Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022: “We saw the star in the East…”
The Middle East Council of Churches, based in Beirut, Lebanon, has been the convener for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022 drafting group. The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Vatican have now published the material in several languages.
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East Jerusalem Initiative: accompanying families facing eviction and displacement
The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) is beginning an East Jerusalem Initiative, through which the WCC-EAPPI is accompanying—even without a physical presence—families facing eviction and displacement, as well as people facing other violations of their rights. Below, WCC director of the Commission for the Churches on International Affairs Peter Prove explains the goals and history behind the East Jerusalem Initiative.
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Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton reflects on how churches can head off vaccine hesitancy
Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton is ecumenical officer for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and presiding bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District. Below, she shares her reflections on the vital role of churches in reducing vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccine equity.
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Workshop guides religious leaders on HIV risks and vulnerabilities among migrants in Cameroon
The World Council of Churches Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative and Advocacy programme, in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, organized a UNAIDS-PEPFAR faith initiative for religious leaders in Cameroon on HIV risks and vulnerabilities among displaced persons, migrants and refugees.
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WCC welcomes new staff
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has welcomed new staff members Rev. Nathan Day Wilson and Dr Masiiwa Ragies Gunda. WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca warmly greeted them as they began to serve in their particular functions.
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Arbitrary executions, detention in Philippines focus of statements at UN Human Rights Council
The World Council of Churches Commission of the Churches on International Affairs delivered two statements to the 47th session of United Nations Human Rights Council, being held 21 June-21 July.
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Statement of the Ecumenical Network of South Sudan marks 10-year anniversary of world’s newest country with deep concern
The Ecumenical Network of South Sudan Europe and North America Hub released a statement on 9 July marking the 10-year anniversary of South Sudan. The World Council of Churches signed the statement along with other faith-based organisations.
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Churches are protective pillar for children and women, say Christian women leaders in Nigeria
As children and women in Nigeria become targets of rising insecurity and violence, churches are moving to offer support to the victims, while amplifying their voice against the challenge, according to senior Christian women leaders in the West African nation.
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Religious leaders condemn kidnapping of schoolchildren in Kaduna
Religious leaders condemned the kidnapping of 140 schoolchildren from the Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna, Nigeria, and called for their full release. The attack on 5 July was the fourth mass school kidnapping in Kaduna state since December. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
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Caribbean webinar explores unique response to challenges of COVID-19, climate change
The Caribbean regional webinar on the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic was held on 6 July under the theme “Crossing Boundaries: Building Bridges to Combat COVID-19 in the Caribbean.”
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“Gathering in Grief” mourns Rev. Phumzile Mabizela
More than 140 people met online in a spontaneous “Gathering in Grief” to mourn Rev. Phumzile Mabizela, who passed away the morning of on 5 July. Mabizela was the executive director of INERELA+ (the International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV), co-moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance HIV Campaign Strategy Group and a member of the International Reference Group of WCC Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy.
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WCC joins 106 other organizations in signing statement “Building Back Better For Stateless People”
The World Council of Churches joined 106 faith-based and civil society organizations in signing a joint statement entitled “Building Back Better For Stateless People”, with the launch taking place on 6 July to coincide with the UN Refugee Agency’s Standing Committee Meeting.
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As International Missionary Council celebrates centenary, WCC organizes global study on mission, unity
The International Missionary Council, historical predecessor of the World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, is marking its centenary this year, as it was founded one hundred years ago in October 1921 in New York State.
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Faith and Order launches “courageous” study document and a tool for churches to engage in moral discernment
A webinar on moral discernment, held in June, presented a new study document approved by the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission earlier this year. The study document “Churches and Moral Discernment: Facilitating Dialogue to Build Koinonia,” harvests the fruits of the study process which began in 2015.
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WCC Commission on Faith and Order hosts first webinar on responses to “The Church: Towards a Common Vision”
The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Faith and Order initiated a new webinar series to discuss responses to its second convergence document “The Church: Towards a Common Vision,” published in 2013.
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Pacific urges youth to understand ancestral lessons of land, sea and faith
Young people have been challenged to envisage a future for the region and work together towards building a dynamic Pacific in preparation for the upcoming WCC 11th Assembly.
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Rev. James Bhagwan: “We hope to bring our Pacific ‘canoe’ to Karlsruhe in 2022”
Pacific member churches of the World Council of Churches (WCC) will engage in a 12-month period of preparation for the 11th Assembly. Rev. James Bhagwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, gave some brief insights to the plans and preparations the Pacific region has leading up to the assembly.
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Very Rev. Fr Hrant Tahanian reflects on how Divine Liturgy in Lebanon brings hope for the world
On Sunday 27 June, WCC central committee member the Very Rev. Fr Hrant Tahanian from the Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia) attended Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Holy See of Cilicia, in Lebanon.
