Visser 't Hooft

In effect, Speer existed in what the Dutch Protestant theologian Willem Visser 't Hooft has called "a twilight between knowing and not knowing."

Dutch Ecumenist Willem Visser 't Hooft, 83, the organization's first chief officer, said that Castro "is more of a bridge builder between those who want to emphasize the role of the church in the world and those who favor the evangelical approach."

Privately, however, many council officials agree with the concerned forecast made by retired General Secretary Willem Visser 't Hooft that "confusion reigns supreme�politically, theologically, socially."

The most critical decision to come before the World Council of Churches since its founding 16 years ago is the choice of a successor to the Rev. Willem Visser 't Hooft, 64, its omnicompetent general secretary.

At Enugu, op position to Rodger came from the Rus sian Orthodox representatives, who appreciate Visser 't Hooft's great interest in keeping open the lines of communication between churches on both sides of the Iron Curtain.