News and events

The WCC general secretary reaffirmed churches’ commitment to justice and peace in the Middle East, while stressing the importance of a common vision for living together by Christians and Muslims in the Arab world.

On the occasion of Christmas, Heads of Churches of Jerusalem recognizing that the  Middle East is going through a time of uncertainty and ambiguity, issued a message calling on leaders and faithful ones of the church to "search for peace based on justice and reconciliation among all those who are affected in one way or the other by the recent developments within our Middle East".Read full text

Over 60 participants from 15 countries heeded an urgent call by Kairos Palestine at a Kairos for Global Justice Encounter in Bethlehem to bring awareness of and share a Kairos consciousness from the Palestinian experience. The Bethlehem Call challenged churches world wide to seize “this Kairos moment with conviction and hope” and build bridges of friendship and solidarity to see a Palestine and a world free of all forms of injustice. Read full...

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

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.

Churches in Egypt are praying and helping migrants, who flee home due to political turmoil, violence and uncertain future. There is a great need to develop stable democratic societies if the “Arab Spring” is to bear fruits. Or else it might turn into an “Arab winter” with religious minorities at the risk of persecution.

During the past year thousands of people from North Africa have disappeared in the Sinai Desert region while crossing the border between Egypt and Israel. “Falling prey to human traffickers, employment scams, harassment, organ thefts and forced deportations, these people face some of the worst human rights violations,” says Fr Mussie Zerai.

Eleven ecumenical women bishops from the United States, West Indies and Africa have started out on a 10-day trip to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza beginning beginning Nov.12. Read more

An 8-person delegation led by Moderator Rev. Dr. Rick Horst visited the Middle East in response to the Kairos Palestine call to “Come and See” the truth about the Palestinian situation. The delegation also visited Lebanon where they witnessed conditions of Palestinians living outside Israel and the PalestinianTerritories. After wide ranging meetings and visits in Palestine and Israel, the PCC delegation noted that “in the name of providing...

The Joint Advocacy Initiative of the East Jerusalem YMCA and the YWCA of Palestine together with the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG)are organizing the 5th Olive Planting Program from 4th to 13th February, 2012, as part of the "Keep Hope Alive - Olive Tree Campaign". Civil society participants from around the world will help Palestinian farmers, in areas close to Israeli settlements, Wall and bypass roads, plant olives, to show solidarity with...