6. May 08
Myanmar: Churches to mobilize emergency aid
As the death toll of the tropical cyclone Nargis soars by the hour, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Kobia expressed "great distress and sadness" in a condolence letter to the Myanmar Council of Churches. "The humanitarian aid arm of the WCC and its member churches, Action by Churches Together (ACT) initiated a process to mobilize its members in various countries to extend all possible humanitarian assistance to the...
5. May 08
Iraqi refugees cry out to Christians around the world for solidarity
"Although I had been threatened many times in Iraq, I did not want to leave," says the Armenian Orthodox hairdresser Cayran. "But then my shop was burnt and the car of my husband, who used to work as a driver, was robbed. So we left everything behind and fled to Syria."
30. April 08
WCC congratulates Paraguayan President-elect
World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has congratulated President-elect Fernando Lugo on his victory in Paraguay's recent presidential election. In a letter dated 29 April, Kobia highlights Lugo's "commitment to the poorest and excluded", in tune with "the rich tradition of a Latin American Christianity which has struggled to follow Jesus amidst a reality marked by inequality and lack of justice".
29. April 08
Ecumenical observers challenge Zimbabwe election process and demand respect for the will of the people
The 29 March elections in Zimbabwe were "far from being free and fair" and were "skewed in favour of the incumbent who openly utilised state resources to his advantage," two ecumenical bodies said in a recently released report on the election. The Zimbabwean people "expressed their will on polling day" and that will must be "upheld and respected" the report said.
Statement on Zimbabwe by the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
Concerned about the integrity of elections, the World Council of Churches Central Committee stated recently that, "...in democratic systems, elections serve as a way for people to confer legitimacy on a participatory democratic political system. In order to ensure that an election truly reflects the will of the people, attention should be paid to pre- and post-electoral mechanisms."
24. April 08
Syria sets example for good relations between Christians and Muslims and hospitality to refugees
"Islam cannot be studied like grammar," Patriarch Ignatius IV (Hazim) of the Greek Orthodox Church in Syria, told a delegation led by Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), who had come to Syria wishing to learn from the country's long experience of Christians and Muslims living peacefully together. "We have to see the real people and share with them. Muslims are sharing with you by living...
24. April 08
WCC delegation met with Syria's Assad
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad emphasized the value of religious diversity in the Middle East in talks with a WCC delegation in Damascus recently, including Syria's historic Christian communities. Assad also said he sees a possible opening for negotiations with Israel. The delegation appreciated Syria's efforts in dealing with a large influx of Iraqi refugees.
Former WCC general secretary honored by South Africa
(ENI) The Rev. Philip Potter, a former general secretary of the World Council of Churches, has been honoured by South Africa for his efforts to combat racism and apartheid in southern Africa.
22. April 08
WCC delegation visits Christians in the UAE
Appreciation for the good work done by churches in the Gulf region was expressed by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia at the end of a 17 to 19 April visit to the United Arab Emirates.
18. April 08
The passing of Krister Stendahl, an eminent ecumenist
Krister Stendahl, eminent ecumenist, New Testament scholar, former bishop of Stockholm and dean of the Harvard Divinity School, died Tuesday in Boston at 86 years of age. Best known in the wider ecumenical movement for his attempts to bring Christians together at the ecumenical table, he challenged them to see the beauty and value in other religious traditions.