The International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, the situation of Christians in the Middle East and proposed changes in the internal structure of the organization, are among the main items on the agenda of the WCC Central Committee, meeting from 16 to 22 February at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva.

A coalition of church bodies in the United States is calling on the Obama administration not to block a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution seeking an end to construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"Our hopes and prayers are for the safety of citizens, for wisdom and compassion on the part of the authorities and for a non-violent and just resolution of conflicts and grievances", the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit said 31 January, commenting on the current situation in Egypt.

Shortly after the beginning of each year, Christians around the world pray for church unity. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, traditionally celebrated from 18-25 January, draws on resources sponsored jointly by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church. The materials for January 2011 have been prepared in partnership with the churches of Jerusalem.

Visitors from the Geneva offices of the World Council of Churches were honoured to be received in Cairo, Egypt on Saturday 8 January 2011 by Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, led the group to Cairo in order to offer personal condolences in the aftermath of the lethal bomb attack at the New Year on a church in Alexandria.

The WCC condemns the vicious attack on innocent worshippers in the Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt when a bomb was detonated at the conclusion of the celebration of a New Year’s midnight mass. As a result, at least 21 people have been killed and more than 80 injured.

The WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, on behalf of the fellowship of WCC member churches and the entire ecumenical family, expresses profound sorrow as well as...

Thirty women gathered in Bethlehem on 13-18 December to celebrate the first anniversary of the “Kairos Palestine” document on the quest for peace and human rights in Palestine and Israel. The gathering also reflected theologically on the content of the text. Participants came from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Latin America and Australia.

WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit met in a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Saturday. The two church leaders discussed a number issues including visible church unity and the situation of Christians in the Middle East.

In April 2011, as an act of solidarity, Amos Trust will be taking a group of 25 people to rebuild a home in Palestine.  Read on to find out more about taking part.

Why are we going to rebuild a home?

As an act of non-violent protest against the demolition of Palestinian homes and the appropriation of Palestinian land for the building of the separation wall or Israeli settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territories.-...

In final statement of two-week conference, bishops' synod says Biblical concept of 'promised land' cannot be used to justify settlements. Read the Vatican translation of the Message to the People of God that the synod fathers of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops approved