WCC news: Bossey welcomes Rev. Dr Martin Illert as professor of ecumenical social ethics

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey is welcoming Rev. Dr Martin Illert as its new professor of Ecumenical Social Ethics. His appointment by WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay marks an important Bossey’s academic engagement with contemporary ethical challenges facing churches worldwide. Photo: Gloria Charles/WCC 20 January 2026 Rev. Dr Martin Illert, who has been serving full-time with the WCC Commission on Faith and Order while also contributing as adjunct faculty at Bossey, will now divide his service equally between Faith and Order and the institute.  “I am looking forward to working on ecumenical social ethics with the students in Bossey”, said Illert. “I am grateful that the global composition of our student body will bring a great variety of voices from many places to this class and will thus represent the diversity and richness of today`s ecumenical movement.” Ecumenical social ethics explores how churches reflect on and respond to social and moral questions. At Bossey, the course examines the history, sources, norms, methods, and key concerns of moral discernment within the churches, with the aim of strengthening fellowship and advancing Christian unity. Particular attention is given to the ecumenical movement of the 20th and 21st centuries and to pressing moral debates shaping church life and public witness today. “Martin Illert brings exceptional academic rigor and ecumenical commitment to the Bossey Ecumenical Institute”, said Rev. Dr Kuzipa Nalwamba, WCC programme director for Unity, Mission, and Ecumenical Formation. “His contributions are a testament to the faithful support and partnership of the Evangelical Church in Germany. We are deeply grateful to them for sponsoring his valuable work.” Ecumenical social ethics is a core component of Bossey’s formation programme. By deepening understanding of moral deliberation processes, the course equips future ecumenical leaders to engage ethical challenges thoughtfully, foster constructive dialogue, and contribute to a credible and united Christian witness in the world. Learn more about the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey 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