SPRING The Ecumenical Institute at Château de Bossey is the international dialogue and formation centre of the World Council of Churches.

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1 SPRING 2014 The Ecumenical Institute at Château de Bossey is the international dialogue and formation centre of the World Council of Churches.

2 2 BEYOND BOUNDARIES is a periodic newsletter of the Ecumenical Institute at Château de Bossey. Editorial Team Marina Behera, Dagmar Heller, Odair Pedroso Mateus, Anu Talvivaara, Luc Hegetschweiler Printed at the Ecumenical Institute July 2014 Dear readers, The WCC member churches gathered in the 10th General Assembly in Busan last November identified and shaped a new ecumenical paradigm for our times which is to lead our way in the search for unity in the next period: the pilgrimage of justice and peace. As a theological and ecumenical concept offered to the younger generations of our times, I find it meaningful, attractive, and clear, and one that carries a message which can be understood and followed. It opens new ways of reflection and lays the basis for renewed possibilities of openness, dialogue, and cooperation among Christians and also with the wider world. To implement such a pilgrimage, the churches gathered in Busan reaffirmed the role of ecumenical formation and requested that it becomes a distinct programmatic area within the WCC for the coming years. Three major projects thus came together: ETE, the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey and the newly established Continuing Formation project. While keeping their clear identities and goals, the three projects are to plan and to work together, involving in this important work of education and formation both the WCC programme staff as well as partners and Churches from all over the world. The courses offered will be thus organised according to situations, topics and needs either in Bossey or in the regions. The Ecumenical Institute shall not be under any liability to any person in respect of any damage, however caused, which may be incurred or which arises directly or indirectly from reliance on information in this publication. The ecumenical formation delivered in Bossey over the years has been the nourishment that strengthened its students to embark on the pilgrimage of diakonia and service when they returned to their own contexts and Churches. I have great hopes that the vocation and role of the Ecumenical Institute will continue and will be further strengthened in the next period. I am encouraged to see how churches and partners continue to support our work with renewed commitments and pledges in a time of global financial challenges and constraints. As we start a new stage and embark on the pilgrimage of justice and peace, I would like to express my deep thanks and gratitude for all your support over the years. At the same time, I would also like to renew to all of you the invitation to embark with us on this pilgrimage and to be our partners and co-journers. We continue to count on your prayers, support and active partnership, because we can achieve and reach the goals of our pilgrimage for a world in which peace and justice reign, only if we walk together. Prof. Fr. Dr. Ioan Sauca Director of the Institute

3 3 So unique! Contents It is no breaking news that at the end of the autumn semester, there is a group of fresh graduates of the Complementary Certificate of Ecumenical Studies and Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) of Ecumenical Studies. It would be news if there were no new graduates at all! This, however, was not the case on the wintry Monday afternoon of 27 January, The Closing Ceremony of the autumn semester began with a beautiful Thanksgiving prayer in Bossey s memorable medieval chapel. The 22 to-be-graduates from around the globe, dressed in a festive manner, gathered there with the Bossey faculty and staff, colleagues invited from the WCC, faithful local supporters of Bossey and personal friends. Continued on page 4 Editorial So unique Bossey after Busan Some Bossey Memories Book resulting from Research Seminar Women s Pilgrimage towards Justice and Peace Green Churches: Ecology, Theology and Justice in Practice Seminars 2014 at Bossey Bossey as a new destination

