ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 concerns itself with the foundation of the World Council immediately after the war. It shows how the World Council, under Visser’t Hooft’s unique style of ‘diplomatic’ leadership attempted to deal with issues such as meeting the needs of post-war society and reconciliation, with respect to the notion of the ‘responsible society’. The chapter reveals how Visser’t Hooft’s earlier theological development came to fruition in this period and shows his strong practical approach in the various aspects of the World Council’s programmes. The days of provisional acting and improvisation were over, and professionalism and institutionalisation gradually took over.
