WCC News: WCC general secretary preaches in Australia on "Christ our spiritual compass and hope”

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay delivered a homily in St Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide, Australia, on 23 June, bringing greetings from the global fellowship and reflecting on “Christ our spiritual compass and hope.” WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay delivered a homily in St Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide, Australia, on 23 June 2024. Photo: Oliver Slewa/NCCA 24 June 2024 Pillay’s message centered on the knowledge that Jesus is with us, in the storms of life, and during rough and tough times. “We are not alone, never alone,” said Pillay. “He is always with us even when it does not feel that way sometimes.” And Jesus poses a question to us in our storms in life: do you still have faith? “We find in Jesus one so close to God, so beloved of God, so trusting of God, as to banish fear and engender courage equal to the elements,” Pillay said. “With Jesus, and through him, we too have access to such faith.” It is not primarily a matter of beliefs, Pillay continued. “No, faith is falling in love with God, trusting God and God’s compassion with our lives and destiny,” he said. “Despite suffering, tragedy, and even death, we affirm with gratitude God’s gift of life, and we work tirelessly to protect, support, and nurture it.” Rough seas will come, and winds will howl, Pillay continued. “As disciples, we huddle in our ships, hoping to make it to shore, with faith not so much in the outcome as in God’s accompaniment,” he said. “Perhaps that is why the symbol of the ecumenical movement is a ship sailing on the waves, guided only by a mast in the shape of a cross, our sails trusting the winds of God’s Spirit.” Jesus is in the boat, Pillay said. “God is with us,” he said. “He is with you right now, right in your storm taking you through.” Our faith is neither arbitrary nor naive, Pillay said. “Nor is our hope some simple-minded optimism,” he continued. “Christ’s triumph over death and his continued presence among us, bringing God’s compassion: that is the basis for a hope we can embrace in ourselves and offer to the world. It changes everything!” The times in which we live test our faith against the elements, Pillay acknowledged. “No litany can fully capture the depth and magnitude of the challenges humankind faces today,” he said.  Our communities of faith become bearers of hope and agents of reconciliation, Pillay said. “We step up and out to be advocates for justice, makers of peace, counsellors of unity, catalysts for creative engagement at all levels,” he said. “This way of life is embodied in the ecumenical Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity.” Read a Homily by the WCC General Secretary in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide WCC general secretary addresses 11th Forum of National Council of Churches in Australia (WCC news release, 23 June 2024) Photo gallery: visit of the WCC general secretary to Australia See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland