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During a plenary session held 5 September as part of the ongoing World Council of Churches 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, women, men, youth, Indigenous peoples, and people living with HIV and AIDS challenged ecumenical leaders to counter injustices and affirm wholeness of life.

Learn more about Karlsruhe’s beautiful Golden Book. Hear voices from across the world talk about what reconciliation means to them. Watch highlights from Sunday’s ecumenical service. And go inside the Prayer Tent.

During a special reception at the Karlsruhe town hall on 3 September, the leaders of the World Council Churches central committee—Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator; Bishop Mary Anne Swenson, vice moderator;  Metropolitan Nifon of Târgoviște, vice moderator; and WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof Dr Ioan Sauca—were asked to sign the Golden Book of Karlsruhe.

The mayor of Karlsruhe Dr Frank Mentrup welcomed World Council of Churches leaders at a special reception at his German city’s town hall on 3 September, expressing his delight that the WCC has brought the global fellowship to his city.

In a process described as, “a journey of walking together, praying together, and working together,” Dr Agnes Abuom, WCC moderator, began the second business plenary with a review of the assembly decision-making process. “The decisions of the assembly are expressed through the final reports of the assembly committees,” she said, noting the distinction between earlier messages and final messages, which are expected to come to assembly next week.

See women and men, standing in front of the beautiful Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance. Hear the sounds of Korean drummers. View on-the-spot interview clips with people from all regions of the world—and local Karlsruhe voices, too! From your computer or smart phone, take one-to-three minutes to view the online Daily Assembly News Show.

The World Council of Churches 11th Assembly began its assembly in the German city of Karlsruhe on 31 August, with Dr Agnes Abuom opening the gathering, her last as moderator.

German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in a keynote speech at the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly opening on 31 August, expressed what an honor and delight it was to welcome the global fellowship in Germany.

Opening the first business plenary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly on 1 September, WCC moderator Dr Agnes Abuom acknowledged the contributions of three former WCC general secretaries, as well as acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, and general secretary-elect Dr Jerry Pillay.

1st September press conference at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly drew diverse questions from journalists directed at three panelists who celebrated the earth’s gifts as the Season of Creation opened—but tempered the joy by warning that those gifts will perish if people don’t draw together globally.

Opening to the sounds of nature reverberating through the speaker system, World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly delegates took part in the first thematic plenary, “The purpose of God’s love in Christ for the whole of creation – reconciliation and unity," on 1 September, the first day of Season of Creation.

In the midst of the Ecumenical Youth Gathering (EYG), a group of young people from around the world have organized a strike for climate justice.

Pope Francis, sent greetings to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly as it opened.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew offered greetings and a pointed message to the delegates and participants at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11^th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

During the closing celebration of the Ecumenical Youth Gathering, more than 200 young participants prayed and reflected at St Stephen Church in Karlsruhe.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) assembly business committee—which conducts the day-to-day business of the assembly—was elected on the first day of the WCC 11th Assembly, 31 August, as were six other assembly committees, including finance, message, nominations, policy reference, programme guidelines, and public issues.

An opening press conference for the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly was held on 31 August as the assembly began in Karlsruhe, Germany. Hundreds of media representatives were present both in person and online to listen to and interact with a panel comprised of WCC leadership and local hosts.