Displaying 161 - 180 of 585

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.”

Archbishop Anastasios receives Klaus Hemmerle 2020 Prize

Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania was honored with the Klaus Hemmerle 2020 Prize in Germany for his contribution to interreligious efforts for peace and harmony.

During an ecumenical ceremony attended by representatives of the Focolare community and by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Archbishop Anastasios accepted the award on 14 February at the historic Aachen Cathedral in Germany.

Lenten resource kindles love of God

What biblical passage sets your heart on fire? Perhaps it is the story of Jesus curing the leper, or the Deuteronomist’s injunction to “Choose life,” or Moses’ epiphany at the burning bush, or perhaps the gospel account of the birth of Jesus in a stable far from home or the Psalmist’s desperate cries for help.

Festivities and dialogue launch new WCC journal

A lively interchange on the rapidly changing landscape of interreligious encounter marked the launch of a new journal at the Ecumenical Centre on Friday, 7 February. The occasion was the unveiling of the new incarnation of Current Dialogue, the pioneering World Council of Churches periodical on interreligious dialogue. Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), welcomed the new publishing arrangement as an historic moment for the ecumenical movement, through which Current Dialogue joins the WCC’s other two academic journals, noting that the journal brings a distinctive ecumenical perspective to the growing field.

WCC event presents Current Dialogue as new academic journal on interreligious relations

A special event on 7 February in Geneva will mark the launch of the World Council of Churches periodical on interreligious relations Current Dialogue as an academic journal for researchers, students, interfaith practitioners, and all those interested in the study of religions. Current Dialogue thereby becomes the third WCC academic journal to be produced by publishers Wiley, alongside The Ecumenical Review and International Review of Mission.

WCC invites media to the launch of Current Dialogue

On the occassion of the publication of its third academic journal, the Current Dialogue, WCC invites media to attend the official launch event on Friday 7 February. Current Dialogue, the WCC journal on interreligious relations, is launched in a new format as a resource for interfaith practitioners, researchers, students, institutions, religious leaders of different faiths, and all those interested in the study of religions.

WCC’s interreligious YATRA Programme to be expanded globally

The WCC’s interreligious training programme YATRA (Youth in Asia Training for Religious Amity) launched by the World Council of Churches after its 10th Assembly is to be launched in a new format. From its earlier focus on Youth in Asia, the programme is now renamed to "Young Adults Training for Religious Amity" and expanded to the global ecumenical movement, allowing young people from other regions to participate. This is largely due to the increasing demand for a training of this kind in other parts of the ecumenical fellowship. The expansion is also possible due to the collaboration with other ecumenical partners including the World Communion of Reformed Churches, World Methodist Council and the Council for World Mission.

WCC sends condolences upon death of Sultan Qaboos

In a letter to Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, shared his condolences upon the death of Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for half a century.

WCC, Pontifical Council plan joint project on “Serving a Wounded Humanity”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Office for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue met on 10 December to reflect on their next joint project entitled “Serving a Wounded Humanity: Towards Interreligious Solidarity.” They were joined by a number of Catholic and Protestant experts and professionals, representatives from some of the dicasteries of the Holy See and Pontifical universities, diplomatic corps, religious missionaries and Christian charities.