Feature story
The gathering built upon the momentum of racial justice conferences in 2023 and 2024, both of which shaped new conversations and commitments across the Church of England, partner churches, and global ecumenical networks.
The conference responded to urgent realities facing Europe and the wider world: rising hostility, polarization, racial discrimination, xenophobia, misinformation, and the erosion of democratic values.
The conference theme, “God’s Kaleidoscope,” articulated a vision in which diverse identities form new, life-giving patterns when brought together in justice and compassion. This metaphor underlines the need for inclusive dialogue and solidarity with those often marginalised—migrants, refugees, displaced persons, and communities facing structural discrimination.
Across four days, participants engaged in Bible studies, keynote lectures, panel discussions, young people’s forums, group work, and prayer, all designed to deepen understanding and equip churches for transformative action. A significant component of the conference was its collaborative group sessions. Young people played a central role, contributing their insights and aspirations throughout the programme.
The WCC presented evidence at the conference that communities of colour face the heaviest burden of environmental harm - and that climate justice cannot be achieved without racial justice.
Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, WCC central committee moderator, delivered a reflection on the moral foundations of democracy and the urgent need to safeguard human dignity in a rapidly changing world.
He opened with the question: "Democracy may be one of the best systems of governance, but what happens when it develops mechanisms that can lead to its own abolishment?"
He cautioned that when democratically elected leaders grow irritated by terms such as diversity and begin to treat human variety with suspicion, it signals a troubling erosion of democratic values.
Affirming that every human being is created in the Image of God, he emphasized the relational nature of life.
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“God’s Kaleidoscope 3: Embracing Diversity, Strengthening Democracy, Challenging Hostility” conference participants, December 2025, Berlin, Germany, Photo: Diocese in Europe of the Church of England
Dr Masiiwa Gunda, WCC programme executive for programmatic responses on overcoming racism, also shared his insights during the conference.
"While we are witnessing the impact of the far-right movements on ordinary people, I am worried that the current ecumenical movement does not seem to have a ‘good news’ for the struggling white middle class, who are turning to what we believe to be ‘dangerous news’ from the far right,” said Gunda.
While evangelization and mission were abused by many during the era of colonization, the solution “does not lie in abandoning our calling to spread the good news but in putting in place safeguards to avoid repeating the mistakes and entanglements of the past”, said Gunda. “Evangelization and mission are not optional activities for Christians, What are today's good news to the suffering and hopeless?"
Learn more about the WCC work on overcoming Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia
WCC offers new anti-racist and anti-bias material for churches and communities