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Applications open for Global Ecumenical Theological Institute 2022: “Christ’s Love (Re)moves Borders”
Applications are open for the World Council of Churches (WCC) Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) 2022, which will take place in two phases—online and residential—under the theme “Christ’s Love (Re)moves Borders.”
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WCC congratulates Rebeca Grynspan, new secretary general of UN Conference on Trade and Development
World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent a letter of congratulations to Rebeca Grynspan, the new secretary general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
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7th Korea-US Church Consultation calls for “Reclaiming hope towards reconciliation and unity”
The 7th Korea-US Church Consultation was held 24 June online, bringing together Korean and US church leaders to reflect on their mission journey, to share their respective challenges, and to explore joint action plans especially vis-a-vis the new US Administration.
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Organisations representing a half billion Christians worldwide urge G20 to fix a broken global tax system
In a letter to the G20 finance ministers before the International Tax Symposium on 9 July, organizations representing a half billion Christians worldwide urged that it has never been more urgent and necessary to fix our broken global tax system.
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South African religious forum issues statement on COVID-19
The Religious Forum Against COVID-19 in South Africa issued a statement with faith leaders standing in solidarity in response to COVID-19, and with a broader objective of collaborating in making for a safer South African environment.
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WCC expresses grave concern over expiry of UN resolution allowing cross-border humanitarian assistance to North West Syria
In a letter to the UN Security Council, World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed grave concern over the impending expiry on 10 July of the resolution allowing cross-border humanitarian assistance to North West Syria.
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WCC mourns passing of Most Rev. Fereimi Cama, bishop of Polynesia and primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is mourning the death of Most Rev. Fereimi Cama, bishop of Polynesia and primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Cama was also a trustee of the Pacific Conference of Churches.
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WCC acting general secretary reflects on building the bridges that contribute to peace
World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca offers reflections upon receiving the Bridge Builder Award for building bridges of understanding between people, nations, and communities at national and international levels. The award is presented by the Jury of the 14th August Committee Norway together with The Oslo Center.
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Lutheran World Federation leaders meet with Pope Francis, look ahead to 500th anniversary of Augsburg Confession
Meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican on 25 June, both the Lutheran World Federation president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa and Pope Francis expressed the hope that the 500th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in 2030 can become common ground on which to strengthen the commitment of Lutherans and Catholics to unity and reconciliation.
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Korean Accompaniment Group forms to walk path to WCC 11th Assembly
Through an ecumenical worship service held at the Kyungdong Presbyterian Church on 30 June, the National Council of Churches in Korea and the Christian Academy jointly marked the creation of a new “Korean Accompaniment Group for the WCC 11th Assembly.”
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Church of Sweden to make public apology, commitments to indigenous people of Sweden
Later this year, the Church of Sweden will make an official public apology for its historical role in the “legitimized repression” of Sweden’s indigenous Sámi people, according to a church statement. The church has declared eight commitments toward ongoing reconciliation with the Sámi people.
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Baptist-Catholic dialogue exploring dynamic of the Gospel, witness of the church
The Baptist World Alliance and Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity have resumed their international dialogue after a hiatus due to the COVID-19. In two working sessions held on 16 and 18 June, the two organizations reviewed the work of their first three annual meetings, envisioned how work will continue, renewed relationships and engaged in common prayer.
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WCC honored with Bridge Builder Award 2021
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is receiving a Bridge Builder Award for building bridges of understanding between people, nations, and communities at national and international levels. The award is presented by the Jury of the 14th August Committee Norway together with The Oslo Center.
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Intergenerational conversation allows us to “envision the future in a spirit of hope”
An online intergenerational conversation held 1 July marked the 50th anniversary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation Programme.
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Pulling together for a living River Pardo
Areas around the River Pardo in northeastern Brazil are home to more than one million people. Included in them are traditional communities such as the quilombolas (descendants of runaway African slaves), the geraizeiros and others. Each year they see less water in their river. “This is not solely due to the reduction in rainfall.
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Tax justice, reparation key in COVID-19 recovery, agree economists and church leaders
Addressing the upcoming G20 International Taxation Symposium, a webinar brought together economists, activists, and church representatives to explore how tax justice and reparations – as called for in the ecumenical Zacchaeus Tax (ZacTax) campaign – could help the world attain a just and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“Generation Equality” communique urges addressing root causes of gender-based violence
A communique—signed by more than 30 religious organizations, including the World Council of Churches—entitled “People of Faith are Allies to Generation Equality” lifts up the role of religious leaders in transforming gender norms, implementing programmes, reforming unjust laws and promoting gender justice.
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Brazilian city joins “water diagram” initiative headed by Swiss Church Aid
The Brazilian municipality of Juiz de Fora has approved a cooperation agreement with Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER), a member of the WCC’s Ecumenical Water Network (WCC-EWN), thus becoming part of an international working group that wants to contribute to good water management and management practices using a water flow diagram. The project also encompasses the city of Bern, Switzerland; Cape Town, in South Africa, and Rio Pardo de Minas, in Brazil.
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