The dramatic events of 2011 brought an increased focus on the relevance of the church in pursuing just peace, said the WCC general secretary.

A consultation organized by the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs called for the church to become involved in wider advocacy initiatives to protect rights of the stateless people.

In an effort to reduce costs, and strengthen the research and academic credentials of the WCC's Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, the two branches of the WCC Library will be merged into one library facility at the institute.

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC expressed deep sorrow on the death of Vaclav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic, well-known writer, visionary and a voice for anti-communist dissident.

“Churches that practice or remain silent on caste discrimination cannot ascribe themselves the status of holiness”, said Metropolitan Dr Geevarghese Mor Coorilos, Bishop of the Malankara Jacobite Orthodox Church in India, and moderator of the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism.

“To date, measures adopted by governments and international institutions in response to the current economic crisis have been palliative and short-sighted at best, and at worst ineffective and unjust,” said the WCC general secretary. “There is a need for a new discussion on morality and ethics in respect of the financial systems”.

Grace to you and peace in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the appearance of the gracious salvation of the Triune God enlighten our hearts, minds and spirits in this joyous season.

After two weeks of training on the theology and politics of ecological justice in Durban, South Africa, Christian youth from around the world have pledged to start, in their own contexts, initiatives that promote the new understandings they have acquired.

At the 10th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches, participants renewed their commitment to unity, dialogue and peace amidst varied political developments in the region, and elected a new general secretary.

The International Review of Mission marked a century of work in mission studies with a public celebration, held 9 December at the WCC library, centred on its centenary issue, just released.