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people hanging a placard on children's rights

WCC to cohost seminar on responsible banking with focus on saving children’s lives

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will co-host an action-oriented seminar, entitled, “Save Children’s Lives – Responsible Banking Survival Guide for Faith Actors & Partners on 9 May at 2-4 pm CET.

20 April 2023

Faith and Order Commission to convene for final gathering

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Faith and Order will convene for the last time with its current composition before the new commission takes its place.

13 April 2023

Students marching against racism, Sweden

Webinar will explore obstacles, opportunities, and strategies for combatting racism

A webinar on 25 April will explore obstacles, opportunities, and strategies to combat racism, xenophobia and racial discrimination in the church and in the world.

27 March 2023

Banana production at the São Pedro quilombo in São Paulo state, quilombos are remote hinterland settlements in Brazil set up by escaped slaves of African origin, Photo: Sean Hawkey/Life on Earth Pictures

With a focus on Europe, webinar will remember victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade

A 5 May webinar will remember the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, this time with a focus on Europe.

27 March 2023

"Future of Mission Cooperation" book—the outcome of a rich and long process—available for free

Opening the launch of the text “Future of Mission Cooperation”—the last in a World Council of Churches (WCC) trilogy reflecting on the centenary of the International Missionary Council—WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay described the volume as “the outcome of a rich and long process.”

24 March 2023

Publication

The Future of Mission Cooperation

The Living Legacy of the International Missionary Council

This book is a must for academics, pastors, or mission practitioners interested in how Christianity expanded in the 20th century through mission work, how this has transformed into World (or Global) Christianity, and what mission looks like in the 2020s and beyond.

The first part answers two questions through nine regional reports. These reports came from an international study process led by the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches for the centenary of the commission’s predecessor, the International Missionary Council, focussing on two questions: What is the understanding of Christians in the Global South mission in today’s world in crisis, and what will it be in the years to come? What hope can the good news of Jesus Christ give to those who are most vulnerable and often wounded through conditions that threaten their existence?

The second part of the book contains five studies of transnational mission networks. Transnational mission networks offer a huge potential for churches and mission actors in their work in a world that is facing many unexpected and overwhelming challenges. How can these networks foster mission, justice, reconciliation, and unity?

24 March 2023

Refugees from Zimbabwe and other African countries pray during evening worship at the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa, Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth Pictures

Africa-Europe Ecumenical Forum on Migration finds “churches need to embrace role as safe spaces”

During an Africa-Europe Ecumenical Forum on Migration, held 15-19 March In Hamburg, Germany, nearly 60 people gathered to discuss, among many other issues, the negative effects of “irregular” migration, caused in part by the growth of inequality within and between countries.

21 March 2023

Arusha world conference, young girl, performer, mission pleanary

Newest volume of “The Future of Mission Cooperation” to be released, followed by contributors’ consultation

A new volume of “The Future of Mission Cooperation” will be released during a hybrid event on 24 March, and will be followed by a discussion for an editorial group to discuss next steps with scholars and schools who contributed to the text.

16 March 2023

Prof. Jace Pillay reflects on importance of churches in upholding children’s rights

Prof. Jace Pillay, South African research chair for Education and Care in Childhood at the University of Johannesburg, reflected on the importance of churches in ensuring the rights of children.

Twin brother of World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, Jace Pillay noted that South Africa has very good policies with regard to children’s rights —but in many areas those policies exist only on paper, as they are not implemented.

14 March 2023

On International Women’s Day, award-winning church sign language interpreter urges space for deaf women

At the St Andrew’s Presbyterian of Church East Africa in Nairobi, Judy Kihumba is the voice between the hearing and the deaf worlds in one of Kenya’s oldest churches.

08 March 2023

Rev. Dr Kuzipa Nalwamba: “First and foremost, mission is God’s mission”

Rev. Dr Kuzipa Nalwamba, World Council of Churches programme director for Unity and Mission, reflects below on mission, theology, and the making of a better world.

23 February 2023

Ecumenical theology at chapel, classroom, and office: Odair Pedroso Mateus reflects on serving the WCC

Rev. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus began to teach at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in 2004 and joined the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2007. Most recently he served as WCC interim deputy general secretary and Faith and Order director. Below, he reflects on his fondest memories, accomplishments, and hopes.

08 February 2023

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity celebrated at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York City

The new St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York City hosted a special Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service in a church that was previously destroyed by terrorist attacks on 11 Sept. 2001.

08 February 2023

WCC mourns loss of Elder Metropolitan John Zizioulas of Pergamon

Elder Metropolitan John Zizioulas of Pergamon passed away on 2 February at the age of 92.

He served as assistant secretary to the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Faith and Order from November 1967 to September 1970.

03 February 2023

In Barbados, a celebration of diversity is part of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

At an ecumenical service hosted at St Paul’s Anglican Church by the Barbados Christian Council, those gathered prayerfully explored the symbols of stones and water as “the beginning of a decolonized spiritual practice.”

02 February 2023

Rt Rev. Dr Alastair Redfern, Retired Bishop of Derby and Chair of The Clewer Initiative, Church of England and Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC General Secretary

Clewer Initiative, WCC map course for even stronger collaboration

Leaders from The Clewer Initiative, the national work of the Church of England to combat modern slavery, visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 30-31 January to discuss current and future collaboration.

02 February 2023

Ministers praying in the chapel. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 2023

Celebration of unity draws churches in Geneva together

In a service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, representatives from 25 churches in Geneva drew together in the World Council of Churches chapel on 18 January.

24 January 2023

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service at the Interchurch Center in New York City

In New York City, unity prayers focus on how we “can join hands and minds and do the work that God has called us to do”

Christians in New York City opened the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on 18 January by participating in a worship service at the Interchurch Center, an office building that houses many church-related organizations and many others focused on intercultural and religious exchange. The service was infused with themes of justice and unity, both from a perspective of African-American history and the urging of Christians today to put their faith into action.

24 January 2023