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“We’ve seen in the case of refugees, how the church takes a strong standpoint in welcoming those who have fled. But it isn’t always so easy in the congregations. There are many who feel fear, as we receive not only refugees but sometimes also people of other faiths. In this case, we can see a gap between what the church says, and what is actually lived.”

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.

Not nearly enough is being done to save the lives of the 20 million people who face famine in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria. Among them are 1.4 million children, who are at imminent risk of death unless aid reaches them immediately.

Estamos muy lejos de hacer lo suficiente para salvar las vidas de los 20 millones de personas que padecen hambruna en Yemen, Somalia, Sudán del Sur y Nigeria. Entre ellos están 1,4 millones de niños, que están expuestos al riesgo inminente de muerte a menos que reciban ayuda inmediatamente.

Worsening global inequality is borne out as more people face famine now than any other time in modern history. Fr Nithiya Sagayam, national coordinator of the Association of Franciscan Families of India, is gravely concerned that the global response to extreme poverty is too low in almost every country while, he says, “corporations continue to grow richer and richer.”

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.

Greta Nania-Montoya Ortega has an enthusiastic message for young people considering signing up for the 2018 Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI): “Do not miss this unique opportunity. It will change your life!”

Greta Nania-Montoya Ortega tiene un mensaje entusiasta para los jóvenes que estén pensando en inscribirse en el Instituto Teológico Ecuménico Mundial (GETI, por sus siglas en inglés) de 2018: “No pierdan esta oportunidad única, ¡les cambiará la vida!”

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.

When the Bossey Ecumenical Institute marked 70 years of formation, hundreds of current and former students, professors and friends gathered at the Château du Bossey to celebrate. Rev. Khaing Moh Moh was one of that band, but perhaps she travelled the furthest, from Myanmar, where she serves the Shan State Lisu Baptist Association about 200 kilometres north of Mandalay, the country’s second biggest city.

The Church of South India, Green Anglicans and other groups are sharing creative ways to observe a “carbon fast" during the Lenten season. A carbon fast challenges people to examine their daily actions and reflect on how they impact the environment. The carbon fast campaigns are designed so that, over Lent, people can take small steps to reduce carbon dioxide output with the hope of helping the environment and bringing the world one step closer to a sustainable existence.

On 17-23 November, the Executive Committee of the WCC met for the first time ever in China. The visit was hosted by the China Christian Council and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. The Three-Self Patriotic Movement is a Protestant church in the People's Republic of China, as well as one of the largest Protestant bodies in the world.

Del 17 al 23 de noviembre, el Comité Ejecutivo del CMI se reunió por primera vez en China. La visita fue organizada por el Consejo Cristiano de China y el Movimiento Patriótico de las Tres Autonomías. El Movimiento Patriótico de las Tres Autonomías es una iglesia protestante de la República Popular China, además de uno de los organismos protestantes más grandes del mundo.

While meeting in Nanjing and Shanghai, China, from 17-23 November, the WCC Executive Committee issued a statement on climate justice that reiterates the urgent concerns of churches in relation to climate change, and calls on all states to fulfill the commitments of the Paris Agreement.

Mientras estaba reunido en Nankín y Shanghái (China) del 17 al 23 de noviembre, el Comité Ejecutivo del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias emitió una Declaración sobre la justicia climática que reitera las urgentes preocupaciones de las iglesias en relación con el cambio climático, e insta a todos los Estados a que cumplan los compromisos del Acuerdo de París.

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.

As the Bossey Ecumenical Institute marks 70 years of ecumenical formation, hundreds of current and former students, professors, partners and friends have gathered at the Château du Bossey for days highlighting the work of the institute and the role it has had and continues to play in the ecumenical movement.

Con el fin de celebrar los setenta años de formación ecuménica del Instituto Ecuménico de Bossey, cientos de alumnos, antiguos alumnos, profesores, asociados y amigos se han reunido durante días en el Château de Bossey para destacar la labor del instituto y el papel que ha desempeñado y sigue desempeñando en el movimiento ecuménico.

“As a professor of economics and economic ethics with a theological background, and as dean of the GEM school, I can say that pluralistic economics – getting new prominence as an international student initiative – is an attempt to challenge neo-liberal monolithic economics. It is time for new thinking about economics”, stated Prof. Martin Büscher, first chair for economics and business ethics at the Institute for Diakonia and Management at the Protestant University of Wuppertal/Bethel, Germany, at the conclusion of the Governance, Economics and Management School held in Hong Kong on 22 August-2 September.

“Como profesor de Economía y Ética Económica con formación teológica, y como decano de la Escuela Ecuménica de Gobernanza, Economía y Gestión, puedo decir que las economías pluralistas –que están ganando protagonismo como iniciativa estudiantil internacional– son un intento de cuestionar las economías monolíticas neoliberales. Es hora de que haya una nueva forma de entender la economía”, declaró el Prof. Martin Büscher, primer titular de la cátedra de Economía y Ética Empresarial del Instituto de Diaconía y Gestión de la Universidad Protestante de Wuppertal/Bethel (Alemania), al concluir la Escuela Ecuménica de Gobernanza, Economía y Gestión que se celebró en Hong Kong del 22 de agosto al 2 de septiembre.