WCC News: Music workshop in Germany brings power of unity

A music workshop in Ettlingen, Germany, organized on 12 July by local ecumenical leaders, drew 60 people, including two international delegations, one from the Church of South India and other from the Moravian Church is South Africa.  A music workshop in Ettlingen, Germany gathered local ecumenical leaders and international participants to learn using songs from the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in their own contexts. Photo: WCC 29 July 2025 Songs included “El Amor,” “Christi Liebe,” and “Lord, what a time to celebrate,” in addition to songs sung at the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2022.  Musician Christoph Georgii expressed appreciation to all who attended, especially those who had previously participated in the WCC assembly. “This workshop showed how music can carry the spirit of a WCC assembly into local congregations around the world,” said Rev. Anne Heitmann, head of the Department for Ecumenical and Global Church Relations at the Protestant Church in Baden. “With partnership delegations from India and South Africa joining in, the experience became even more vibrant and meaningful.” People sang with joy and felt the power of unity, she added.  “The unity in the body of Christ is tangible in these moments,” said Heitmann. “The partners from South Africa and India left discussing how they will use and teach the songs in their context back home.”  Rev. Bettina Fuhrmann, Ecumenical and Global Church Relations representative for Central Baden, said that, with the melodies and rhythms, the spirit of the assembly was immediately palpable. “Hopefully, they will continue to be sung in many more congregations!” she said.  Rev. Dr Mikie Roberts, World Council of Churches programme executive for Spiritual Life, served as a song leader during the workshop. Learn more about the WCC Spiritual life program 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 356 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