How does missional formation transform discipleship? A consultation in Cuba from 10-16 September explored this question and others related to the text Together Towards Life. The gathering was coordinated by the World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism as part of an ongoing quest to explore the means and methodologies for the practical application of Together Towards Life in the life of WCC member churches and mission community.
„Die Menschen in der Karibik können aus einem umfassenden Fundus an Erzählungen schöpfen, die das spirituelle Leben von Menschen christlichen Glaubens auf der ganzen Welt bereichern können“, sagte Anthony Currer vom Päpstlichen Rat zur Förderung der Einheit der Christen.
“The people of the Caribbean have a rich story to tell, one that can enrich the spiritual lives of Christians around the world,” said Fr Anthony Currer of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. That very story was shared in a heartfelt way this week at an ecumenical gathering to create the first draft of the text that will be used for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2018.
Ermutigung, Inspiration und Erfahrungsaustausch prägten die Plenarsitzung, die sich mit dem vom ÖRK initiierten Pilgerweg der Gerechtigkeit und des Friedens befasste.
Sitting in a tent at the Souda camp, on the island of Chios in Greece, a Pakistani family of 12 recalls the lives they had in their home country. They had everything except safety. Muhammed and his wife, Asia, along with their 10 children, fled their home country in search of a place where they weren’t constantly fearing for their lives.
During the 29 years Virgine Nasrawi has worked in the Talbiah refugee camp, located 40 kilometers south of Amman, the Jordanian capital, she has witnessed many changes. And the sudden influx of refugees from neighbouring Syria, caused by the devastating civil war in that country, is the most dramatic.
Between 7-27 March, more than 100 images with the hash tag #7Weeks4Water were posted by Instagram users who joined the World Council of Churches (WCC) contest. Most of them told stories about water justice, illustrating the Lenten campaign “Seven Weeks for Water,” promoted by the WCC Ecumenical Water Network annually since 2008.
Für Hind Khoury ist die Wasserfrage leicht beantwortet. Sie ist der Überzeugung, dass es in Palästina an Wassergerechtigkeit fehlt, denn in Israel gibt es sauberes Trinkwasser und sanitäre Anlagen, nicht aber in den von Israel besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten.
For Hind Khoury the issue of water justice is quite simple. She believes there is no water justice in Palestine because access to clean water for drinking and sanitation exists in Israel but not in the Palestinian territories it occupies.
Wenn der palästinensische Bischof Munib Younan über den Durst in seinem Land spricht, sieht er einen direkten Zusammenhang mit der Suche nach Gerechtigkeit sowohl in Palästina als auch in Israel.
Auf der Liste der wasserreichsten Länder der Erde steht Brasilien weit oben. Es verfügt über zwölf Prozent der globalen Frischwasserreserven. Aber laut Magali do Nascimento Cunha steht ihr Land nicht so gut da, wenn es um die Verteilung des Wassers und um die sanitäre Grundversorgung geht.
On the world scale of countries with plentiful water, Brazil comes out in the top league. It has 12 percent of the world’s fresh water supplies. Yet Magali do Nascimento Cunha does not see her country scoring so well when it comes to water and sanitation distribution.
Die Kommission der Kirchen für Migranten in Europa, die Konferenz Europäischer Kirchen und der Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen haben in einem Schreiben die Mitgliedskirchen und die Partnerorganisationen in Europa nachdrücklich dazu aufgefordert, sich bei ihren nationalen Regierungen und Parlamenten in den nächsten Wochen für mehr organisierte Umsiedlungen von Flüchtlingen einzusetzen.
The Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe, Conference of European Churches and World Council of Churches sent a letter to member churches and partner organizations in Europe urging them to undertake increased advocacy for more refugee resettlement with their national governments and parliaments in the next weeks.
David Bradwell of Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees has been on a mission for the past six months trying to raise awareness on what individuals and churches can do to help those fleeing conflicts and wars.
Negotiations should end the conflict and bring political transition in Syria, urged the World Council of Churches and Pax Christi International in a joint statement issued 15 March.
The World Council of Churches announced its support of a joint appeal for humanitarian access in Syria initiated by the Norwegian Refugee Council and UNICEF, and signed by dozens of humanitarian agencies worldwide.
Wasser ist Leben, sagt man oft. Aber Wasser ist auch ein Geschenk, und es ist ein Recht, das alle Menschen in Anspruch nehmen können müssen, betont Agnes Abuom.