https://www.oikoumene.org/news/what-does-collaboration-mean-for-the-world-today
What does collaboration mean for the world today?
Participants of the 2026 edition of the Working Together meeting shared their insights on what ecumenical collaboration means today.
29 April 2026
Rev. Dr Japhet Ndhlovu, from the United Church of Canada, said that ecumenical collaboration is an imperative if we are to respond to the prayer of Jesus for the unity of all believers. “This is an important piece of our common work together,” said Ndhlovu.
Anne-Grete Larsen, from Norwegian Church Aid, noted that polarization is increasing. “Some of the multilateral institutions are under extreme pressure,” she said. “Human rights are under extreme pressure.”
Remaining together, staying together, moving and working together are just so important, she continued. “It's also really challenging because it means that we have to ask questions like: What must we stop doing alone?” she said. “And how can the financial challenges that we see drive change towards a more intentional and focused collaboration?”
Richard Santos, from Church World Service, said he believes ecumenical collaboration today is more important than it has ever been. “In the United States, we work with many of our member churches ecumenically to advance our mission, to advance our values,” he said. “I think it's really important in this moment where I think there's more division, more polarization.”
Wendy Gichuru, from the United Church of Canada, said that ecumenical collaboration today is about challenging old assumptions and existing models, and “being open to learning new ways of understanding of theological expressions and decolonizing the ways in which we have been operating, and the ways in which we've been relating to each other.”
Graham Gordon, from Christian Aid, said he sees an increased desire for more cooperation. “We realize that the challenges are so great that we have to work together to have greater impact,” he said. “One of the challenges we face is, how we bring together diverse churches around common impact where we're wanting to make a difference together.”
Rev. Tyler Ward, from the United Methodist Church, saw Working Together as an opportunity to listen to one another. “Gatherings like this allow us to hear from one another and to also act together,” he said.
The annual “Working Together” meeting on 28-29 April at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, outside Geneva, Switzerland, drew together 36 specialized ministries representatives.
The gathering offered opportunities to share about challenges, opportunities, and direction; to strategize together; and to find paths of collaboration. Four recurring goals provided the framework for Working Together: strengthening collaborative impact, exchanging knowledge for innovation, improving coordination and resource sharing, and enhancing strategic planning and accountability.