4 Bossey after Busan 4 Each Assembly of the World Council of Churches has resulted among other things in a new structure at its headquarters in Geneva. This is due to the new directions and priorities given by the Assembly in response to the needs of the churches, the financial situation and other related issues, which change from assembly to assembly. Therefore after the Assembly in Busan (Korea) in 2013, the WCC is presently re-adapting its structure in such a way, that the programmatic working areas and priorities for the coming seven or eight years will be Unity, Mission and Ecumenical Relations, Public Witness and Diakonia and Ecumenical Formation. In addition there are five transversal priorities which are relations with member churches, youth, community of women and men, inter-religious dialogue and cooperation and spiritual life. These five are related to all the three major working areas and therefore build part of the work in all projects. Continued from page 3 The Graduation Ceremony itself took place in the new conference hall named Geneva. The Dean and the Director of the Ecumenical Institute offered the traditional welcome as well as the closing remarks. Greetings were expressed by the University of Geneva and the representative of the General Secretary of the WCC. In between speeches, students offered, both heartfelt words and lively international music. Certificates were solemnly presented, hands shaken and photographs taken: this time with Jean-Daniel Macchi, Dean of the Autonomous Faculty of Protestant Theology of the University of Geneva, Georges Lemopoulos, WCC Deputy General Secretary and Bossey s own Ioan Sauca. By this time the late afternoon had turned into evening, signalling the much awaited sharing, the Fellowship Dinner in the Orangerie dining hall. Nothing new, yet still so unique! It was another once- in- a -lifetime event for all involved. Therefore Beyond Boundaries once again congratulates all the new graduates and wishes them all the best for their future, trusting that the knowledge and life skills acquired in Bossey will be put to good use wherever the ecumenical path will lead them. This new structure also means a change for Bossey. The third major working area of the WCC, Ecumenical Formation, includes the traditional program on Ecumenical Theological Education (ETE), a newly established program on Continuing Education and the academic program of the Ecumenical Institute. These three programs are closely interlinked - both in terms of content and in terms of staff. The head of the whole program area is the director of Bossey, Fr. Dr. Ioan Sauca. Each of the three programs has a coordinator: For ETE Dr. Amélé Ekué, for Continuing Education, Rev. Dr. Martin Robra, and for the academic program, Rev. Dr. Dagmar Heller as Academic Dean. While the coordinators of ETE and Continuing Education are also teaching in Bossey s academic program, the teaching staff of the Ecumenical Institute (this is in addition to the persons already mentioned): Rev. Dr. Odair Pedroso Mateus, Fr. Dr. Lawrence Iwuamadi and Dr. Marina Behera are also teaching in the short term seminars of Continuing Education. This new structure is meant to facilitate closer cooperation between the working areas related to each other in order to be more flexible and thus better able to respond to the needs of the churches in the fields of ecumenical education and formation. As a result the Ecumenical Institute will have a greater presence through its link with ETE, and will in addition to the traditional academic program - offer a wider variety of short term seminars through the program on Continuing Education.

5 Master Students Graduation Ceremony By the end of June, 8 students, four women and four men, completed the program of Advanced Master in Ecumenical Studies. They came from Greece, Zimbabwe, Benin, Serbia, Lebanon, Myanmar, Romania, Sri Lanka. All our best wishes for them for their ecumenical future! Some Bossey Memories Margaret Pater worked at Bossey as an interpreter translating into German and English from mid- March 1963 to the end of July 1966 and from 1st October 1975 to 15th March This was a time when Bossey used English, French and German at the Graduate School and in the various conferences, seminars and courses between March and September. We asked her to share a few of her memories with us and here are some excerpts: 5 Translation Problems On one occasion a Swiss psychologist had sent the summary of his talk too late for it to be translated in advance and we had to distribute the German version to everyone. At some point I realised people were not listening to my translation and were simply staring at the paper. Later I asked what was wrong. Turns out the participants had never seen a w o r d w i t h s o m a n y l e t t e r s : Schwangerschaftsunterbrechungsparagraph the Swiss abortion law. Language subtleties In the 1960s the typical day in Bossey was framed by morning prayers, midday intercession and evening prayers. I always appreciated the midday intercession time led from Monday to Friday by a member of staff for just 10 minutes before lunch. But I remember being shocked one day when the director, Professor Wolf, prayed for this bloody war in Vietnam. Professor Nissiotis often explained how icons should be understood. But he regularly pointed out that upstairs on the icon you see the pigeon of the Holy Spirit. I tried to persuade him to call the Holy Spirit a dove but it seemed a pity to amend upstairs on the icon. In the Chapel Ecology was recognised dramatically as an issue in the chapel on one occasion. We entered the chapel and found it full of pungent smoke. Someone had driven a car up to the entrance and let the exhaust fumes fill the chapel to underline the problem of pollution. It took quite a bit of airing before worship could begin.it was natural for people to use their own language (not just English, French or German) at certain points during worship. But once a participant protested that things were not all in English because someone might be praying against me. Personally, when I returned to my home congregation, the Lord s Prayer always sounded a bit dull without the ring of all the other languages.

