World Council of Churches (WCC)
Website: http://www.oikoumene.org/
Category: Religion
Year of Foundation: 1948
Location of Foundation: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Location of Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Brief Description: The World Council of Churches describes itself as 'the broadest and most inclusive among the many organized expressions of the modern ecumenical movement, a movement whose goal is Christian unity.' (source: www.oikoumene.org; accessed 6 April 2010).
Founding Rationales:
In July 1937 a 'Committee of Thirty-Five' set up by the Universal Council for Life and Work and the Continuation Committee of the World Conference on Faith and Order resolved that 'with a view to facilitating the more effective action of the Christian Church in the modern world, the movements known as "Life and Work" and "Faith and Order" should be more closely related in a body representative of the Churches and caring for the interests of each movement' with the following aims: '(i) to carry on the work of the two World Conferences; (ii) to facilitate corporate action by the Churches; (iii) to promote co-operation in study; (iv) to promote the growth of oecumenical consciousness in the Churches; (v) to consider the establishment of an oecumenical journal; (vi) to consider the establishment of communication with denominational federations of world-wide scope...; (vii) to call world conferences on specific subjects as occasion requires.'
The initial constitution of the organization upon its establishment in August 1948 described its functions as: '(i) to carry on the work of the two world movements for Faith and Order and for Life and Work; (ii) to facilitate common action by the Churches; (iii) to promote cooperation in study; (iv) to promote the growth of ecumenical consciousness in the members of all Churches; (v) to establish relations with denominational federations of world-wide scope and with other ecumenical movements; (vi) to call world conferences on specific subjects as occasion may require, such conferences being empowered to publish their own findings; (vii) to support the Churches in their task of evangelism.'
Sources: Leonard Hodgson, 'The Second World Conference on Faith and Order, held at Edinburgh, August 3-18, 1937' (London: Student Christian Movement Press, 1937), p. 273; 'Constitution for the World Council of Churches as amended and finally agreed by the Assembly, August 30th, 1948, in Amsterdam' in box 31.007/2, World Council of Churches Archives, Geneva.
Evolution of Membership (Churches):
Sources: YIO; EAIO; www.oikoumene.org (accessed 6 April 2010).