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Over 100 people including students, alumni, instructors, and guests from academic and theological institutions in Germany, Switzerland, and France gathered together to hear reflections as part of the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) program culmination on 7 September during the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe.

"God made me inquisitive by nature,” said Tavis Tinsley, 27, a graduate student from the United States and theologian from the United Methodist Church.

One hundred twenty-seven young people from over 50 countries in all eight regions served as stewards at the World  Council of Churches (WCC) 11^th Assembly providing essential assistance in all activities and areas as well as contributing energy and perspective to  our life together as an ecumenical fellowship. Two of the stewards assisting the WCC Communication team share their experience as a letter and diary to future stewards at the 12^th assembly.

When the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, churches had already been responding to humanitarian need in the country for eight years, since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.  The work being undertaken by churches in meeting the needs of those displaced by the war is not new, but the scale is staggering as 14 million people have been displaced in the six months since the invasion began.

Is a successful dialogue between churches and politicians possible and what should it be based on? Can the European Green Deal inspire similar actions in other regions? What Christian values can contribute to the universal aspiration for a sustainable future?

Los datos están claros:  la última década ha sido la más cálida de todas las registradas. De los veinte años más cálidos, diecinueve han tenido lugar desde el año 2000. Y los hechos indican que la causa es el aumento de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero producidas por la actividad humana. Los científicos de todo el mundo han advertido de que, de seguir el ritmo actual, ya para 2023 el planeta habrá aumentado su temperatura en 1,5º C. Eso es dentro de menos de una década; aún vivirá la mayoría de quienes están vivos hoy.

The groaning of a Creation awaiting renewal provided context for ecumenical common prayer at the 11^th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Karlsruhe, Germany on the morning of Monday 5 September. The theme for morning prayers was “Christ’s love means compassion for life”.

The signs are on the wall. The last decade was the warmest on record. Of the 20 warmest years, 19 occurred since 2000. And evidence indicates that this is due to the rise of greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activity. World’s scientists have warned that, at the current rate, the world could cross 1.5˚C hotter as soon as 2030. That’s less than a decade from now, well within the lifespan of most people alive today

“¡Si quieren justicia climática, digan ‘AMÉN’!” fue el cántico de los jóvenes que encabezaban la protesta que recorrió la zona de exposiciones del Brunnen en la 11ª Asamblea del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias en Karlsruhe (Alemania) el 2 de septiembre de 2022.

El primer día de septiembre, el día ortodoxo de oración por la creación y el inicio del Tiempo para la Creación celebrado por la comunidad ecuménica, los participantes en la 11^a Asamblea del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) se reunieron para la oración matutina recordando el deber de los creyentes de actuar como custodios y beneficiarios de la creación de Dios. El acto litúrgico central del servicio de oración fue mezclar jarros de agua de cada región habitada de la Tierra, juntando en un solo lugar las aguas, como símbolo del acto primero de la creación en Génesis 1:9.

“If you’re for climate justice, say ‘AMEN!’” was the chant as young people led a protest marching through the Brunnen exhibition zone at the 11^th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Karlsruhe, Germany on September 2, 2022.

El 1 de septiembre señala el comienzo del Tiempo de la Creación, cinco semanas del calendario litúrgico reconocidas por la comunidad del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) y, desde 2015, también por la Iglesia Católica. Se trata de una demostración especialmente religiosa de la preocupación por el planeta y por las amenazas para la supervivencia de la Tierra como la conocemos.

Recalling believers’ mandate to act as stewards and beneficiaries of God’s creation, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Assembly gathered in morning prayer on the first day of September, the Orthodox Day of Prayer for Creation and the start of an ecumenically observed Season of Creation. At the heart of the liturgical action was a combining of vessels of water from each inhabited region of the earth, a “gathering of the waters” reflecting the earliest act of creation in Genesis 1:9.

September 1 marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, five weeks in the liturgical calendar recognized by the fellowship of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and, since 2015, by the Catholic Church. It is an especially religious demonstration of concern for the planet and for threats to the survival of Earth as we know it.