The World Council of Churches (WCC) welcomed representatives of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) on 20 March at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting was held following reopening of the WJC’s office in Geneva.
The WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, along with the WCC staff members working on inter-religious dialogue and cooperation, and with churches in the Middle East, met with Maram Stern, the WJC’s associate executive vice-president, and Michael D. Colson, the WJC’s newly appointed Geneva representative at the UN and international organizations.
The meeting explored possibilities of potential future cooperation. Among other issues discussed were worrying xenophobic undercurrents in parts of Europe and the radicalization of religion. The group also identified climate change as one of the issues, where Christians and Jews can work together with people of other faiths for the good of the world.
Tveit in his conversation with the Jewish visitors expressed his hopes of working together in addressing “moral challenges” the world is facing. He said that the WCC is willing to cooperate with other faith organizations in order to make strong contributions towards the cause of peace and justice.
The meeting provided a positive opportunity for dialogue as the WCC continues to connect with Jewish communities around the world.