The Opportunity

Amsterdam, to most people, is still merely a city in The Netherlands. But more & more Christians are now sensing that the world assembly of churches which begins there on Aug. 22 may make Amsterdam a landmark in contemporary Christian history. This week, in the first of four transatlantic broadcasts on the subject, the Most Rev. Geoffrey Francis Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke to U.S. citizens on the meaning of the conference. Said he:

"In the 148 churches which will be represented at Amsterdam is to be seen a gathering together of Christian leaders on a greater scale than the world has yet seen . . . But the abiding significance of Amsterdam lies in this; that it is to inaugurate a Council of Churches which, please God, will continue, and will continuously draw together into fuller understanding and cooperation the divided groupings of the servants of Christ in the world . . .

"Amsterdam is a great opportunity: I join you in praying God that we may use it to the full, and that through it God will help the churches to find their unity and the world its peace in Him."

Among other Christian bodies, the Russian Orthodox Church had been invited to Amsterdam. Would the Russians come? From Moscow last week, where bearded Orthodox Church dignitaries ended a series of meetings, meals and motorcades celebrating their church's sooth anniversary, the answer came: no. Amsterdam, said the voice of Moscow, was "mainly political and anti-democratic."

The Church of Moscow also had a word for the Church of Rome: "The Vatican is the center of international Fascism."

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