News in brief 
10. October 08
Mental health is a community issue
Communities have an important role to play when it comes to mental disorders. This was the unanimous view of experts who spoke at Geneva's Ecumenical Centre on Mental Health Day.
2. October 08
Cultures and religions for all ages
Under the title "Cultures and religions for all ages" around 150 persons gathered yesterday at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva to celebrate the UN International Day of Older Persons.
26. September 08
Religious and Political Leaders dialogue on the role of religions in peace
The United Nations Liaison Office of the World Council of Churches (WCC) co-sponsored an international dialogue on September 25 between some 300 religious leaders and political figures - including Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - aimed at exploring faith perspectives and the role of religion regarding global issues such as poverty, war and prejudice while deepening mutual understanding.
Samuel Kobia's term as WCC general secretary extended
The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) meeting 23-26 September in Luebeck, Germany announced their decision to extend the contract of Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, the current WCC general secretary, through the time when a new general secretary takes office.
Churches have a role to play in helping men become better partners
Patriarchy has been the dominant influence in shaping men and oppressing women, a workshop sponsored by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) has concluded.
18. September 08
Christian and Muslim women dialogue takes shape
In the comfort of a simple Swedish meeting room, 25 Christian and Muslim women met to talk about how religion, which is often blamed to cause violence, can move people toward peace. When Rev. Marika Palmdahl welcomed the participants in the meeting "Moving towards a peace through religion" which was held 4-7 September and co-organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Teheran's Institute for Interreligious Dialogue (IID), her...
Ecumenical malaise demands new models of work
"New paradigms and models of ecumenical work and engagement" are necessary to counter "a malaise in the ecumenical movement" in Asia, a group of ecumenists from the region stated.
3. September 08
Hurricanes prompt US churches to pray, work and speak out
As hundreds of thousands of people from the US Gulf Coast have evacuated their homes, fleeing from Hurricane Gustav as they did from Katrina three years ago, US churches keep praying and providing relief. They also denounce underlying social and economic conditions that make for the vulnerability of the region.
28. August 08
Marking "Creation Day," Ecumenical Patriarch stresses need for environmental ethic
The spiritual and moral dimensions of climate change are best shown by how it affects the poorest and most vulnerable, says the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in a message marking 1 September as a day of prayer for God's creation.
13. August 08
Inter-religious youth group celebrates open debate
During a youth interfaith seminar outside Geneva last month some participants realized the religious differences are usually smaller than imagined and cultural differences are often more significant than expected.