The Salvation Army continued its advisory relationship with the World Council of Churches (WCC) during the Central Committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

Lieut-Colonel Richard Munn, Secretary for International Ecumenical Relations, represented The Salvation Army through the Christian World Communions relationship.

Meeting in the newly renovated main conference room of the WCC Ecumenical Centre, more than 225 denominational representatives convened for the bi-annual meeting. The WCC, founded in 1948, brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches comprising more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries around the world.

During the week-long gathering some significant decisions were reached. Norwegian theologian and pastor the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit was elected the seventh General Secretary of the WCC. He succeeds Dr Sam Kobia, who completes his tenure at the end of 2009. The Rev Tveit communicated his respect for The Salvation Army, citing close ecumenical work with Salvationists in Norway.

The city of Busan, in the Republic of Korea, was selected as the venue for the WCC 10th Assembly in 2013. Reference to Salvation Army Korean ecumenical dialogue was included in the formal presentation by the South Korean delegation.

The Central Committee, the main governing body of the WCC between assemblies, also issued a series of statements on numerous religious, political and social matters including misuse of Pakistan's blasphemy law, sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and caste-based discrimination. Click here to see all the WCC Statements.

Lieut-Colonel Munn said, 'It is a privilege to represent the General as well as Salvationists around the world who are actively involved in local and regional ecumenical dialogue. Such presence is a long-standing Salvation Army value, with our counsel and perspective consistently valued.'

Top photo: The WCC Central Committee in session (photo © WCC/Peter Williams); bottom: Lieut-Colonel Richard Munn joins other delegates in worship (photo © WCC/Peter Williams)