God, in Your Grace...

In February 2006 thousands of Christians representing over 300 churches in over 100 nations gathered in Porto Alegre, Brazil for the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC). This is the official report of that assembly, with its reports and actions, speeches and presentations, set in context through a narrative introduction by Latin American theologian and church historian Luis Rivera-Pagan. The theme of the assembly, God, in your grace, transform the world , expressed a longing for change in human hearts and social institutions. The meeting itself marked the first WCC assembly of the twenty-first century, the first held in South America, the first to convene on the campus of a Roman Catholic university and the first assembly following a review of relations between Orthodox and Protestant believers that culminated in the recommendations of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC (2000-2002). Among the topics addressed at Porto Alegre were poverty and trade, violence and peace-making, healing in an age of HIV and AIDS, current prospects for full and visible unity among the churches, inter-religious dialogue and co-operation in mission amid diversity. The assembly was keenly aware of challenges and opportunities facing the church in today's world.