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Dealing with people on the move is crucial to the work of the Church in the 21st century says Greek Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia and Filadelfia. More than 31,000 irregular migrants arrived in Greece by sea in 2018 and almost 17,000 arrived by land, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit sent greetings to hundreds of young people from the Taize community as they gathered in Madrid from 28 December to 1 January to reflect on the theme “Let Us Not Forget Hospitality!”

WCC News met with the Very Reverend Archimandrite Dr Alexi Chehadeh, who leads the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East in Damascus, Syria. He is an impressive role model and peacemaker in Syria.

El Muy Reverendo archimandrita Alexi Chehadeh, jefe del Departamento de Relaciones Ecuménicas y Desarrollo del Patriarcado Greco-Ortodoxo de Antioquía y todo el Oriente, en Damasco (Siria), concedió la siguiente entrevista a las Noticias del CMI. El padre Alexi es una figura modélica impresionante, además de ser pacificador en Siria.

The Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI) and others involved in support for migrants on land, at sea and in the skies are strengthening their collaboration.

The humanitarian corridors programme, an ecumenical project developed by the FCEI’s Mediterranean Hope team with the Comunità di Sant’Egidio in 2015 is now in its second phase.

Many ecumenical pioneers, including former WCC general secretary Philip Potter, were in a sense a product of the Sunday School movement. Ulrich Becker tells a story that seems to be in danger of being forgotten.

Muchos pioneros ecuménicos, entre ellos el exsecretario general del CMI, Philip Potter, fueron en cierto modo producto del movimiento de la escuela dominical. Ulrich Becker cuenta una historia que parece correr el peligro de ser olvidada.

WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit is visiting Czech Republic this week, joining the Evangelical Church of the Brethren in the celebration of its 100th anniversary, then meeting with leaders from the Czechoslovak Hussite Church.

The World Association for Christian Communication – Europe Region (WACC Europe) is embarking on a one-year project to identify and promote strategies to counter online hate speech focused on refugees and migrants.

Church leaders in Europe stand together for an approach on refugees and migrants “based on dignity, respect, and where possible compassion”. This is the conclusion of a festive ceremony in which the leaders of the Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) handed over on 4th December a European Church leaders Christmas statement to the European Parliament’s 1st Vice President Mairead McGuinness.

Los líderes eclesiásticos de Europa se unen en favor de dar un enfoque a la cuestión de los refugiados y los migrantes “basado en la dignidad, el respeto y –siempre que sea posible– en la compasión”. Esa es la conclusión de una animada ceremonia en la que los líderes de la Comisión de las Iglesias para los Migrantes en Europa (CIME) y de la Conferencia de las Iglesias Europeas (CIE) entregaron, el lunes 3 de diciembre, una declaración de Navidad de los líderes de las iglesias europeas al primer vicepresidente del Parlamento Europeo, Mairead McGuinness.

Peace education to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between people involving the religious and secular sectors is needed to counter uncertainty fed by radicalization and xenophobia, says a leading human rights advocate.

In an address to the general assembly of Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy in Rome on 16 November, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit expressed gratitude for those who help refugees and migrants. At the same time, Tveit mourned the nearly 2,000 people who have died or are missing while trying to make the journey to reach the Mediterranean in the first ten months of 2018.

At the 28th FilmFestival Cottbus - Festival of East European Cinema, held 6-11 November, the film “Ayka” won an Interfilm award for giving a face to the faceless and helping the audience discover the sufferings of the marginalized.

The WCC Executive Committee met in Uppsala, Sweden from 1-8 November to approve the 2019 programme plans and budget, follow up and decide on a variety of assembly matters, review the WCC strategic plan, discuss world affairs and issue seven statements in response to current situations. The Executive Committee also discerned the way forward for the WCC’s Communication Strategy.

El Comité Ejecutivo del CMI se reunió en Uppsala (Suecia), del 1 al 8 de noviembre, para aprobar los planes y presupuestos de los programas de 2019, hacer el seguimiento de varios asuntos relacionados con la asamblea y tomar decisiones al respecto, revisar el plan estratégico del CMI, debatir sobre asuntos internacionales y emitir siete declaraciones en respuesta a las situaciones actuales. El Comité Ejecutivo también discernió el camino a seguir para la estrategia de comunicación del CMI.

“We are united in a pact of love, that encourages us to live in such a way that Christian unity is not only a dream, but may come closer each day,” said His Eminence Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, archbishop of Bangkok and Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Addolorata, as 40 bishops from 18 churches in 12 different countries gather in Sigtuna, Sweden, this week.

“Estamos unidos en un pacto de amor, que nos anima a vivir de tal manera que la unidad cristiana no solo es un sueño, sino que puede acercarse cada día”, dijo Su Eminencia Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, arzobispo de Bangkok y cardenal presbítero de Santa María de los Dolores, durante la reunión de cuarenta obispos de dieciocho iglesias de una docena de países diferentes, en Sigtuna (Suecia), esta semana.

Fifty years after its assembly in Uppsala, Sweden, decisively turned to public engagement, the WCC still seeks to engage and address issues of public concern and the common good.

Cincuenta años después de su asamblea en Uppsala (Suecia), ahora definitivamente volcado en el compromiso público, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias sigue buscando abordar e implicarse en las cuestiones de actualidad y de interés general.