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The World Council of Churches (WCC) was deeply grieved to learn of the sudden death of a former member of staff, Father Ion Bria, on 2 July 2002, in Geneva. In 1973, Bria took up the post of executive secretary for mission and relations with Orthodox churches within the WCC, and in 1987 became the director of the WCC Sub-unit for Renewal and Congregational Life. Shortly before his retirement in 1994, Father Ion took up the post of director of the Faith and Witness Unit.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) was deeply grieved to learn of the sudden death of a former member of staff, Father Ion Bria, on 2 July 2002, in Geneva. In 1973, Bria took up the post of executive secretary for mission and relations with Orthodox churches within the WCC, and in 1987 became the director of the WCC Sub-unit for Renewal and Congregational Life. Shortly before his retirement in 1994, Father Ion took up the post of director of the Faith and Witness Unit.

The world’s religions aspire to peace. However it is a sad fact that they are often involved in conflict and violence. This paradox was the subject of intense discussion at a multi-faith consultation on violence, peace and religions held in June. Forty participants – Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, North and South America – gathered for eight days at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, near Geneva. The elimination of violence, they declared, is a challenge to all religions. The consultation was the first in a series on the topic of religions and violence to be organized by the Ecumenical Institute.

Die Weltreligionen sehnen sich nach Frieden. Es ist jedoch eine traurige Tatsache, dass sie häufig selbst in Konflikte und Gewalt verstrickt sind. Dieses Paradox war Thema eingehender Diskussionen bei einer multireligiösen Konsultation zum Thema "Gewalt, Frieden und Religionen", die im Juni stattfand. Vierzig Teilnehmende – Juden, Muslime, Hindus, Buddhisten und Christen aus Europa, Asien, Afrika, dem Nahen Osten, Nord- und Südamerika – berieten miteinander acht Tage lang im Ökumenischen Institut des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen (ÖRK) in Bossey, bei Genf. Sie erklärten, die Überwindung von Gewalt sei eine Herausforderung für alle Religionen. Es war die erste in einer Reihe von Konsultationen, die das Ökumenische Institut zum Thema Religionen und Gewalt veranstalten wird.

Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), will lead a delegation to the Horn of Africa, 1-16 July. The main purpose of the visit is to learn more about the ongoing conflicts in the region and the peace-building role churches can play. Raiser notes that a major need is "to reflect with the churches on the challenge of Christians and Muslims living together without their differences turning into sources of conflict". The delegation will visit northern and southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Tanzania and Kenya.

Der Generalsekretär des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen (ÖRK), Pfarrer Dr. Konrad Raiser, wird vom 1. - 16. Juli an der Spitze einer Delegation an das Horn von Afrika reisen. Bei dieser Gelegenheit will die Delegation vor allem mehr über die in der Region tobenden Konflikte und über die Rolle erfahren, die die Kirchen bei der Herbeiführung des Friedens spielen können. Raiser stellt fest, dass "mit den Kirchen unbedingt über die Frage nachgedacht werden muss, wie Christen und Muslime zusammenleben können, ohne dass ihre Verschiedenheit zur Quelle von Konflikten wird." Die Delegation wird den nördlichen und südlichen Sudan, Äthiopien und Eritrea, Tansania und Kenia bereisen.

Rainer Lang

Rainer Lang

The Rev. Dr Jesse Jackson, on a visit today to the Geneva offices of the World Council of Churches (WCC), met with WCC general secretary Konrad Raiser for an exchange of views about an interreligious initiative on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Jackson's proposed initiative hopes to mobilize religious leaders in advocating active non-violent approaches to peace, justice, and reconciliation in the region. To this effect, a visit of a delegation of Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders to Palestine and Israel is being considered.

The Rev. Dr Jesse Jackson, on a visit today to the Geneva offices of the World Council of Churches (WCC), met with WCC general secretary Konrad Raiser for an exchange of views about an interreligious initiative on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Jackson's proposed initiative hopes to mobilize religious leaders in advocating active non-violent approaches to peace, justice, and reconciliation in the region. To this effect, a visit of a delegation of Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders to Palestine and Israel is being considered.

Bob Scott

Bob Scott