6 6 Book resulting from Research Seminar Rev. Dr. Odair Pedroso Mateus, from the Ecumenical Institute contributed an article "Josè Miquez Bonino and the Struggle for Global Christian Unity in 1970" to the book The World Council of Churches and the Discovery of the Third World in the 1960s and 1970s (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck&Ruprecht, 2014), edited by Katharina Kunter and Annegreth Schilling. The book is the result of a research seminar, held in March 2011 at the Ecumenical Institute (see BB spring 2011). Women s Pilgrimage towards Justice and Peace (9-13 June 2014) A seminar on Women s Pilgrimage Towards Justice and Peace was held at the Ecumenical Institute from July 9-13, 2014 at the Ecumenical Institute. It was jointly organised by Dr Fulata Lusungu Moyo, programme executive for the WCC programme` Just Community of Women and Men` and Dr Marina Ngursangzeli Behera, who teaches at the Ecumenical Institute. The seminar was based on the UNSR 1325 (UN Security Council resolution) that mandates focus on an involvement of women in postconflict arrangements for peacebuilding and reconstruction, a key asset for developing or restoring gender justice in war-torn areas that have witnessed large-scale gender violence. The main focus of the seminar was to make the UNSR 1325 accessible to religious women. Twenty one women from around the world participated in this seminar. The book points out that the churches are among the most important global actors, operating locally while also belonging to a larger transnational network. This can be seen in the World Council of Churches (WCC), the most important international representative of non-roman Catholic Christianity, which first developed into a truly global nongovernmental organization during the 1960s and 1970s. While the founding of the WCC in 1948 was primarily the work of European and North American churches, representatives of the Third World played a more active role in the wake of the decolonization, de-westernization, and revolutionary upheavals of the early 1960s. The positive effects of this more comprehensive globalization can be seen in the growing presence of representatives from Africa, Asia, and Latin America in the WCC. However, as this volume demonstrates in contributions from scholars in the fields of global history and theology, the process of globalization also led to new theological and cultural conflicts that threatened to destabilize the ecumenical movement. New areas of international church cooperation included engagement with questions about development, a commitment to human rights and the liberation of the oppressed, and the struggle against racism. In one of its most important contributions, this volume shows how the globalization of the churches gradually brought an end to the exclusively western profile of the WCC and worldwide Protestantism. Beyond Boundaries wishes to all its readers a Blessed Summer Season!

7 Recent Publications and Paper presentations by the Bossey Faculty Rev. Dr. Dagmar Heller Articles Apostolic Continuity in Contradiction to Liberalism? Fields of Tension between churches in the East and the West, in: Andrii Krawchuk & Thomas Bremer (eds.), Eastern Orthodox Encounters of Identity and Otherness. Values, Self -reflection, Dialogue, New York: Palgrave Mac- Millan, 2014, Anerkennung Dimensionen eines Schlüsselbegriffs der Ökumene, in Thomas Bremer & Maria Wernsmann (Hgg.), Ökumene überdacht. Reflexionen und Realitäten im Umbruch, Freiburg: Herder, 2014, Sources of Authority in Lutheran Churches at Present. A Response to Anne-Louise Eriksson, in Tamara Grdzelidze (ed.), Sources of Authority, Vol.2: Contemporary Churches, Faith & Order Paper No. 218, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2014, Paper Presentations How is the other approached in Christianity?, at a meeting of WSCF Europe in Wroclaw on Getting closer to the different and Unknown: Learning to explore Diversity, April Menschenrechte zwischen Ost und West: Die Debatte zwischen der Russischen Orthodoxen Kirche und der Gemeinschaft Evangelischer Kirchen in Europa, at a symposion by the University of Münster, February der Dritten Welt in den 1960er und 1970er Jahren, Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Dr. Marina Ngursangzeli Behera Articles Tourism Development: Commodification of Culture: Impact on Indigenous Communities, in Caesar D' Mello, Wati Longchar & Philip Mathew, Deconstructing Tourism: Who Benefits? - A Theological Reading from the Global South, Kolkata: PTCA, Mizo Beliefs and the Christian Gospel: Their Interaction With References to the Concepts of Health and Healing, Studies in World Christianity, The Edinburgh Review of Theology and Religion, Vol 20, No. 1, Paper presentation Sanctification: The middle term between justification and justice, presented at the fourth session of the fourth phase of the International Reformed-Catholic Dialogue (6-12 April, 2014) on the theme Justification and Sacramentality: The Christian Community as an Agent for Justice. Dr. Amele Adamavi-Aho Ekue Keynote lecture Vous n êtes plus des étrangers ni des émigrés: reflexions sur l identité chrétiennes entre étrangeté et enracinement at the joint conference organised by the WCC, the Federation of Swiss Reformed Churches and the Cantonal Reformed Churches of Berne, Jura and Solothurn in Berne on 31 August 2013.The conference was entitled: Belonging Migration from a theological perspective. 7 Rev. Dr. Odair Pedroso Mateus Book Dois Ensaios sobre a Gênese Universitária de Juan Luis Segundo, São Paulo: Emblema, 2013 Article José Míguez Bonino and the Struggle for Global Christian Unity, in K. Kunter and A. Schilling (eds), Globalisierung der Kirchen: Der Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen und die Entdeckung

