The World Council of Churches announces the election of Olav Fyske Tveit as their new General Secretary.
Norwegian theologian and pastor Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, 48, was elected 7th general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Thursday 27 August during its Central Committee meeting. Tveit will be the youngest general secretary since Willem A. Visser ‘t Hooft who had led the WCC while it was in process of formation and following its founding assembly 61 years ago.
Christian Today reports:
The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, who is representing the Church of England at the Central Committee meeting, said Dr Tveit’s election was a “very positive outcome”.
“We had two extremely good candidates from different parts of the world and the outcome has been the appointment of what I would regard as a serious-minded man, who feels in the depth of his being that he is called by God to this ministry.
“Dr Tveit has a good track record of bringing people together and getting them to work together in a positive spirit and I think he has many gifts to bring to the World Council of Churches in difficult days.”
He added: “From the Church of England perspective we are very interested in the faith and order work – the WCC’s work on the visible unity of the churches – and that is also close to his heart, so we are looking forward to working with him.”