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Under the theme “Ecumenical Formation as Ethos and as Programme,” the meeting will consider the commission’s mandate and priorities, review current initiatives, and identify directions for its future work. The gathering will also provide opportunities for dialogue with the WCC leadership, the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, and students currently engaged in its formation programme.
The meeting will open with reflections from the WCC general secretary and the EEF Commission moderator Rev. Dr Meehyun Chung, providing strategic perspectives on the role of ecumenical education and formation within the wider work of the WCC and the ecumenical movement. Members will also receive updates on Ecumenical Theological Education and the work of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey.
"We feel honored and privileged to go to the Bossey to celebrate its 80th anniversary. As we all know, Bossey is the most energizing center of the WCC,” said Chung.
“We will discuss what the key tasks of EEF are and how we cooperate with other commissions to fulfill our common framework of the WCC Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. Personally, I am expecting to discern with our commissioners how we can attract more young people throughout our ongoing theological education and formation,” she added.
A significant part of the meeting will be dedicated to evaluating the commission’s working groups, including initiatives such as the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) and Ecumenism 101. Members will examine achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, and consider how these experiences can inform future priorities and programme development.
The commission will also reflect on GETI 2025, Regional Ecumenical Theological Institutes (RETIs), and women’s theological networks, exploring different approaches to ecumenical formation and their relevance in diverse contexts.
“The EEF Commission will evaluate the work undertaken over the past two years, deepen its reflection on the theological, pedagogical, and contextual dimensions of ecumenical formation, and discern its priorities towards 2028 and beyond", said Prof. Dr Ani Ghazaryan Drissi, WCC programme executive for Ecumenical Theological Education.“The aim is to ensure that ecumenical education remains rooted in the realities of the churches, responsive to today’s challenges, and able to form new generations committed to unity, justice and reconciliation.”
The meeting will coincide with celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, providing an opportunity to honour its contribution to ecumenical formation worldwide and reflect on its future.
