WCC News: Rev. Andreas Fuog: Our doubt can be a source of faith

During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, staff of the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva joined a Monday morning prayer at the Chapelle des Crêts of the Protestant church of Geneva, reflecting on the theme of the 2025: “Do you believe this?” Chapelle des Crêts of the the Five Communes Protestant parish (Protestant church of Geneva) in Grand Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 21 January 2025 Rev. Andreas Fuog, pastor of the Five Communes Protestant parish in Grand Saconnex provided a sermon on the Gospel reading from John 20:24-29, describing the doubts of apostle Thomas after the Resurrection of Christ. “Somehow, the first encounter of disciples with the Risen Lord was not yet conclusive. Apparently, more was needed to encourage the disciples, to confirm and strengthen their faith, to enable them to open doors and windows. Something - or perhaps we should say - somebody was missing. “It was Thomas. The one who dared to question, who dared to insist, who dared to ask about the wounds of Christ, the marks of the nails, and also his open side.” But insistence of Thomas on seeing the stigmas of Risen Christ re-established the healing link to life. “Only his doubt over a faith that is disconnected from reality will finally open doors and overcome the fear of others. Thomas wants to know... and his insistence on wanting to know is liberating.” Thomas is the one who dares to question faith - but it is also him who pronounces the confession of faith at which the entire Gospel is aimed: “My Lord and my God!”(John 20:28). “With his courage to face up to his doubt, Thomas opened doors and windows. And through his attitude he also became the link to us, the people of today,” concluded Fuog. In order to pray together for unity among churches throughout the year, resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 are prepared by the brothers and sisters of the monastic community of Bose in northern Italy, and jointly published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches. Photo gallery of the WPCU Prayer service in Grand Saconnex Learn more about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Rev. Andreas Fuog, pastor of the Five Communes Protestant parish in Grand Saconnex reflected in his sermon on the doubts and faith of apostle Thomas. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 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 Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland