The World Council of Churches and the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations have agreed to restore formal relations after a 20 year break following a meeting in Paris late last month.
In a communique issued at the end of the 25th to 27th June meeting, the two organisations said that at meeting they explored ways in which, when working together, their advocacy and interventions, “may be forces for good in the world”.
The WCC and IJCIC delegations who meet in Paris on 25th to 27th June. PICTURE:: Marianne Ejdersten/World Council of Churches
“We are committed to addressing and opposing all forms of normalisation of hatred, including antisemitism and attacks on religious communities,” the communique reads. “Areas of possible collaboration included: mutual education; environmental concerns; and gender justice.”
It concluded by stating that the “historic meeting” ended with a “shared commitment to continue to communicate openly and regularly, to facilitate the joint efforts to affect change identified by the meeting, and to reconvene at regular intervals so that we can advance our respective and mutual responsibilities to our own communities and the world at large.”
Earlier in the communique, the two groups noted the challenges to religious life in general and to each of their communities in various contexts. These included “the rise of xenophobic nationalist movements in much of the world; suspicion of the agendas of religious communities and institutions, especially in Europe; the resurgence of overt antisemitism; the prevalence of Islamophobia; newly emerging anti-Christian attitudes; the continuing non-resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; worldwide hostility to vulnerable minorities; and the shocking erosion of civil society in many places and ways.
“We are particularly horrified by the recent increase in murderous attacks on places of worship in different parts of the world,” the communique added, noting that the decision to hold the meeting in France was made “since it faces many of the aforementioned challenges”.
The communique also acknowledged that there had been some “very real tensions” between the positions of the WCC and IJCIC on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but that the meeting took place “with acknowledgment of the development in both more constructive communications and the way that differences are conveyed publicly”.
“These discussions in Paris were characterised by openness, honesty, and an attempt to fully empathise with how profoundly important these issues are to Jews and Christians alike,” it added.
The WCC represents more than half a billion Christians around the world while the IJCIC’s members include the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Israel Jewish Council on Interreligious Relations, and the World Jewish Congress.
