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Launch of the WCC periodical on interreligious relations "Current Dialogue" as an academic journal for researchers, students, interfaith practitioners, and all those interested in the study of religions, February 2020, Geneva, Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC

Picture from the "Current Dialogue" launch, the WCC periodical on interreligious relations as an academic journal for researchers, students, interfaith practitioners, and all those interested in the study of religions, February 2020, Geneva, Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC

They explored the ways in which their work engages with interreligious realities, seeking both to address tensions in this field and to enable religious communities to work together for justice and peace in the world.

Interreligious dimensions are integral in many peacebuilding projects, including those in Nigeria, Iraq, Syria and Israel-Palestine, among many others. Interreligious aspects are also important in initiatives such as the International Partnership on Religion in Sustainable Development, Interfaith Rainforest Initiative and interreligious advocacy for nuclear disarmament and freedom of religion.

Reflecting on the webinar, Rev. Dr David Marshall, WCC programme executive in Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation, commented: ‘We look forward to continuing to strengthen this network as we learn from and support each other in our interreligious work on behalf of member churches.”

Peter Prove, WCC director of international affairs, gave the group an overview of the work of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs. Prove quoted the commission bylaws to illustrate its fundamental mission as “an organ in formulating the Christian mind on world issues and bringing that mind effectively to bear upon such issues.”