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.
El Rev. Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung, codirector ejecutivo del Consejo de Iglesias de Minnesota, ayudó a formar el equipo de autores de los recursos de la Semana de Oración por la Unidad de los Cristianos de este año. A continuación, reflexiona sobre los retos y esperanzas que el equipo ha puesto sobre la mesa durante la composición del texto.
Aa the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity opened on 18 January, the World Council of Churches staff and partners gathered in a spirit of unity to “Do good; seek justice,” the theme of this year’s special week.
Rev. Dr Curtiss Paul DeYoung, co-chief executive officer of the Minnesota Council of Churches, helped convene the team of authors for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity materials. Below, he reflects on the challenges and hopes the team brought to the table as they composed the text.
The Perkins School of Theology Alumni/ae Council selected Dr Evelyn L. Parker as the 2021 recipient of the Perkins Distinguished Alumnus/a Award. The award recognizes Perkins graduates who have demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support for the goals of Perkins and Southern Methodist University, outstanding service to the community, and exemplary character.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is celebrating the life of Rev. Dr Paul A. Crow, who passed away on 23 January. An ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), his lifelong passion was seeking Christian unity.
As Christians across the world prepare to celebrate Easter shuttered in their homes, they will still find the joy of the day and feel closer to each other, thanks to creative thinking by church leaders.
From including photos of church members within webcast worship services, to placing written greetings at doorways, Easter celebrations can still safely connect people who want to celebrate the resurrection of their common Lord.
Los cristianos del mundo entero que se preparan para celebrar la Pascua encerrados en sus hogares seguirán encontrando la alegría de este día y se sentirán más cerca de los demás gracias al pensamiento creativo de los dirigentes de las iglesias.
In the aftermath of armed attacks by both the US and Iran, WCC reiterates its call for restraint and de-escalation of the confrontation.
“Further escalation and conflict between the United States and Iran can only serve short-term political interests, while threatening the permanent destruction of many lives, communities and precious cultural and environmental heritage,” said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. “I appeal to political leaders on all sides of this confrontation to put the interests of the people of the region ahead of their own interests, and to seek peace through dialogue and negotiation rather than confrontation.”
Born in Nazareth, Galilee, Rev. Dr Saïd Ailabouni moved to the US at the age of 19 to become a physician. But he was so angry at God that he went to study theology instead, becoming a Lutheran pastor. Now he is leading the Middle East & Europe desk of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Since leaving his hometown 50 years ago, he visits his Palestinian family regularly. As the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel approaches, Ailabouni agreed to share some of his lifetime observations with the Word Council of Churches.
Nacido en Nazaret (Galilea), el Rev. Dr. Saïd Ailabouni se mudó a los Estados Unidos a la edad de 19 años para estudiar medicina, pero estaba tan enojado con Dios que acabó estudiando teología y convirtiéndose en un pastor luterano. Actualmente, dirige el departamento para Oriente Medio y Europa de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en Estados Unidos. Desde que dejó su ciudad natal hace 50 años, visita a su familia palestina regularmente. Al acercarse la Semana Mundial por la Paz en Palestina e Israel, el Rev. Dr. Ailabouni aceptó compartir algunas de las reflexiones que ha realizado durante su vida con el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias.
Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud, leader of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, received an International Religious Freedom Award from the US Department of State on 17 July. She paused to speak with WCC Communication with a word about what has inspired her life’s work for peace.
Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud, leader of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, has received an International Religious Freedom Award from the US Department of State. The awards “honor extraordinary advocates of religious freedom from around the world” and will be presented on 17 July in Washington, D.C.
Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud, responsable du Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process (RTCYPP, Suivi religieux du processus de paix à Chypre), a reçu le Prix international de la liberté de la presse du Département d’État américain. Le prix «honore les défenseurs et défenseuses extraordinaires de la liberté religieuse dans le monde entier» et sera remis le 17 juillet à Washington, D.C.
WCC News spoke to Rev. Douglas Leonard, coordinator of the Ecumenical United Nations Office and World Council of Churches (WCC) representative to the United Nations in New York, after attending a summit in Washington D.C. that brought together some 45 representatives of churches and faith-based organizations committed to developing an advocacy plan that responds to the current political situation in the Holy Land.
Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans and Reformed discern further steps towards deeper ecclesial communion and common witness during a consultation at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States from 26 to 28 March.
(LWF Communication) – An ecumenical prayer service in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States, marked the opening of a four-day consultation of five Christian World Communions discussing the historic importance of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) and its impact on the search for full, visible unity of the church.
(Comunicación de la FLM) – Un servicio ecuménico de oración en la Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de la Universidad de Nuestra Dama en Indiana (Estados Unidos) marcó el inicio de una consulta de cinco comuniones cristianas mundiales reunidas durante cuatro días para examinar la importancia histórica de la Declaración conjunta sobre la doctrina de la justificación (DCDJ) y su impacto en la búsqueda de la unidad plena y visible de la iglesia.
After a visit to Israel and Palestine on 21 February through 1 March, a delegation of South African and African-American church leaders, released a Group Pilgrimage Statement on Israel and Palestine.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) Faith and Order Commission’s study group working on ecclesiology met at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena to continue an ongoing dialogue with representatives and experts on “new ways” of being the church.