The Bicentennial Ecumenical Pilgrims arrived back in Accra on Monday night, marking the end of an 11‑day historic journey through Switzerland and Germany to retrace the Church’s missionary roots and strengthen long‑standing ecumenical partnerships.
Their return ends a spiritually enriching and institutionally significant pilgrimage that took them through Basel, Neuchâtel, Bern, Zürich, Lörrach, Stuttgart, Bad Boll, Winnenden and Gerlingen, where they worshipped with historic congregations, visited mission archives and engaged partner churches and mission organisations.
The journey began with the team’s arrival in Basel, where they were received by Mission 21 and introduced to key sites connected to the early Basel Mission. The pilgrims worshipped at the Collegial Church in Neuchâtel, visited the Missionsstube, met Ghana’s Ambassador to Switzerland in Bern, toured the House of Religions, and spent a full day at the Basel Mission Archives and Mission House.
In Germany, the delegation visited the EMS Secretariat in Stuttgart, met with Rev. Dr. Dieter Heidtmann, toured Bad Boll, and travelled to Winnenden, birthplace of missionary Johannes Christaller. They also worshipped with partner congregations in Gerlingen and Stuttgart.
A special moment of the pilgrimage was in Basel on Saturday, 12th September, when the Clerk of General Assembly, Rev. David Aboagye‑Danquah, joined Mission 21 and partner churches for a Communion Service. Later in Stuttgart, the ESR Director, Rev. Andrew Odjawo, led a special global edition of PCG Connect, sharing insightfully on the mandate of his directorate and related ecumenical engagements.
The pilgrimage formed part of the PCG’s Bicentennial celebrations, honouring 200 years of Presbyterian witness and reaffirming the Church’s commitment to global mission partnerships.
By Jerome Otchere
