WCC Spiritual Life Executive Leads Morning Prayer at Moravian Church Provincial Synod

Rev. Dr Mikie Roberts, programme executive for Spiritual Life at the World Council of Churches (WCC), participated in the Provincial Synod of the Moravian Church of Great Britain and Ireland, held from 9-13 July at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire. The synod, which serves as the highest decision-making body for the British Province, took place under the theme “Faithfulness in a Time of Change.”

Roberts, a Moravian minister, was invited to lead morning prayers and Bible study sessions. He guided the synod in exploring how the provincial hymnal can serve as a spiritual resource to bring the Bible to life. “While we often tend to see the Bible as informing what we sing in our hymnals, it is also spiritually enriching for us to see how the hymnal can lead us back to reading and understanding the Bible with new eyes,” Roberts said. Each morning prayer included singing hymns and chants from the Moravian hymnal and teaching the synod theme song, which was taken from the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Roberts also brought greetings to the synod on behalf of the WCC and invited the Moravian Church of Great Britain and Ireland, a WCC member, to continue engaging in the ongoing Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. The opening day of the synod highlighted the WCC’s Thursdays in Black campaign, as delegates wore black as an act of solidarity.

Sr Roberta Hoey, chair of the British Province, noted that “Faithfulness in Change” was more than a theme—it became something they lived together. “We faced the realities before us with honesty, but also with hope,” Hoey said. “The synod affirmed a future focused on organisational renewal and a commitment to God’s mission.” The synod also recognised the importance of engaging more intentionally with its theological inheritance, not because all answers were known, but because faithful change requires continued reflection on the beliefs and practices that shape the church’s life.

The synod’s focus on organisational renewal and theological reflection aligns with the WCC’s emphasis on justice, reconciliation, and unity. As the Moravian Church of Great Britain and Ireland continues its journey, it remains committed to its mission and the spiritual resources provided by its partnerships.

Source: Read the original report