8 Bossey as a new destination Founded in 1946, the Ecumenical Institute at the Château de Bossey is the international centre for encounter, dialogue and academic formation of the World Council of Churches. But it is also well known for its hospitality services. Open to the public since 2003, the Château de Bossey is one of the largest conference centres in the Lake Geneva region, with its four buildings, 90 guest rooms, 10 meeting rooms, a large garden and views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. Guests and organisations from around the world use our facilities for their meetings, conferences, banquets, weddings, business trips or simply for a quiet retreat. And business continues to grow since the completion of recent major renovations and upgradations. As a result we are now able to sell our rooms to guests from around the world all through the year. Our website has also been completely redesigned and the online reservations system helps us attract more guests. Interestingly our guests do not choose our Institute only because it is beautiful or comfortable, but because they find at the Château de Bossey a special atmosphere, different from other hotels though, of course the countryside, the peaceful environment, and the great views help. Some of our guests tell us that they work better at the Château de Bossey than in a normal hotel. And when you ask them why, they say: "We come here because there is a kind of a lively atmosphere here ; We feel as if we are at the center of the world here ; These are ideal conditions for a seminar." So, even if the spirituality of the Institute is not always mentioned in the reviews, its influence is an important one for our guests. The staff contributes greatly to this satisfaction our guests experience. Our housekeepers, our cooks, receptionists and all those involved in hospitality ensure that everything works smoothly and well. Our guests notice this and many of their reviews makes mention of their hard work and dedication. The Ecumenical Institute, at the Château de Bossey has the experience and is comfortable, knowing how to look after the international ecumenical community as well as organizations and guests from all over the world, making their stay in so beautiful and spiritual a setting, a memorable one. 8

9 9 The Next Continuing Education Seminars at Bossey Seeking Renewal of Spirit and fullness of life for all Creation as Witnessing Communities (14-18 July 2014) Evaluating Ecumenical Formation for Migrant Church Leaders (1-5 September 2014) was co-sponsored by the YMCA in Cameroon, the Pacific Conference of Churches, the National Council of Churches in India and the European Christian Environmental Network. These organizations were represented by Dr Alain-Douglas Wandji Kamga, Peter Emberson, Prof. Christopher Rajkumar, Rev. Dr Peter Pavlovic and Rev. Henrik Grape. During the sessions participants shared about projects in which they are involved, including a small production of ecological coal in Cameroon, idea of an eco -diploma for the churches in Finland and a River of Life-project for solar energy applications among others. Different approaches to ecotheology were presented and discussed. A highlight was a visit to the WCC offices in Geneva, where the participants were informed about activities and programmes in this area within the WCC and the Lutheran World Federation. Another emphasis was on spirituality and its role in making people of faith aware of being part of creation and not being the creators. Addressing ecology, theology and justice in practice While churches around the world live in very different contexts and may be separated by different doctrinal teachings, they do have one concern in common: will planet earth still be a fit place for their children to live? How should churches reflect theologically about creation? What can churches do in their specific context? Thirty-one participants from 20 countries at a seminar on Green Churches Ecology, Theology and Justice in Practice discussed these questions from 23 to 27 June at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland. The seminar was organized by the WCC s programme on Care for Creation and Climate Justice, represented by its coordinator Dr Guillermo Kerber, in collaboration with the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, represented by its faculty members Rev. Dr Dagmar Heller and Rev. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus. The event New initiatives, inspiring visions The participants also developed ideas for action and came up with a rich variety of practical proposals from developing a stronger green profile for the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, the publication of a global handbook on green churches, for sharing and translating resources and creating a website. In addition, the participants committed themselves to actions such as embarking on a pilgrimage to the upcoming Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, theological education on eco-theology and networking.

10 Support the work of the Ecumenical Institute! Online giving Bank transfer Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV) Case postale 300, CH-1001 Lausanne, Switzerland Account holder: The Ecumenical Institute of Bossey IBAN: CH U Swift code: BCVLCH2LXXX Postal account (in Switzerland only) Account holder: The Ecumenical Institute of Bossey CCP: Thank You for Your Gifts! The Ecumenical Institute at Château de Bossey was founded in It is attached to the Autonomous Faculty of Protestant Theology of the University of Geneva and part of the World Council of Churches (WCC) representing some 560 million Christians on all continents of the globe. Since 1946, thousands of women and men from numerous countries and most Christian confessions and cultures have come to Bossey for seminars, conferences and academic study programmes. Many have testified to lifechanging experiences in this ecumenical laboratory. More information about the academic programme or how the contemporary hospitality facilities in splendid historical surroundings overlooking the French Alps may be of use to you can be found on our website. Ecumenical Institute Château de Bossey P.O.Box Crans-près Céligny Switzerland Tel: Fax: bossey@wcc-coe.org