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WCC commissioner Kevin Maina shares perspectives from UN Environment Assembly

Kevin Maina, a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development and a representative of the Anglican communion, shares his experience as a participant of the United Nations Environment Assembly's sixth session (UNEA-6) in Kenya.

27 March 2024

Churches in South Sudan appeal for support during worsening humanitarian crisis

Churches in South Sudan are appealing for humanitarian assistance, amidst fears that the consequences of climate change, macro-economic shocks, and the war in Sudan could sink the country further into the worst humanitarian crisis since independence.

26 March 2024

Advocacy and prophetic witness for metanoia

The Kanak concept of “Do Kamo: the authentic human in a permanent becoming”, emphasizes that true human nature is not a fixed state—not something one is born with, but rather an ongoing process of maturation. This is a metaphor for personal growth and transformation, as individuals let go of their past selves and embrace their true identities. This transformation symbolizes shedding our primitive natures and embracing the qualities and potentials of a Do Kamo.

11 March 2024

James Bhagwan

WCC climate commission moderator: “Let us be the ones to show that there is a will”

Moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development Archbishop Rev. Julio Murray Thompson, in a WCC video interview, reflects on the challenges the commission is facing, how it will build partnerships, and ways in which it will involve young people.

07 March 2024

What can churches do to prevent modern slavery?

Jackline Makena Mutuma is clergy with the Methodist Church in Kenya and a student at the Ecumenical Institute at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, where her current research is related to the intersection of modern day slavery and global warming. She was also recently elected as one of the vice moderators of the WCC Commission on Faith and Order. In a WCC interview, she reflects on the urgent issue of preventing modern slavery.

22 February 2024

Women and children in Gaza bearing brunt of ongoing war

Women and children in Gaza are bearing the heavy brunt of the ongoing war, according to reports from the United Nations, with close to a million women and girls displaced and 12,882 women and children already perished in a war that has now raged for more than 100 days.

16 January 2024

From personal responsibility to collective action: reflections on the 2023 WCC Eco School

Students who recently completed the WCC Eco School in Crete, Greece, took time to compile their reflections on how the experience helped them hone their messages and actions related to climate justice and a transition to green energy. This is second of a series of blog entries from Eco School students.

10 January 2024

Jacob Stone

Religious leaders uniting for climate peace in solidarity with refugees, boost UN conference

The moment religious leaders from around 40 faith-based organisations worldwide agreed to keep defending the individual right to seek asylum during a gathering in Geneva marked a high point on the eve of the Global Refugee Forum, the world's biggest such international gathering.They met at a one-day event on 12 December at the World Council of Churches (WCC), chaired by an Armenian archbishop and a UN diplomat who was once a Turkish legislator.

14 December 2023

Ellyanne Chlystun-Githae Wanjiku at COP28

Ellyanne Chlystun-Githae Wanjiku to COP28: “listen more to children”

Ellyanne Chlystun-Githae Wanjiku is a 13-year-old climate champion from Kenya who is attending COP28.

13 December 2023

Publication

True Freedom

A New Global Course for Lent 2024

Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata

Bishop Alastair Redfern

Frederique Seidel

Caroline Virgo

Claire Walford

A new global resource from The World Council of Churches and The Clewer Initiative, True Freedom is a six-week course for Lent. It draws on themes from the book of Galatians and encourages individuals and churches to respond to modern slavery in their communities.

True Freedom includes:

A short Bible study on the book of Galatians
A reflection written by Revd Dr Kenneth Mtata and Bishop Alastair Redfern
Questions for group discussion or personal reflection
Case studies from churches around the world
Information and statistics about modern slavery
Artwork to contemplate and discuss

True Freedom is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Dutch

06 December 2023

"We are going to keep struggling, advocating, and fighting for climate justice”

Gloria Pua Ulloa is gender justice and youth programme officer for the Evangelical Service of Diakonia, an ACT Alliance member. She is part of the ecumenical delegation at COP28.

06 December 2023

Engaging climate justice: WCC Eco-School

Students who recently completed the WCC Eco School in Crete, Greece, took time to compile their reflections on how the experience helped them hone their messages and actions related to climate justice and a transition to green energy. This is first of a series of blog entries from Eco School students.

06 December 2023

Conor Russell

WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pilay speaks at a side event of COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

At COP28, WCC general secretary hopes for “less talk and more walk”

Attending his first climate talks as the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay took time via an interview to share the key elements of the WCC’s work at COP28—and his biggest hopes.

01 December 2023

Members of the WCC delegation on the first day of COP28.

As COP28 begins, faith communities stand ready to push for climate justice

With COP28 beginning on 30 November in Dubai, faith communities are ready to press for phasing out fossil fuels, push for climate justice, and present a united front.

30 November 2023

three women, floods, humanitarian aid unload, Africa

As floods rage in eastern Africa, church acts to save the people

Amidst deaths and displacement, church leaders in eastern Africa are re-stressing a warning against floods, while appealing for support for communities displaced by the climate change disaster.

22 November 2023

Publication

Cover of booklet: Guide for Churches on the Prevention of Obstetric Fistula shows a group of women from the Freedom from Fistula Foundation in Toamasina, Madagascar, following their repair surgeries.

A Guide for Churches on the Prevention of Obstetric Fistula

WCC Human Rights programme

This guide aims to raise awareness in churches and church communities of the catastrophic condition of obstetric fistula—a childbirth injury usually caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely medical intervention. Obstetric fistula can have devastating physical, emotional, and economic consequences for women and can even result in permanent disability.

It introduces readers to obstetric fistula and explains why churches need to be concerned. It discusses how churches can help prevent the condition from occurring in the women in their congregations and local communities. It also offers practical and emotional support and encouragement to those who are suffering with obstetric fistula. Finally, this guide outlines the advocacy work being done and suggests some actions churches can take.

Available for download in English, Portuguese, and Malagasy.

26 October 2023

In Colombia, WCC is helping people realize dreams of a future in peace with justice

In September, the World Council of Churches (WCC), with the Colombian Episcopal Conference, United Nations Mission in Colombia, and Organization of American States, was appointed as a permanent accompanier for peace talks with the Estado Mayor Central FARC-EP in Colombia.

20 October 2023

Climate crisis: have we learned lessons from the past?

"2000", "3000", "10 000,” and "we cannot provide reliable estimates regarding the number of victims”—these were heard and read in the last days ever too often about the situation in Libya. This situation highlights the pressing issues of climate change and global injustices also regarding the youth. Again and again.

03 October 2023

Pawel Pustelnik