Global Christian Forum | Facilitation Group Meeting

The Facilitation Group of the Global Christian Forum (GCF), with the addition of some youths from Christian confessions around the world, met from 11–13 October 2019 in Christiansfeld, Denmark. The meeting was hosted by the local Moravian congregation led by the Senior pastor Reverend Dr Jørgen Bøytler. The Catholic Church was represented by Father Andrzej Choromanski, Official of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Ms Stella Marilène Nishimwe, from Burundi, member of the  Focolari movement and student of political sciences at the Sophia University, Italy.

Using the methodology of the GCF of exchanging ecclesial experiences and sharing personal faith stories of being Christians in the challenging context of the world today, the participants reflected on how to enhance youth participation in the life of the Forum. They also addressed other themes relevant to the future of the GCF, such as regional consultations and the fourth gathering. The Communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meeting provides more details.

Participation in the Sunday worship service led according to the Moravian tradition and including a baptism of an infant, and the visit to the historic Moravian Settlement in Christiansfeld (UNESCO World Heritage), offered the participants an opportunity to gain more familiarity with this Church.

The GCF is an ecumenical platform that offers a space to all Christian traditions to meet together to share personal and ecclesial faith stories and to address issues of common interest without formal membership.