Dowd’s appointment, announced Oct. 23 by Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, is for a period of seven years.

Dowd, Bishop of Salt Ste. Marie in northern Ontario, joins the group that provides the space for the parent bodies to discuss important topics affecting their relationships. The group’s agenda touches on most areas of the World Council of Churches’ programmatic activities, including doctrinal issues and issues related to mission, justice, peace and reconciliation, ecumenical formation and youth.

For more than five decades, the council and the Catholic Church have jointly fostered unity, theological reflection and solidarity in service.

While the Church is not a member of the council, it is a full member of the Faith and Order Commission. And through the Pontifical Council for Promoting Interreligious Dialogue, the Catholic Church also works with the council on inter religious dialogue and cooperation.