Our motivation

Water scarcity belongs to the pressing environmental issues of today's world. Large numbers of people have no access to water and lack adequate means of sanitation.

We believe that water is to be preserved and shared for the benefit of all creatures and the wider creation. It is therefore right to speak out and to act when the life-giving water is pervasively and systematically under threat.

Our aim

To promote the preservation, responsible management and the equitable distribution of water for all, based on the understanding that water is a gift of God and a fundamental human right.

Our objectives

The Ecumenical Water Network was formed

• to make a Christian witness heard in the present debate on water issues,

• to raise the awareness of the churches on the urgency of the concern,

• to engage as an ecumenical community in common action at all levels

Who we are

The Ecumenical Water Network is an international network of churches and Christian organizations. The Secretariat of the Ecumenical Water Network is located at the World Council of Churches in Geneva. Click here to learn more about our participant organizations, the EWN Steering Group, and the EWN Secretariat.

What EWN does

• facilitate an exchange of information and provide materials for churches, other Christian organizations, partners and individuals about the global water crisis and community-based solutions and initiatives
• promote and coordinate advocacy towards the recognition and implementation of the human right to water

Please note that the Ecumenical Water Network does not provide project funding or grants.

Find out more

For a more in-depth description of the objectives, convictions and the theological base of the EWN, please refer to:

"Waters of Life"
Framework for the Ecumenical Water Network. (HTML document)

"Water of Life. An invitation to participate in the Ecumenical Water Network"
A collection of different texts, this brochure contains not only the Framework for the Ecumenical Water Network but also reflections on water as a biblical topic, pressing issues, as well as encouraging stories of hope. The Ecumenical Declaration by Churches of Brazil and Switzerland is included in English and Portuguese. (PDF document / 9,51MB) Click with right mouse button on the link and choose "Save target as..." to download.)

WCC Statement on Water for Life
Adopted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) 9th Assembly, 14-23 February 2006, Porto Alegre, Brazil.