The “mission” of the new ecumenical research centre established by the World Council of Churches near Geneva is to increase understanding between different religions and people in the world. Forming part of the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, the new centre was officially opened by the general secretary of the WCC, pastor Samuel Kobia on Sunday 26 June. In his inaugural speech, Kobia stressed that the centre’s modernized and enlarged library and archives represent today “an extraordinary resource”, accessible to far more people than in the past. He recalled that the main aim of the ecumenical Institute of Bossey was the healing of nations and churches after the Second World War. He also expressed the hope that it would continue to study the links between religion, the economy and ecology with a view to “the development of a more just, peaceful and harmonious society”. The library and archives of the WCC now form one of the most prestigious international academic resources, from a theological and ecumenical point of view. The library contains over 130,000 books and periodicals and thousands of unpublished archival documents, photos and videos covering the history of the ecumenical movement from the 19th century to the present day.
