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Pilgrims coming from Germany, Italy and Norway ended their journeys for climate justice on 7 December upon arrival at the St Stephen’s Church in Katowice, Poland, where the United Nations (UN) climate conference is underway. They were warmly welcomed by the delegations of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) that are attending the 24th Conference of Parties of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24).

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit was invited to address a significant and historic gathering of Theological institutions in India on the 4th of December. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from the Senate of Serampore College which represents 60 Theological Colleges in South Asia.

Under the topic “Politicisation of Religion and Religionization of Politics in Asia”, the Christian Conference of Asia’s (CCA) general secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara shared serious concerns about emerging trends where religions are used for political power gains and vice versa.

His Eminence Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church celebrated his Episcopal Silver Jubilee, or 25 years in ministry, on 17 November. Metropolitan Nicholovos is a member of the WCC Executive Committee. In an interview with WCC Communication, he reflects on his 25-year milestone, as well as on the challenges and joys of the ecumenical movement today.

In its continuing efforts to outlaw nuclear weapons, the WCC has issued public support for French Polynesia’s petition to the UN for redress for ongoing effects of nuclear testing there.

En sus continuos esfuerzos por ilegalizar las armas nucleares, el CMI ha manifestado públicamente su apoyo a la petición de la Polinesia Francesa a la ONU de una reparación por los efectos persistentes de los ensayos nucleares realizados en la zona.

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit sent greetings to Hindu brothers and sisters on Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated this year on 7 November.

World Council of Churches Ecumenical Water Network (WCC-EWN) coordinator Dinesh Suna attended the International Sanitation Convention from 29 September - 2 October in India. Suna shared his reflections on the conference, the role of EWN, and the future of sanitation and how it affects justice in the lives of millions of people.

The National Council of Churches in India and the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India have announced Dalit Liberation Sunday will be 11 November.

Churches can be the salt of the world, says a senior church leader from India, Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

Even though flood survivors are displaced in some 2,000 relief camps across Kerala in south India, many of them observed the indigenous Malayali festival of Onam on 25 August in whatever way they could. The traditional festival, for thousands, carried an even more poignant meaning because the holiday celebrates the return of joy to the land: the story of the return of King Mahabali, considered to be a very kind and generous ruler, during a “golden period” in Kerala.

An international consultation on “Education for Transformation: Challenges and Prospects for Formation and Reformation” was organised to mark the bicentenary of Serampore College, and the centenary of the Senate of Serampore.

As Kerala, the southern state of India, nicknamed “God’s Own Country,” battles one of the worst flood disasters in a century, various religious communities have opened their doors to help homeless people.

As the worst flooding in half a century struck the southern India state of Kerala, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit called for prayers for those affected and for those responding, and expressed his sympathy for those who have lost loved ones in the disaster.

Whether as individual believers or as a community, it is our collective task to advocate for Christian unity, says Melanio L. Aoanan from the Philippines. A clear vision for religious and ecumenical theological education is needed that is relevant in the 21st century.

Ya sea individualmente, como creyentes, o como comunidad, es nuestra tarea colectiva defender la unidad de los cristianos, dice Melanio L. Aoanan. El educador filipino reclama una perspectiva clara de la educación ecuménica que sea relevante en el siglo XXI.

Dr Erlinda N. Senturias, from the Philippines, gives thanks that WCC has created safe spaces for the churches to talk about HIV and AIDS. She asks that the ecumenical movement continue to be a beacon of support for this ongoing journey of health and healing.

La Dra. Erlinda N. Senturias, de Filipinas, agradece que el CMI haya creado espacios seguros para que las iglesias hablen del VIH y el sida. Pide que el movimiento ecuménico siga siendo un faro de apoyo en el camino de salud y sanación que está recorriendo.

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit is condemning an attack on renowned social activist Swami Agnivesh in Jharkhand state in northeast India. A violent mob of alleged fringe fundamentalist groups in the Pakur district attacked Agnivesh on the same day as a Supreme Court judgment called mob lynching unacceptable and holding the local administration, the state and central governments responsible for preventing it.

El secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, condena el ataque perpetrado contra el conocido activista social Swami Agnivesh en el estado de Jharkhand en el noreste de la India. Una multitud violenta de grupos fundamentalistas radicales atacó a Agnivesh en el distrito de Pakur el mismo día que una sentencia del Tribunal Supremo declaró que los linchamientos eran inaceptables y que incumbía a la administración local y a los gobiernos estatales y central prevenirlos.