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The Philippines has long been noticed for crimes committed against its people, but now human rights violations of the government of President Roderigo Duterte are coming under scrutiny at the Human Rights Council after submissions made by church-backed civil society groups.

Reconciliation was once primarily seen as a message of the church but is now used by secular leaders trying to establish peace in communities torn by conflict and war, the WCC president for Africa, the Rev. Mary Anne Plaatjies van Huffel, has said at a major Protestant gathering in Germany.

To galvanize the international community on the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines, the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, hosted a photo exhibit on 4-5 May.

Eighteen representatives from theological institutions in Asia met in Bangkok, Thailand, from 17-20 April at a consultation on “Ecumenical Theological Education and Contextual Theologies in Asia” convened by the Ecumenical Theological Education department of the WCC with the support of the Foundation for Theological Education in South East Asia, and in collaboration with theological associations and institutions in Asia.

Achtzehn Theologinnen aus Afrika und Asien haben anlässlich einer Tagung, die vom 20. bis 22. April in Bangkok (Thailand) stattfand, die Arbeit am Thema „Mentoring von Frauen für ökumenische Führungsaufgaben“ aufgenommen. Initiiert hatte die Tagung die Abteilung des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen (ÖRK) für Ökumenische theologische Ausbildung, unterstützt wurde sie durch die Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia.

Eighteen women theologians from Africa and Asia began a journey of reflection and action around the theme “Women’s Mentoring for Ecumenical Leadership” in a 20-22 April consultation in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting was convened by the WCC department on Ecumenical Theological Education and supported by the Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia.

Athena Peralta is dedicated to observing and encouraging people who are defending their livelihood and defending creation across the world. “There is so much injustice in this world that it is really something beautiful to learn about and be able to accompany, even in tiny ways, struggles of communities and churches,” she said.

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit expressed sadness on 16 February with the news of a bomb attack on the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Sufi shrine in Sindh province, Pakistan.

After learning about the link between HIV and sexual and gender-based violence, the Rev. Neila Ingram said what was on the minds of many women religious leaders: “So now I have work to go and do in my community and church.”

The Methodist Church of Haiti is celebrating its 200th anniversary. Founded as a mission in 1817, it is the oldest Protestant church in the Caribbean nation. Special events in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, last week drew attention to the church’s history and its contributions to the country.

Religious leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region met in Bangkok on 6 and 7 December to develop a regional strategy for the prevention of incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes. Religious leaders and actors from thirteen countries took part in the meeting from the Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim faiths. The meeting was organised by the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect in collaboration with the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) and the World Council of Churches (WCC).

Religious leaders, scholars and representatives of faith based organizations from the Asia-Pacific region will meet on 6 and 7 December 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss the role of religious actors in preventing and responding to incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes, and develop a regional plan of action for the prevention of incitement.

Four short videos sharing challenges and examples of how churches and church leaders can make a profound difference in global efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat are now available for individual inspiration and group discussion.

More than one hundred representatives of churches, theological institutions, ecumenical organizations and specialized ministries from ten countries gathered in Matanzas, Cuba, on 1-4 October, at the Evangelical Theological Seminary (SET) to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the institution and reflect on theological teaching and its sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Wie wirkt sich eine missionale Ausbildung auf die Nachfolge Christi aus? Vom 10. bis 16. September befasste sich eine Konsultation in Kuba mit dieser und anderen Fragen, die im Zusammenhang mit dem Text Gemeinsam für das Leben stehen. Koordiniert wurde die Konferenz von der Kommission für Weltmission und Evangelisation (CWME) des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen (ÖRK) als Teil eines langfristigen Bestrebens, Mittel und Methoden für die praktische Anwendung des Textes im Leben der ÖRK-Mitgliedskirchen und der Missionsgemeinschaft zu erforschen.

How does missional formation transform discipleship? A consultation in Cuba from 10-16 September explored this question and others related to the text Together Towards Life. The gathering was coordinated by the World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism as part of an ongoing quest to explore the means and methodologies for the practical application of Together Towards Life in the life of WCC member churches and mission community.

„Die Menschen in der Karibik können aus einem umfassenden Fundus an Erzählungen schöpfen, die das spirituelle Leben von Menschen christlichen Glaubens auf der ganzen Welt bereichern können“, sagte Anthony Currer vom Päpstlichen Rat zur Förderung der Einheit der Christen.

“The people of the Caribbean have a rich story to tell, one that can enrich the spiritual lives of Christians around the world,” said Fr Anthony Currer of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. That very story was shared in a heartfelt way this week at an ecumenical gathering to create the first draft of the text that will be used for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2018.

”It is an honour and privilege to be among you and to convey greetings to you on behalf of the WCC”, said Stanley Noffsinger, new WCC director of the office of the general secretariat, during a meeting of the Worldwide Moravian Church Unity Synod in Jamaica in late August.

Manuel Quintero geht nach acht Jahren Dienst als internationaler Programmkoordinator des Ökumenischen Begleitprogramms in Palästina und Israel (EAPPI) des ÖRK in den Ruhestand.