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Two new interactive websites have been launched by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in order to promote strong engagement of churches with the vision of a “pilgrimage of justice and peace”.

The Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace is an initiative of the WCC member churches, inviting Christians and all people of good will to work together on the issues of justice and peace in order to heal a world filled with conflict, injustice, violence and pain.

The new website www.wccpilgrimage.org offers resources for congregations, organizations and groups to discern their particular path in the pilgrimage. The website encourages sharing and learning from each other’s experiences.

Guided by nine questions such as “What is a pilgrimage?” and “What are justice and peace?” visitors to the website can contribute comments, upload their own related documents, or share their ideas through video or sound.

The site also connects to discussions in social media, using a set of dedicated hashtags.

The concept of a “pilgrimage of justice and peace” is an overarching theme for the various programmes and activities of the WCC, which represents 345 member churches and over 500 million Christians around the world. It was developed at the WCC 10th Assembly held in 2013 in Busan, Republic of Korea.

Reflections on the pilgrimage theme and how it relates to the lives of the churches in various parts of the world, and to justice and peace issues that Christians are confronting in their communities, are at the heart of the second new site, http://blog.oikoumene.org.

The first entry to the blog, authored by the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, was published on 29 April. Tveit wrote how for WCC the “pilgrimage of justice and peace has become a clear framework and motivation to take new initiatives on all levels”.

In his reflection, Tveit highlighted the “right to hope” and its significance for the ecumenical movement. He shared his experience of participating in a recent Vatican meeting on climate change. He said, “All humankind must be united in proper stewardship, making the necessary changes that can facilitate justice for the poor and for all those who are vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”

The blog will feature writings from persons deeply engaged with the ecumenical movement and churches’ struggles for justice and peace. Guest bloggers will be invited to reflect the rich variety of perspectives on the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, both within the WCC member churches and beyond.

Both websites are forums where “pilgrims” will be able to explore together what it means to embark on a pilgrimage and how it deepens their spirituality.

Resource website: www.wccpilgrimage.org

Blog: http://blog.oikoumene.org

Blog entry by the WCC general secretary

More information on the WCC Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace