Preface

The 22nd general council (Seoul 1989) showed that WARC has become a worldwide organization. The participation of the "third world" participants made it clear that they do not want the Alliance to be influenced and dominated just by a few churches or by a certain group. It should rather be a network of solidarity and communication. There is a genuine interest in theological reflection which has to be closely related to a particular political engagement and social action. At the same time, and for the first time since 1945, the general council has focused also on the issue of mission and unity.

The 22nd general council gathered a very significant number of participants: 282 official delegates – 78 of them from Asia, 62 from Africa, 16 from Central and South America, and 14 from the Pacific; 52 journalists, 26 interpreters, 50 stewards, 28 Korean staff and 29 WARC staff and co-opted staff. More than 300 people worked in the many Korean groups which prepared for the general council. In addition to the 71 official visitors, hundreds of Koreans took part in a number of programmes. This means that the registered number of participants was around one thousand, and the total number of participants can be estimated at well over three thousand.

The Alliance is being seen more and more as a necessary instrument. This is not yet clear to everybody, and yet it is a profound desire. One way or another, WARC must exist. And not only because it is 114 years old.

Faced with the tremendous growth of the responsibilities of the Alliance, the general council tried to consider the basic issues confronting the churches and their witness in today's world. It was also faced with the following challenge: in order to achieve our mandates, what kind of organization do we need?

The book of proceedings and its many appendices offers an appropriate instrument for member churches and their own members to pursue their reflections and translate them into action, without forgetting the worldwide dimension of our fellowship.¹

Now is the time for the follow up. We need to keep in mind that we are called together to witness, always challenged by the question of Jesus which was our general council's theme: "Who do you say that I am?"

Dr Milan Opocensky, general secretary (1989-2000)

Notes