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WCC joins United Nations General Assembly prayer service

World Council of Churches president from North America-Turtle Island Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith, on 21 September, joined other religious leaders offering prayers before the official opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. 

Some of the UNGA prayer participants

Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith, World Council of Churches president from North America; Paul Skoczylas, director of Private Sector Partnerships Service of the World Food Programme, New York; Rev. Dr. Nicolas Kazarian, director of the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Ecumenical Patriarchate; Christine Mangale, director of Lutheran Office for World Community and representative of the Lutheran World Federation to the UN were among the participants of the prayer before the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 21 September 2026.

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WCC
23 September 2026
United Nations
Regions
North America
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Ecumenical Office to the United Nations (EOUN)

The theme for this year’s prayer service was “A Moment of Hope,” and the gathering, focusing on children, stood as a moment of unity, reflection, and shared commitment to global peace, human dignity, and solidarity.

Walker-Smith shared a poem, “My Dear Child,” by Betty Miller, and reflected on how we are called to invite and embrace all children today. 

“O God, we confess we have not done all that we could to speak and address the fears, tears, and pain of children,” she prayed. “Help us to promote life and courage with and for our children.”

Ecumenical Office to the United Nations (EOUN)

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