The World Council of Churches (W.C.C.) grew out of two earlier ecumenical movements “Life and Work” and “Faith and Order”.  In a meeting at Utrecht in 1938, a provisional committee laid the groundwork for the joining of these two groups into a single movement so that churches could give their full support to the ecumenical cause.  Throughout the war, the Council’s activities included chaplaincy service, work amongst prisoners of war, preparation for Christian reconstruction after the war, and the reconciliation with the Evangelical Church in Germany.  Membership is open to any church and includes over 300 from every continent and almost every Church of the Anglican Communion.

Fonds consists of typescripts, reports and printed material of the W.C.C. arranged in the following series: I.Constitution (1948) II. Orders of service (10 nos., 1954) III. Commission on Faith and Order. Reports (3 nos., 1951) IV. Commission on Faith and Order. Study Commission on Institutionalism. Correspondence (Dec. 20, 1955 – June 29, 1960) V. Division of World Mission and Evangelism. Executive Committee. Minutes (Apr. 5-8, 1967) VI. Faith and Order Commission on Tradition and Traditions. Correspondence (June 18, 1959-Nov. 28, 1962) VII. Miscellaneous correspondence, leaflets, pamplets and reports.  Included are several printed reports from conferences, typed reports, informational booklets, promotional pamphlets and periodicals relating to the W.C.C. and the World Conference on Faith and Order.  Photographs include images of the following: Geneva, Switzerland : Peace and Disarmament; India : 1961; Montreal : Faith and Order, 1963; Uganda : Rev. J.K. Russell, Bishop of Uganda (President and his wife are also present), and Nairobi, 1975.  Slides were taken at the World Council of Churches Assembly, Vancouver, B.C., 1983.

Title based on contents of fonds.

See also entries under this heading in the classified catalogue.

The photographs from the World Council of Churches fonds are located in P7578.

The slides from the World Council of Churches fonds are located in P9311.  Finding aid available.