In the quiet, prayerful hills of the Taizé Community in France, the International Committee of the Global Christian Forum gathered April 23-26, bringing together Christian leaders from across traditions to reflect, plan and pray. Though shortened due to the death of Pope Francis—whose ecumenical legacy was honored throughout—the meeting marked a critical moment of discernment for the forum following its 2024 global gathering in Accra, Ghana.

The forum, known for bringing together voices from the widest spectrum of the global church—including the Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Catholics, Orthodox and historic Protestants—continues to build its identity on a simple but transformative methodology: faith story sharing. Leaders at the Taizé meeting offered an environment conducive to this approach, which lies at the heart of the forum’s mission. Over the years, this storytelling framework has moved beyond icebreakers into something much deeper—fostering trust, breaking down barriers and inviting theological reflection rooted in lived experience.

“There is a maturity in how we listen to each other now,” one committee member said. “It’s not just hearing stories—it’s encountering Christ in each other.”

The meeting also focused on strategic planning for the years ahead, based on a report from the forum’s Facilitation Group. Five key areas of work emerged:

• Faith story sharing – Expanding training resources and facilitators to widen its impact.
• Trends in global Christianity – Continuing to ask, “Who is missing at the table?” while acknowledging that demographic analysis is a tool, not the goal.
• Regional gatherings and team visits – Deepening grassroots engagement by taking the forum’s vision into local contexts.
• Youth engagement – Ensuring young people are not only included but are shaping the future of the forum, provided adequate resources and space for authentic participation.
• Communications – Strengthening the forum’s ability to tell its story and build community, while also supporting partnerships and fundraising.

Each area will now be developed by dedicated subgroups over the next six months, with a call for names and voices—especially those not yet at the table.

The absence of some representatives due to Pope Francis’ funeral was keenly felt. Prayers were offered not only in mourning, but in gratitude for a pope whose bridge-building efforts left a lasting mark on global Christianity.

Set against the backdrop of Taizé’s quiet chants and simple rhythms, the committee’s work resonated with the community’s commitment to unity and reconciliation. For the Global Christian Forum, it was both a homecoming and a launching point.

Rev. Dr. Hanns Lessing, executive secretary for communion and theology at the World Communion of Reformed Churches, emphasized the importance of the forum’s work in a time of global fragmentation.

“The Global Christian Forum continues to show that it is possible to create sacred space across confessional divides,” Lessing said. “In a polarized world, this kind of fellowship is not just ecumenically important—it is a witness to the reconciling power of the gospel.”

As the forum prepares for its next chapter, its message remains clear: In a fragmented world, there is deep power in simply listening—together.