UKZN theology alumnus part of World Council of Churches
UKZN alumnus in Theology, Reverend Armstrong Pitakaji, was elected to the Executive Council of the World Council of Churches (WCC) at its recent Congress.
A Solomon Island national, Pitakaji joined UKZN in 2017 to study for his master’s degree after being sponsored by the Council for World Mission to reflect on climate change and theology. Since graduating, he was elected Moderator of the United Church in Solomon Islands.
At the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Karlsruhe, Germany, he was elected to two governing bodies of the World Council of Churches – serving both the WCC Central Committee, which comprised 150 members, and the WCC Executive Committee, which comprised 25 members.
Together with church representatives from across the globe, Pitakaji will direct the WCC to support and encourage churches and ecumenical partners to journey together – promoting justice, peace, reconciliation and unity worldwide.
Pitakaji said: "UKZN has a special place in my heart. It helped shape my theological journey and contributed to who I am today. I consider UKZN my other home."
At the WCC headquarters in Geneva, Pitakaji joined other UKZN alumni who are part of the World Council of Churches, including Professor Isobel Phiri (former Head of the UKZN School of Theology) and Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC Programme Director for Public Witness and Diakonia.
Academic Leader for Teaching and Learning at the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics (SRPC), Professor Federico Settler, said: "We wish to congratulate Rev Pitakaji on his appointment, and we are very proud of how he and other theology alumni are promoting justice and peace through the work of WCC."
Words: Melissa Mungroo