The head of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed his hope that the newly established World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) will be able to partner with the WCC in its ecumenical works around the globe.

Tveit was present at the WCRC inauguration last Friday where the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) merged to form an organization representing some 80 million Protestants in over 100 countries.

"We at WCC have already had a rather strong relationship with WARC and REC. I expect we will have the same spirit of cooperation," Tveit told the delegates at the Uniting General Council (UGC) meeting, taking place at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. until June 28.

Tveit, whose organization represents 560 million Christians, said he expects WCC to continue to work closely with WCRC although their individual groups pursue different missions. The organizations can likely work together in addressing issues of concern, he said, according to UGC News.

The WCC head further noted that the establishment of the WCRC shows that ecumenism is moving forward, and is increasingly showing "the strongest expression of this unity in Christ" by bringing more people together around the table."

"Unfortunately, we don't all yet share the Eucharist, but we do live out of the same baptism," Tveit said.