Rev. Prof. Dr Pillay (WCC), “an extraordinary opportunity to be a light of hope in the darkness in a divided and wounded world”

2025 is the year that will mark the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. There is great excitement among the Churches in anticipation of this anniversary. When receiving a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in June, Pope Francis expressed the hope that “the memory of this very important event may inspire all believers in Christ the Lord to bear witness together to the faith and the longing for greater communion.” In a letter to the Pope, Patriarch Bartholomew writes: “We eagerly await with spiritual joy our joint commemoration, in 2025, of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea.” We are talking about it with Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The ecumenical body, based in Geneva, has decided to designate 2025 as a special ecumenical year. Therefore, there will be events, meetings, and major celebrations held throughout the year and in various regions of the world. The WCC has already begun its work. Just last week, from November 5 to 7, an international conference was held and it brought together 130 church and academic leaders, focusing on the relevance of the message of the Nicene Creed. A major event will take place in June at the WCC Central Committee in South Africa, followed by a major world conference in Egypt in October. Additionally, there are other important activities organized by the Vatican and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with the participation of the WCC.

What is the ecumenical significance of the Council of Nicaea

In 325 AD, the Church was going through a period of internal struggles regarding the resolution of certain doctrines. One of the great unresolved issues was the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Council of Nicaea was the first initiative taken by the Church to try to reach a consensus on what Christians should believe. The result of this discussion was the creation of a Creed, a statement of faith that clearly expresses what Christians believe, particularly regarding God as One, the entire concept of the Trinity, and the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus, Nicaea became the place where a statement was crafted and was accepted by all Christians. This brought harmony and peace to the Christian world, as they were able to reach doctrinal consensus.

Why is it important today?

1700 years later, the doctrine of the Trinity within the Church is no longer a point of major contention. All Christian churches fundamentally agree on the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The celebration of this anniversary is significant today because it emphasizes the unity of God and encourages all churches and Christian traditions to seek unity in the Triune God.

What is the current state of dialogue between the churches? What is the greatest challenge?

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has 332 member churches, which vary greatly from one another. But the remarkable thing is that we are still able to work together. It’s not an easy task. The WCC is a complex body, and as such, it is in constant motion. I think of the Catholic Church’s active participation in the WCC as an observer, and I also think of the Pentecostal Churches. The awareness of the significant diversity among us makes the WCC a wonderful space where churches can come together to collaborate, especially on the great global issues and challenges facing the world today. I think of poverty, climate change, wars, violence, migration, and all the pressing global concerns. We are beginning to realize that churches need to work together, because together we are stronger and more effective.

But when it comes to theology, the knots don’t untie…

That’s not entirely true. Take, for example, the agreement on the doctrine of justification reached by the Catholic Church, the Lutheran World Federation, the Reformed Church, and the Methodist Church. This text is a masterpiece of theological innovation because it demonstrates the churches’ ability to work together, even on theological issues, agreeing that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. There are also fruitful theological conversations and bilateral dialogues taking place. What I’m trying to say is that we are in a historical moment where Christians, Christian leaders, and churches are increasingly realizing the imperative to work together to heal the world of its wounds and show that faith, religion, and the Church can play a significant role.

Churches are divided in a divided world… Hate speeches, endless wars, a culture of suspicion, the use of weapons to resolve conflicts… What is the message of Nicaea that still resonates today?

First and foremost, the fact that we believe in one true God. And the important point that follows is that God is the creator of heaven and earth. We also believe that the Kingdom of God will never end. We believe in Jesus, who was born, who came to live among us, and who suffered. He died but was resurrected. All of this is the message of the Gospel that the Nicene Creed brings to a divided world, where so many people are killed in wars and conflicts every day. A message of hope that today becomes a source of light in the darkness.

Conferenza Wcc all’Istituto di Bossey sul Credo di Nicea ( foto Gregoire de Fombelle/WCC)

But are the Churches living up to this “good news”?

Unfortunately, no. We are divided because we are divided politically. And this is one of the saddest challenges we are facing in the world today. Many churches are politically influenced, and some have even been used as tools by the state and politicians. All of this prevents the churches from returning to the purity of the Gospel and following the example of Jesus Christ.

Party politics is what divides Christians and divides the church.

There are, of course, social and ethical issues on which we hold differing opinions, as well as cultural issues that inevitably impact the unity of the church. In a divided world, a church torn apart by politics, social, cultural, and ethical issues, is not credible. That is why Christians must pause and ask themselves: what does the Gospel of Jesus Christ call us to do today? I believe the Nicene Creed helps us understand the foundation of our faith and proclaim that faith as a healing balm in a fragmented and divided world. But if we are not true to ourselves, if we allow ourselves to be influenced and overwhelmed by other factors instead of following the example of Jesus, we will not be able to create unity, reconciliation, or work for justice in the world.

By a coincidence of the calendar, in 2025, the Eastern and Western Churches will celebrate Easter on the same day, April 20. What prevents us from celebrating the most important feast for Christians together?

There are many different obstacles. However, I believe that the shared celebration of Easter next year could also be an opportunity for us to ask how we can work together to gather around the same table to break bread. Unfortunately, the table divides us, but division is a human work, not by God’s design, because Jesus’ prayer to the Father was: “that they may be one.” The table that Jesus offers us is a table for everyone; it is an inclusive table, not an exclusive one. The celebration of a common Easter is an opportunity for us as churches to ask: how can we celebrate, not only to be together but also to break bread together?

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