ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 explores Visser’t Hooft’s thinking and activity during the Second World War. Against the background of this war, Visser’t Hooft saw the unity of the church as a counter to a world ripped asunder by violence. This involved the role of the church as prophet, a role Visser’t Hooft took on himself. This chapter thus looks at how this basic issue was worked out in Visser’t Hooft’s activity in relation to government officials and programmes, organisations, and to his own government in exile. While his public statements could sometimes offend colleagues, Visser’t Hooft’s reputation as a reliable representative of the ecumenical movement was confirmed under the difficult circumstances of the war, and his self-confidence grew.
