WCC faces more pressure
'The WCC resisted calls to expel the ROC in April over the church’s leader Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev’s backing of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.'
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has faced renewed calls to distance itself from any members which support the invasion of Ukraine.
The Church in Wales made the call last month, ahead of the WCC central committee meeting next week from 15-18 June. In an emergency motion passed unanimously at a meeting of its governing body in Newport, the church urged the WCC to stand with the oppressed and work for peace, and to take ‘clear and appropriate action’ against any member which supported the invasion.
The motion stopped short of calling for the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) to be ousted from the WCC, but asked ‘Christians globally to take the stand for peace and to pray for repentance and reconciliation’.
The WCC resisted calls to expel the ROC in April over the church’s leader Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev’s backing of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Judith Baker, ecumenical and interfaith officer for Britain Yearly Meeting, told the Friend last month, before the Church in Wales made its call: ‘The WCC focus is on what churches have in common and is a place where different churches from all over the world can meet.
‘We know we are not alone among the churches in Britain in thinking that throwing a whole church out of an ecumenical body would be wrong since the church is the people in it, not just one leader. Russian Orthodox priests in Britain have been very outspoken against the war and there is a petition signed by over 300 Russian Orthodox clergy worldwide condemning it.
‘Other churches need to support the brave clergy who are speaking out and keep the connection with them which WCC provides. Further, at times of war bridges of contact and friendship are needed on which peace can be built, so they should not be destroyed.’
