New WCC General Secretary elected

By Vatican News staff writer

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, on 17 June, elected Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay as its new General Secretary, the ninth since the Council was founded in 1948. 

A statement announcing the news on the website of the WCC said that the South African Reverend will take up his position on 1 January 2023.

He will be replacing outgoing acting general secretary Rev Prof Dr. Ioan Sauca who began serving in that position in April 2020 when the previous general secretary, Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, was appointed as the presiding bishop of the Church of Norway.

The general secretary

The general secretary serves as the WCC’s chief executive officer and leads the Council’s work, including final responsibility for the WCC’s work and staff.

Rev. Pillay was one of two candidates standing for election for the post of general secretary of the WCC. The other candidate was Dr. Elizabeth Joy.

Currently, Rev. Pillay is the dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion of the University of Pretoria, and a member of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.

Welcoming the general secretary elect

WCC Central Committee moderator, Dr. Agnes Abuom, shared words of congratulations and blessings for Rev. Pillay’s new ministry.

“May the WCC global fellowship warmly welcome you, pray for you, and show you in every way that we care for you as you take on important leadership in our ongoing journey toward Christian unity,” she said. 

“You and the ecumenical movement are making history—and forming a future in which we can live out God’s love for one another and for all.”