World Council of Churches

International organization that aims to bring together Christians of different denominations. Established in 1948, it has a membership of more than 100 countries and more than 300 churches, including the Orthodox, Anglican, and Methodist churches. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.

The supreme governing body, the assembly, meets every seven or eight years to frame policy. A 150-member central committee meets once a year and a 22-member executive committee twice a year.

The WCC states that it is a fellowship of churches. Its aim is to bring churches closer together; it hopes to help member churches to acknowledge their differences and, at the same time, find out what they have in common. The Roman Catholic Church and some Evangelical churches are not members, but Roman Catholics may take part in some activities. Since 1961, official observers from the Roman Catholic Church have been sent to the general WCC assemblies. During the 20th century there was significant progress towards Christian unity. Different churches are now beginning to recognize that they do not necessarily possess the complete truth and can learn from others.