Page 675 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

“one of the finest representatives of morality in this Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios
earth right now.” Kenneth Kantzer, former editor of Gunnar Stalsett, head of the Lutheran World
Christianity Today, praised John Paul II and has said he Federation
is building the kind of church “God has called the Allan Boesak, head of the World Alliance of
successor of Saint Peter to build.” David du Plessis Reformed Churches
carried a photo of the pope in his Bible. Many other Metropolitan Filaret, Russian Orthodox Church
evangelical and charismatic leaders have praised this Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic nun
pope. Susanna Telewona, a vice-president of the Lutheran
The infamous meeting was held in Assisi, Italy, in World Federation
October 26, 1986, and it was first announced by John Nita Barrow and Marga Buhrig, WCC presidents
Paul II nine months earlier. The announcement was Bernice Schrotenboer, Reformed Evangelical Synod
made during a mass in Rome marking the end of the Val Ferguson, general secretary of Friends World
Christian Unity Week. The official Vatican newspaper Committee for Consultation (Quakers)
reports the pope’s words on the occasion of the Lydia Breen and Doreen Boyd, World YWCA staff
announcement: These denominational leaders represented 32
‘Peace within the Church and peace with all mankind.’ denominations, whose adherents number perhaps two
The words of Pope Gregory VII are particularly billion people, or roughly 50% of the world’s
appropriate in this year 1986, which the United population.
Nations Organization has proclaimed as the
International Year of Peace. ... In regard to this matter, Someone might argue that these men and women
I wish to announce on this solemn occasion that I am did not officially represent the people of their
initiating opportune consultations with the leaders, not denominations and organizations. We respond with this
only of the various Christian Churches and question. If the members of these denominations and
communions, but also of the other religions of the organizations considered the actions of their leaders
world, to organize with them a special meeting of apostate, why weren’t the leaders disciplined? Silence
prayer for peace, in the city of Assisi ... The date and and inaction in the face of evil is as wicked as direct
details of this meeting will be decided as soon as participation!
possible (L’Osservatore Romano, Feb. 10, 1986, p. 19).
It was, by the way, from this same location on Also represented at the Day of Prayer for World
January 25, 1959, that the late Pope John XXIII Peace were leaders of 11 non-Christian religions:
announced his decision to convene the Second Vatican Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Judaism, Islam, African and
Council. North American animist (who worship spirits and
nature), Japanese Shintoists, fire-worshipping
Who Was at Assisi? There were 160 participants at Zoroastrians, Baha’i. The Dalai Lama, exiled Buddhist
the prayer meeting for peace in Assisi. The “Christian” leader who is supposed to be the god-king of Tibet, was
leaders who participated came from many ecumenical at the forefront of the activities, as was Elio Toaff, chief
organizations—the World Council of Churches, Jewish rabbi of Rome. The Dalai-Lama and John Paul II
represented by its executive secretary and three of its have become close friends, and the Buddhist god-king
seven presidents; the YWCA; the YMCA; Friends World was seated at the immediate left hand of the pope. It
Committee for Consultation (Quaker); Mennonite World should be noted that all of these leaders worship false
Conference; Reformed Ecumenical Synod; Baptist World gods and are therefore breakers of the first
Alliance (which includes the Southern Baptist commandment of God’s Holy Law—”Thou shalt have no
Convention); Disciples of Christ; World Alliance of other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3).
Reformed Churches; Lutheran World Federation;
Anglican Communion; Old Catholic Union of Utrecht; What Transpired at Assisi? The events of the Day of
the Assyrian Church of the East; Orthodox churches. Prayer for World Peace were divided into four main
Also invited were 15 Roman Catholic bishops, and parts: First was the greeting by Pope John Paul II, who
leaders of six Roman Catholic Franciscan organizations was the organizer of the program. The participants then
(Ecumenical Press Service, October 26-31, 1986). moved to various places in the city for two hours of
private prayers, after which they came back together
Among those in attendance were the following: and held prayers in the presence of one another. Finally,
Pope John Paul II following a few other rituals for peace, there was a
Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury supper and the farewell address by the pope.
Emilio Castro, head of the World Council of
Churches
Greek Orthodox Archbishop Methodios of Thyateira
and Great Britain, archbishop and delegate of

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 675