WCC NEWS: WCC general secretary honoured in Jerusalem

[WCC media <noreply@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches - News

WCC GENERAL SECRETARY HONOURED IN JERUSALEM

For immediate release: 06 September 2010

A high distinction has been bestowed on the general secretary of the
World Council of Churches (WCC), the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. On 
Thursday
2 September, the Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre was 
presented to
Tveit by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem.

Tveit was visiting Jerusalem as part of a WCC delegation meeting with
members of the WCC member churches in the region as well as with 
Jewish
and Muslim leaders.

The Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre is an honour awarded by 
the
Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem and the Brotherhood of the Holy
Sepulchre. The name refers to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in
Jerusalem, built over the traditional site of Jesus’ tomb.

"Because of the Patriarchate's role and witness, we fully endorse the 
work
of the World Council of Churches and of your office, especially in the
struggle for peace, justice and reconciliation," Patriarch Theophilos 
said
in a ceremony held at the offices of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.

"The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is especially keen to assist you in 
your
concern for lasting peace in the Middle East, for the well-being of 
all
the people of the region, and for the ongoing presence of Christians 
in
the Holy Land," he said.

Patriarch Theophilos assured Tveit of the ongoing support of the 
Orthodox
Church toward the WCC, saying the ecumenical movement is called to 
promote
"unity without confusion" among churches.

Shortly before placing the cross around Tveit's neck, the patriarch 
uttered
this blessing: "May this cross be a reminder to you of the daily 
death and
resurrection that is the vocation of every Christian believer, and of 
the
way of the cross that leads to the triumph of new life."

"I receive this cross with humility and accept it as an honour 
intended for
the World Council of Churches and our common efforts toward Christian
unity," Tveit said. "The ecumenical movement is a movement of the 
cross,
and this reminds me in a very clear way how the cross unites us in our
faith and ministry."

"May we carry the cross together, and may there be hope for the peace 
of
Jerusalem in these days," Tveit concluded.
More information on the WCC general secretary's visit to Jerusalem:

WCC press release: "Concern over status of Jerusalem and future of
Palestinian Christians voiced by WCC" (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=9973180c377571446c3d
)

WCC feature: "Loving your neighbour in the Middle East" (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=7df58b137d18fde6dadd
)


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 Olav Fykse 
Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, 
Switzerland.



You receive this information as a subscriber of our media list. You 
are 
registered as Worldwide Faith News with the address 
wfn-editors@wfn.org.
Click here to unsubscribe or change your distribution settings 
(Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=8a8f2702ac6dd3ca9375 ).