Visser 't Hooft, 1900-1985: Living for the Unity of the Church

About the Author Jurjen Zeilstra (1961) is a historian and theologian. The biography served as a dissertation in the humanities at the Amsterdam Free University in order to receive the degree of Ph.D. in 2018. Earlier, in 1995, Zeilstra earned the degree of Th.D. with his thesis European Unity in Ecumenical Thinking, 1937-1948, in the Theological Faculty at Utrecht University. His current job is as a Protestant minister in Hilversum. Product Description God’s diplomat, the pope of the ecumenical movement, but also an acerbic theologian and a difficult person: this is how journalists characterised Willem Adolf Visser ’t Hooft (1900-1985). He was one of the best-known Dutch theologians outside the Netherlands and he left his mark on the world church. Even at an early age, he made profound efforts in support of international ecumenical youth and student organisations (Dutch Student Christian Movement, YMCA and World Student Christian Federation). He led the World Council of Churches during its formative stages (from 1938), and after its formal establishment in 1948 became its first general secretary, serving until 1966. To Visser ’t Hooft, the unity of the church was both an article of faith and a pragmatic organisation of church influence in a disunited world. Review "La biographie de Zeilstra sur le premier secrétaire général du COÉ est un apport important aux ressources pour l’étude de l’histoire de l’Église du XXe siècle et du mouvement oecuménique : avec un index détaillé des noms et des sujets et de nom-breuses références, ce livre s’avérera inestimable pour les futurs chercheurs."- Stephen Brown, ISTINA LXVI (2021) "Zeilstra has written an impressive study that provides profound insights into the efforts of one man, and through him of a movement, trying in one of the most momentous historical eras to forge church unity. For both it was the means of creating a more humane, just and peaceful world. The book will be of interest to all with similar aspirations."- Dianne Kirby, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, European History Quarterly, Vol. 50, 4 (2020) From the Inside Flap God’s diplomat, the pope of the ecumenical movement, but also an acerbic theologian and a difficult person: this is how journalists characterised Willem Adolf Visser ’t Hooft (1900-1985). He was one of the best-known Dutch theologians outside the Netherlands and he left his mark on the world church. Even at an early age, he made profound efforts in support of international ecumenical youth and student organisations (Dutch Student Christian Movement, YMCA and World Student Christian Federation). He led the World Council of Churches during its formative stages (from 1938), and after its formal establishment in 1948 became its first general secretary, serving until 1966. To Visser ’t Hooft, the unity of the church was both an article of faith and a pragmatic organisation of church influence in a disunited world. From the Back Cover God's diplomat, the pope of the ecumenical movement, but also an acerbic theologian and a difficult person: this is how journalists characterised Willem Adolf Visser 't Hooft (1900-1985). He was one of the best-known Dutch theologians outside the Netherlands and he left his mark on the world church. Even at an early age, he made profound efforts in support of international ecumenical youth and student organisations (Dutch Student Christian Movement, YMCA and World Student Christian Federation). He led the World Council of Churches during its formative stages (from 1938), and after its formal establishment in 1948 became its first general secretary, serving until 1966. To Visser 't Hooft, the unity of the church was both an article of faith and a pragmatic organisation of church influence in a disunited world.