deeply moved, and they asked: â??Brothers and sisters, what should
we do?â?? This response was the beginning of repentance, of
â??metanoiaâ??, that profound transformation of a person which
leads to a new way of acting. Peter responded to their questions
by saying, â??Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.â?? (Acts 2:38)

Repentance can come only after recognizing wrongdoing and wrong
behaviour. Many of those in charge in todayâ??s world have to
recognize that they have been insensitive in managing the
resources of our planet: the rich always get a bit richer, to the
detriment of the poor who live in acute poverty; the impoverished
have no power, given their condition, to say no to what is
imposed upon them.

Be it in Africa or in Asia or in any other continent, the
situation is everywhere the same. Faced with this, the most
pressing question today is still, â??Brothers and sisters, what
should we do?â?? 

And once more Godâ??s word gives us a better response than
anything else: â??Repent!â??

>Repentance in todayâ??s world will involve:

·Corporate managers recognizing their errors, publicly
confessing them and making reparation.
·All of us who are responsible for the degradation of the
ecosystem mending our ways and making efforts to reduce all forms
of pollution.
·Those who instigate violence being encouraged to become gentle
and tolerant, consistent with our prayer that the ecumenical
â??Decade to Overcome Violenceâ?? which is drawing to a close will
not have taken place without having some impact upon us.

The repentance proclaimed by Christ and strongly restated at
Pentecost is a force for spiritual transformation, for change and
for renewal. Human beings must seek to be reconciled with
themselves, with one another, and with their environment, and
churches too must go on seeking reconciliation. This is the
challenge of our gospel of reconciliation, and it is raised again
this year in the United Nationâ??s International Year of
Reconciliation, 2009.

May we all find the strength and the will to give new meaning to
the claim, â??Yes, we can!â?? Anything is possible for those who
believe.

May the Lord bless all of us, and we wish a very joyful feast of
Pentecost to everyone.

The Presidents of the World Council of Churches

·Archbishop DrAnastasiosof Tirana and All Albania, Orthodox
Autocephalous Church of Albania 
·Mr John Taroanui Doom, Maohi Protestant Church (French
Polynesia)
·Rev. Dr Simon Dossou, Methodist Church in Benin 
·Rev. Dr Soritua Nababan, Protestant Christian Batak Church
(Indonesia)
·Rev. Dr Ofelia Ortega, Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba
·Patriarch Abune Paulos, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church 
·Rev. DrBernice Powell Jackson, United Church of Christ (USA)
·Dr Mary Tanner, Church of England

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.

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