News in brief 
2. July 09
Religious leaders should facilitate peace building
Speaking at the Third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, Kazakhstan, 1 July, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said that religious leaders should play a role in building a peaceful society as living models of dialogue and by encouraging youth initiatives.
1. July 09
WCC Central Committee member to moderate Council for World Mission
The Assembly of the Council for World Mission has appointed Rev. Dr Moiseraele Prince Dibeela as moderator to lead CWM's Trustee Body for the next three years.
26. June 09
Two candidates nominated for WCC general secretary
The World Council of Churches' search committee for a general secretary met 23-26 June 2009 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The committee was elected by the Central Committee in February 2008 and led by the moderator, Dr Agnes Abuom.
22. June 09
Eye witness perspectives on Middle East peace
The Anglican primate of Ireland, directors of Christian development organizations in Europe and church leaders in Jerusalem have acted and spoken on peace for Israel and Palestine based on what each of them has seen on the ground.
16. June 09
The Fourth Panorthodox Preconciliar Conference met in Chambésy, Geneva
In brief comments to the Fourth Preconciliar Panorthodox Conference which met recently at the Orthodox Centre of Chambésy, near Geneva, the WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, assured the participants that the WCC and its member churches are accompanying them in their work in thoughts and prayers, "knowing the importance of the decisions that the conference was preparing."
10. June 09
Peru: WCC laments loss of life, condemns attempts to abrogate indigenous peoples' rights
The recent incidents of violence in Bagua, Peru are "but one instance of a series of government actions to abrogate the rights of the Indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon over land and resources", stated the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in a 9 June letter to President Alan García Pérez.
10. June 09
To twitter or not to twitter the gospel
As social networks become more and more popular, churches still struggle to find the best ways of using these new features to communicate with their members and spread the gospel.
27. May 09
A common date for Easter is possible
The hope that all Christians will be able to celebrate Easter on the same day in the future was reaffirmed by an international ecumenical seminar organized by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, 15 May.
25. May 09
North Korea nuclear test highlights need to abolish all nuclear weapons
At a time when the international community is re-kindling the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons, the North Korean nuclear test is a source of profound concern, stated the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia.
18. May 09
After communal violence, Indian Christians draw hope from elections
According to an Indian church worker, the violence against Christians in the Indian state of Orissa last year was not a one-time event but the consequence of a fragmented society. However, the results of the recent general elections are heartening.