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I Belong: Biblical Reflections on Statelessness

Biblical Reflections on Statelessness

A dozen theologians from across regions and confessions offer Bible studies for individuals, groups, and congregations to understand and address the vital personal, social, and religious concerns raised for and by stateless persons and their plight.

WCC moderator to lead plenary at upcoming G20 Interfaith Forum

World Council of Churches moderator Dr Agnes Abuom will lead a plenary session on empower-ment of women, youth and vulnerable people being held at the G20 Interfaith Forum on 15 Octo-ber. The online forum will feature hundreds of policymakers, prominent experts and religious leaders speaking over five days in dozens of sessions.

WCC offers Rosh Hashanah greetings to Jewish communities across the globe

World Council of Churches (WCC) interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent joyful greetings to Jewish friends and colleagues across the world on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah and the forthcoming High Holy Days.“May this be a time of blessing, joy and peace for you,” writes Sauca. “Certainly, this last year has brought a time of extraordinary challenges for us all.”

“Serving a Wounded World” document is “a call to reflection and action”

Rev. Dr Peniel Rajkumar is the World Council of Churches (WCC) programme coordinator for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation. He reflects on the recent release of “Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19 and Beyond” by the WCC and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID). The document aims to encourage churches and Christian organizations to reflect on the importance of interreligious solidarity in a world wounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

WCC, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue release “Serving a Wounded World” document

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) have released a joint document, “Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19 and Beyond.” Its purpose is to encourage churches and Christian organizations to reflect on the importance of interreligious solidarity in a world wounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Train the Trainers” offers joyful re-encounter for alumni of Young Adults Training for Religious Amity

More than 30 alumni of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Young Adults Training for Religious Amity programme gathered online over the last two weeks for a unique “Train the Trainers” event to equip former participants with the skills to organise interreligious dialogue and training in their own communities. The training, which brought together former participants from 2014-2019, included four webinars focussed on deepening interreligious awareness as well as developing leadership competencies in facilitation.

Religions for Peace: Hagia Sophia meant to be shared with all the world

In a 24 July statement on Hagia Sophia, Religions for Peace reiterated its commitment to the universality of heritage as something that can create peace and respect for all faiths. “We call for calm, in times when we see the use of religious sentiments and institutions in a manner that is divisive, thus pitting some believers against one another,” reads the statement. “We stand on the side of peace, and of deliberate, intentional, coexistence, particularly as we hear of the voices, and see the actions, of divisiveness and hatred from many quarters.”

Muslim leaders in solidarity with WCC’s urgent calls to keep Hagia Sophia a place of openness

On 11 July, World Council of Churches (WCC) interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent a letter to the Turkish president expressing “grief and dismay,” noting that since 1934, “Hagia Sophia has been a place of openness, encounter and inspiration for people from all nations and religions.” The letter generated widespread reactions from churches and the media—and also from Muslim leaders. Sauca met online with H.E. Judge Mohamad Abdel Salam, general secretary of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF), special adviser of the Grand Imam of al Azhar Cheikh Ahmad al Tayeb, and special adviser of the Muslim Council of Elders.

الزعماء المسلمون يتضامنون مع دعوة مجلس الكنائس العالمي للإبقاء على آيا صوفيا مكاناً للانفتاح

في 11 تموز/ يوليو، وجه الأمين العام بالنيابة لمجلس الكنائس العالمي القس البروفيسور الدكتور يوان سوكا خطاباً إلى الرئيس التركي يعبر فيها عن "الحزن والأسى"، مشيراً إلى أن "آيا صوفيا لطالما كانت، منذ 1934، مكاناً للانفتاح والالتقاء والإلهام للناس من جميع البلدان والديانات".

“Coronaspection” project features Church of Sweden Archbishop Dr Antje Jackelén

As part of a “Coronaspection” project in which world religious leaders share wisdom in times of crisis, Church of Sweden Archbishop Dr Antje Jackelén was featured in a lively conversation with Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein, director of The Elijah Faith Institute. Through Coronaspection, The Elijah Faith Institute is bringing together world religious leaders for their insights on faith during the time of the coronavirus, with a sense of solidarity and interconnectedness of humanity.

Vesak Day commemorated at the UN

A virtual event on “The Contribution of Buddhism to Peace” was organised to mark the International Vesak Day at the United Nations on 7 May. The event was organised by the International Buddhist Foundation in Geneva (IBF), an interreligious partner of the World Council of Churches (WCC), under the leadership of its president Ven. Halyale Wimalaratne, in collaboration with the permanent missions of Sri Lanka and Thailand. Inaugurated by H.E.Tatiana Valovaya, Director General of the UN Office in Geneva (UNOG), the event drew Permanent Representatives and Deputy Permanent Representatives of more than 40 countries.

WCC sends greetings to Buddhists for Vesak

In a letter to Buddhist friends, World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent cordial greetings of peace and joy for Vesak. “May this be a truly blessed time for you, your families and your communities,” wrote Sauca. The greetings focused on the role of faith communities in the midst of COVID-19. “We are all going through an unprecedented situation at present due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Young Adults Training for Religious Amity programme to be postponed

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the World Council of Churches (WCC) Young Adults Training for Religious Amity programme that was to take place in Fiji from 15-27 May has been postponed. This decision was made in consultation with the joint ecumenical partners of this pro-gramme - the Pacific Conference of Churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches, Council for World Mission, and World Methodist Council. The organisers agreed that it was impossible to organise the programme as planned in the current unprecedented global situation where the acceleration of COVID-19 infections has prompted mas-sive lockdowns and severe travel restrictions by several countries in order to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Freedom of religion rooted in justice

A recent consultation took important steps to find a faithful paradigm of thinking over the issue of "Freedom of Religion or Belief."Twenty-two church leaders and theologians gathered in Hattersheim am Main, Germany, 25-27 February, to discuss this issue in light of the global rise of ethno-nationalisms, xenophobia, interreligious intolerance, patriarchal hegemony and racism.“Given the present rise of ethno-nationalisms that use religion as identity markers and for legitimization of violence, it is imperative that we as people of faith be able to support the freedom of religion and work towards a world in which all people of faith have the freedom of expression, articulation and propagation of their faith,” said Philip Vinod Peacock, executive secretary for justice and witness of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

“Women Makers of Human Fraternity” express social friendship, respect

At an event held in Rome on International Women’s Day, 3 March, women gathered for an event, “Women Makers of Human Fraternity,” to express social friendship and mutual respect. The gathering for women of faith, organised by the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, received the document of two religious leaders, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayyeb and His Holiness Pope Francis, signed in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2019: “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.”