The good news of Christmas shines forth upon the world like the summer sun in the southern hemisphere, like a sparkling star in the wintry northern sky. It shines brightly as "good news of great joy" in a world that surrounds us with disturbing news. It renews our faith in the promise of peace on earth, and calls us once again to praise God whose glory extends to the highest heavens. For centuries, the hope of peace inherent in...

Bethlehem, a tiny town in the West Bank, becomes the focus of international attention every year. Tourists descend on Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas in the place where it all began. But the simple fact that this possibility exists for international visitors and not for most Palestinians is one of the most bitter ironies associated with this time of year. This point was made clear through a demonstration staged by the Civil Committee in the...

"By emphasizing fundamental ethics and humanity, by giving voice to the voiceless, by focusing on inclusiveness and a deeper sense of hope, by highlighting the importance of the meeting of cultures, by being ecumenical, religion will make a much-needed and constructive contribution to our societies," said WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) director Peter Weiderud during one of the Week's final sessions.

Through combined spiritual accompaniment and active advocacy approaches, the ecumenical movement is making a vital contribution to the work for peace in crisis regions around the world. A case in point - Sudan - was the main focus of the third public seminar at a 14-19 November World Council of Churches (WCC) international affairs and advocacy week at the UN in New York.

At the funeral service for President Yasser Arafat in Cairo on Friday, the World Council of Churches (WCC) will be represented by the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest member church of the WCC in the Middle East and the largest Christian church in the region. Pope Shenouda is also a former president of the WCC.

The World Council of Churches has expressed its condolences to the Palestinian people following the death of the president of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat. In a letter sent to the Palestinian Prime Minister Mr Ahmad Qurei’ by the director of WCC’s International Affairs, Mr Peter Weiderud, the WCC recognises the commitment of the Palestinian leader to upholding the place of both Christians and Muslims in Palestinian society, as...

Young and old came from different parts of the world to the small village of Anata to rebuild a demolished Palestinian house together with Israelis and Palestinians. They wanted to provide a home for 23 people, but there was also a larger motivating factor. Building the house was also an act of resistance to the Occupation.

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) enters its second year of operations by welcoming 25 new accompaniers, the largest group since the project started in August 2002. Three have also stayed on from the previous group, bringing the total number of accompaniers on the ground to 28.

The United Nations has called on all member states to observe 21 September as the International Day of Peace. In the framework of its Decade to Overcome Violence, the World Council of Churches, associating itself with the international community, has called on its member churches to observe the same day as an International Day of Prayer for Peace.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, and the head of the Evangelical Church in Germany, Bishop Wolfgang Huber are among those supporting an International Day of Prayer for Peace called for by the World Council of Churches (WCC) within its Decade to Overcome Violence. The date set for observance is 21 September.