Malaysia church unity meeting ends with renewed commitment   

by Ecumenical News International

GENEVA — A 10-day meeting assembled by the World Council of Churches in the Muslim-majority nation of Malaysia concluded Friday with an affirmation to continue striving forvisible Christian unity. 

      The WCC Faith and Order Commission meeting in Kuala Lumpur, July 28 to Aug. 6,  said in a final statement, “There are still many questions we need to explore together, but we became aware of reaching a moment of hope, having identified a framework which might enable churches to move forward in terms of mutual recognition.” 

       Still, the commission noted continued divisions “within and among our churches,” which it said reflected not only theological differences, “but also strife within the human community.” 

      The WCC commission seeks to bring churches into theological dialogue to promote church unity.  

      It paid a special tribute to Malaysia’s Muslim prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who had said in an address to the meeting: “We cannot stand before a compassionate God while there is so much we have left undone because we are disunited.” 

      The presence of the world’s largest grouping of Christian churches in Malaysia was “a powerful statement against the rhetoric of hate and distrust” prevalent in the world today, Abdullah had said. Interfaith dialogue, he noted, was essential. “A meaningful dialogue will not be possible if we do not respect each other's freedom of worship.” 

      The Geneva-based WCC’s 342 member churches come mainly from Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member but has official representatives on the Faith and Order Commission and in some countries it belongs to national church groupings that are linked to the World Council.