WCC News: WCC reflects on “moving from creed to deed”

During an international partner consultation hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Württemberg/Germany, World Council of Churches (WCC) Faith and Order Director Dr Andrej Jeftic, presented a paper by general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay on the theme of the gathering, “Nicaea 2025: Faith – Mission – Unity.” A light show at Karlsruhe Palace was among the cultural attractions enjoyed by participants at the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany. The assembly takes place August 31 to September 8 under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Photo: Mike DuBose/WCC 24 September 2025 Reflecting on the “faith” portion of the theme, on 24 September, Pillay focused on interrelated dimensions of the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.  “Within the World Council of Churches, adherence to the faith confessed in the Nicene Creed has long been a prerequisite for membership,” he wrote. “When we raise the question of Nicaea in today’s ecumenical context, one frequent response is that the Nicene Creed is used by many, but not all, Christian traditions.” Many of the faithful may struggle with the creed’s theological vocabulary, added Pillay. “One may ask: can the faithful truly grasp what is at stake in such formulations?” he wrote. “Yet I would argue that even if Christians do not use the Nicene Creed liturgically or lack the theological expertise to unpack its precise meaning, the faith it articulates remains widely shared.” The creed is not only something to recite, but it is something to be lived, wrote Pillay. “To confess the Nicene faith is to accept a vocation: a calling to embody the truth we proclaim in our deeds,” he wrote. “Throughout history, the Nicene confession has bound Christians together across cultures and centuries.” We are obliged to expose how doctrines and traditions have been used to justify oppression, cautioned Pillay. “At the same time, we must reclaim them as resources for liberation,” he wrote. “The Nicene faith challenges us to ensure that our witness resists domination and proclaims God’s reign of justice and peace.” Rev. Dr. Susan Durber, WCC president from Europe, will present on the “unity” portion of the theme on 26 September. Address of the WCC General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay at the consultation of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg See more

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 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland