The Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order has issued a 'Call to All Christians' as it concludes a four day gathering discussing 'Where now for visible unity?' and marked the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

Organised by the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the ecumenical conference met at the Logos Papal Center of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, between 24-28 October. It gathered around 400 church leaders and theologians of different traditions as well as involving a new generation of ecumenists.

The 'Call to All Christians: Message of the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order' emphasises the urgent need for Christian unity in a divided world: 'Let us aspire to live the unity for which Christ prayed, that the world may believe and experience God’s gifts of healing, justice and abundant life'.

Thanking the Coptic Orthodox Church for their hospitality, the statement acknowledges that many people are facing 'persecution and suffering horrific violence, existential threat, dehumanization and utter disregard for human rights'.

Celebrating over a century of Faith and Order work, the statement affirms that 'on many questions we agree more than we disagree'. It highlights three themes of faith, mission and unity. On faith, it states that 'trinitarian faith is not merely a heritage to be preserved, but living water to be offered through both word and deed'. On unity, it emphasises that 'Unity is more than agreement: it is communion' and that on mission 'the Church exists to be sent into the world, and 'in our time, mission must be marked by repentance and a reorientation toward decolonisation and justice, reconciliation and unity'.

The call was preceded by an ecumenical affirmation titled : 'Deepening Unity, Journeying in Love, Restoring Hope.'

In conjunction with the Sixth World Conference, a Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) offered space for a new generation of younger and emerging ecumenical theologians and educators from a broad spectrum of Christian traditions to engage with the work of Faith and Order. GETI also issued a message on October 28 to 'announce with prophetic courage the hope which dwells within us'. 

Many representatives of the Anglican Communion attended the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order, including The Most Revd Samy Shehata, Archbishop from the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria, who addressed the conference in the Opening Plenary on Friday 24 October. 

The Rev Professor Charlotee Methuen from the Scottish Episcopal Chuch was on the drafting group for the final statement from the conference. Other Anglicans included: Dr Christopher Wells (the Director for Unity, Faith and Order), Rev. Prebendary Dr Isabelle Hamley (Church of England), the Rt Revd Dr Reuben Mark (Moderator of the Church of South India), the Rt Revd Rd Renta Nishihara (The Nippon Sei Ko Kai) and other guests from The Anglican Church of Canada, The Episcopal Church, The Scottish Episcopal Church and The Anglican Church of Southern Africa. 

For more information

Visit the website for the World Council of Churches to read the statements from the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order

Deepening Unity, Journeying in Love, Restoring Hope: Ecumenical Affirmation

Call to all Christians: Message of the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order

Message from GETI: 'announce with prophetic courage the hope which dwells within us'

Read the speech made by Archbishop Samy Shehata at the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order