Resolutions Passed of the Bible Presbyterian Church
← BACK TO INDEX

Resolution 70:11

The Renewed Ecumenical Emphasis of the Wordl Council of Churches

On February 14-23, 2006,the World Council of Churches held its Ninth Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil. This year’s Assembly was marked by significant changes in focus and constitutional structure, and its emphases and workshops highlighted concerns that young people are missing from the ecumenical process and with the continuation of war, oppression, and religious divisions in spite of decades of WCC efforts (the First Assembly was held in 1948).

The Assembly settled on four main areas of “engagement” in the coming years: “unity, spirituality and mission; ecumenical formation focusing on youth in particular; global justice; and bringing a credible voice and prophetic witness to the world.”[1] “Recognising [sic] a rapidlyevolving church and social context, and faced with a decline in income, the delegates agreed to focus future WCC work on a limited number of core issues and urged the WCC to ‘claim a clearer and stronger public profile in its witness to the world.’”

Of particular interest to all those who claim a concern for historic Christianity is the WCC’s intensified efforts to bring about the unity of all churches: “Addressing the core issues of Christian unity, the Assembly agreed on a new text, ‘Called to be the One Church,’ and urged that the WCC and its member churches give priority to the questions of unity, catholicity, baptism and prayer.

“The delegates called for renewed efforts to manifest visible church unity which would allow the ecumenical movement to offer to the world the ‘coherent, grace-filled spiritual message of Christianity.’

“The Assembly pointed to ways in which collaboration with the Roman Catholic Church, which is not a member of the WCC, and with Pentecostal churches could be reinforced in the coming period. Delegates agreed to develop ways of working with other church groupings that ‘improve cooperation and coherence of message’ of all the ecumenical instruments.”

The WCC’s new constitution now provides for decision making by consensus, and has relaxed membership requirements out of deference to Orthodox church bodies. Of course, the Assembly also passed the usual assortment of statements on various social and political issues decrying war, poverty, oppression, terrorism; called for nuclear disarmament and UN reform; and issued a plea for respect for Islam and other diverse faiths, all while saying that all their actions needed a stronger “theological” foundation.

One highlight was the observing of the mid-way point in the self-declared “Decade to Overcome Violence,” in the celebration of which the delegates called for the WCC to convene an international Ecumenical Convocation to promote a one-world church and faith. The official “message” of the Ninth Assembly is “God, in Your Grace, Transform the World.” This message is fleshed out in a lengthy prayer which stands as the guiding statement for the WCC in the years to come.[2] Aselection of some of the more significant statements serves to reveal the body’s mind:

“God of grace, together we turn to you in prayer, for it is you who unite us: you are the one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—in whom we believe, you alone empower us for good, you send us out across the earth in mission and service in the name of Christ.

“We give thanks for your blessings and signs of hope that are already present in the world, in people of all ages and in those who have gone before us in faith; in movements to overcome violence in all its forms, not just for a decade but for always; in the deep and open dialogues that have begun both within our own churches and with those of other faiths in the search for mutual understanding and respect; in all those working together for justice and peace—both in exceptional circumstances and every day.

“Open our hearts to love and to see that all people are made in your image, to care for creation and affirm life in all its wondrous diversity.

“Transform us in the offering of ourselves so that we may be your partners in transformation to strive for the full, visible unity of the one Church of Jesus Christ, to become neighbours [sic] to all, as we await with eager longing the full revelation of your rule in the coming of a new heaven and a new earth.”

Critique:

To everyone who claims to know and love the Church of Jesus Christ, there are several issues of serious concern resident in the renewed ecumenical thrust of the WCC:

1. The WCC intends to be more vocal and public in its agenda.
2. The WCC is attempting to bring about the unity of the Church on its own initiative, (a.k.a., the Tower of Babel. Only Christ will untilmately and directly unite His own in righteousness. He doesn't need man's help.
3. The WCC continues to woo the Roman Catholic Church, Evangelical, and Pentecostal bodies by seeking ways to accommodate widely divergent theological positions without reference or submission to Biblical authority. (“Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” [Amos 3:3]; and “Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone” [Hosea 4:17.])
4. While claiming to speak and minister in the name of Christ, the WCC promotes a one-world church that wants to “honor” Christ by allowing (indeed, encouraging) diversity in theological viewpoints concerning Christ, according to the varying traditions of member bodies. (Galatians 1:8: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”)
5. The  WCC continues to promote a social gospel that finds its moorings in the political and social agendas of mankind, rather than humble submission to God as He reveals Himself. (2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”)
6. The WCC continues to refuse to see men as inherently corrupt, except to acknowledge failings in social and political realms. (Psalm 14:3: “They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.”)
7. The WCC sees ecumenicity as the road to heaven, contrary to the Biblical proposition that the road to life is narrow and few find it. (Matthew 7:14: “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”)
8. The result of the WCC’s efforts can only be theological confusion, social instability (how can right and wrong be determined without absolute moorings?), and insult to the God who has revealed Himself in the Scriptures (Romans 1:18-23)

Therefore:

We, the delegates to the 70th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church, meeting at Grand Island, New York, August 3-8, 2006 urge those who claim the name of Christ to take the following actions:

• Resist the agenda of the WCC and like-minded bodies on local, national, and international levels.
• Inform secular leaders of their God-given duties as described in Scripture, reminding them that they are servants of the Most High God
• Call church leadership to Biblically govern their flocks and call for the repentance of those who deny that Jesus is Lord.
• Demonstrate Biblical unity in holiness and peace in their conduct one with the other.
• Urge church bodies that hold membership in the WCC (including their own, if necessary) to separate from that ungodly institution immediately.
• Leave disobedient churches that refuse to repudiate the agenda and activities of the WCC.

2 Corinthians 6:17: “Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’”

Endnotes:
[1] Source: http://www.wcc-assembly.info/en/news-media/news/english-news/article/1818/assembly-looks-to-future.html  [Back to text]
[2] Source: http://www.wcc-assembly.info/en/news-media/news/english-news/article/1818/assembly-message-invites.html [Back to text]

Adopted by the 70th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church,
meeting in Grand Island, NY, August 3-8, 2006.