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The Orthodox Church in America was represented at the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Karlsruhe, Germany, August 31-September 8, 2022, by His Grace Bishop Andrei of Cleveland, who led the delegation, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, and Dr. Rebecca Luft.
The Assembly of the World Council of Church brings together Christians from all over the world and of all denominations in order to meet, deliberate, and plan for future programs and plans for the WCC. The delegation from the Orthodox Church in America joins those from other local Churches of the Orthodox Church, almost all of which are present at these assemblies. Additionally, the different Oriental Orthodox Churches are all also represented.
The delegation of the Orthodox Church in America not only attended and participated in the different programs of the Assembly, but members also served the Assembly further in different ways. Father Alexander served on the Message Committee, which drafted a final message from the Assembly.
Dr. Luft served on the Programme Guidelines Committee, and its subcommittee, Ecumenical Formation and Education.
During the Assembly, the delegation from the OCA met formally and informally with the delegations of the other local Orthodox Churches, as well as other Assembly delegates, advisors, and guests. An early highlight of the Assembly was the arrival of His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch, who had been one of the eight regional Presidents of the WCC. To conclude his visit, Patriarch John X offered the Assembly a sermon at the end of the day on August 31, in which he called those present at the Assembly to speak out in defense of Christians in the Middle East. Father Alexander was able to receive the blessing of Patriarch John X and convey to him the fraternal greetings of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon.
At the end of the Assembly, Father Alexander was elected to be a member of the Central Committee of the WCC.
