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Seven Weeks for Water 2024, week 4: "Thirst for justice: a Dalit women’s perspective on water rights"

The fourth reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Rev. Dr Anupama Hial. In this reflection, she recalls her struggles in the past as a Dalit woman in India to get access to clean water. She challenges churches to be a catalyst for fulfilling the promise of Isaiah to provide free water to all who are thirsty, especially to the Dalit women.

04 March 2024

HH Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church concludes historic visit to India

It was my honour and my tremendous privilege to follow the visit of HH Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church to India in January and February.

27 February 2024

Dr Theodora Issa

Seven Weeks for Water 2024, week 3: "Celebrating Jesus’ life in water through the lens of justice”

The third reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Very Rev. Dr Augustinos Bairactaris. In this reflection, he underscores that the water justice issue is a theological task for all, and that the health of the water is vital to human civilization, and for the stability of the world’s climate and biodiversity. He urges all Christians to pray, fast, and act together for a sustainable environment and planet, especially during Lent.

26 February 2024

What can churches do to prevent modern slavery?

Jackline Makena Mutuma is a clergy with the Methodist Church in Kenya and a student at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, where her current research is related to the intersection of modern-day slavery and global warming. She was also recently elected as one of the vice moderators of the WCC Commission on Faith and Order. In a WCC interview, she reflects on the urgent issue of preventing modern slavery.

22 February 2024

Seven Weeks for Water 2024, week 2: How can we drink from our own cisterns?

The second reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Rev. Vinod Victor, Anglican Church of Freiburg in Germany. In this reflection, he compares the water situation of early Palestine to that of today in the wake of the ongoing war in Gaza. He also asks how people can drink from their own cisterns when they are controlled by outsiders.

19 February 2024

Seven Weeks for Water 2024, week 1: Water for peace in the Middle East region

The first reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Dr Munib Younan,* bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and former president of the Lutheran World Federation. In this reflection, the author, as a Palestinian, in line with this year's theme of "leveraging water for peace,” reflects on Isaiah's promise of free water for the thirsty in the context of the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza that has worsened the water situation in Gaza to catastrophic levels.

14 February 2024

Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch concludes celebrations on 15th centennial jubilee of Mor Philoxenus of Maboug (523-2023)

In my reflection for this blog on 25 September 2023, I shared with you news about the 1500th Centennial Jubilee of Mor Philoxinous of Mabough. I would like to detail some activities that took place at the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch during 2023 in honour of this great saint Mor Philoxinous of Mabough.

08 February 2024

Dr Theodora Issa

WCC Commission on Faith and Order moderator shares vision for the work ahead

In a video interview, Rev. Prof. Dr Stephanie Dietrich, World Council of Churches Faith and Order moderator, shares her vision and hopes for the work ahead.

08 February 2024

World Council of Churches conference in Egypt will offer insight into monastic spirituality

The Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches (WCC) to be held in Egypt will offer participants an opportunity to gain a sense of the deep Christian spirituality of the region, according to Bishop Anba Suriel of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

02 February 2024

Our trip to Rome

In the academic year of 2023-24, students from the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey experienced a transformative and historic visit to Rome, graciously hosted by the Roman Catholic Church's Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. This pilgrimage became a pivotal chapter in our lives, revealing abject insights into the significance of ecumenism as a catalyst for fostering unity among Christians.

01 February 2024

Rev. Jackie Makena Mutuma

Rev. Lucas Snellmann and Cardinal Kurt Koch

A week of true Christian unity

I remember how it felt. The slightly unreal feeling when I was asked if I could be part of the delegation that would visit Rome and the Pope during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

25 January 2024

Lucas Snellman

Ecumenical theologian reflects on World Council of Churches conference on unity

A World Council of Churches (WCC) conference in 2025 in Egypt is to gather major Christian traditions to explore how churches can call each other to visible unity, inspired by the experiences of the early church, according to one of the key planners of the event.

18 January 2024

From personal responsibility to collective action: reflections on the 2023 WCC Eco School

Students who recently completed the WCC Eco School in Crete, Greece, took time to compile their reflections on how the experience helped them hone their messages and actions related to climate justice and a transition to green energy. This is second of a series of blog entries from Eco School students.

10 January 2024

Jacob Stone

Bridging hope: a personal odyssey through Korea's tapestry of struggle and yearning

In the heart of Korea's struggle for democracy and human rights, Lutz Drescher became more than a witness; he became a weaver of hope in the intricate fabric of the Korean Peninsula. Sharing his odyssey, inviting us into the vibrant tapestry of Korea's quest for peace, he took us down memory lane.

04 January 2024

Faith in action: a Methodist leader's quest to transform Korean history

In the heart of a divided land, where the echoes of history reverberate, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung is weaving together an intricate tapestry of faith, solidarity, and a fervent call for peace. Jung is a leader with a deep-rooted commitment to transforming the narrative of division on the Korean Peninsula.

21 December 2023

Rev. Serge Fornerod reflects on crossroads of personal faith, professional life

Rev. Serge Fornerod is a former World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee, a member of the Green Village steering committee, and the new president of the FAP Foundation for Reformed Churches. He recently published a book, “Les Fornerod, une famille au service de l’Église” that details the intersection of his personal faith and professional life^[1].

15 December 2023

Ellyanne Chlystun-Githae Wanjiku at COP28

Ellyanne Chlystun-Githae Wanjiku to COP28: “listen more to children”

Ellyanne Chlystun-Githae Wanjiku is a 13-year-old climate champion from Kenya who is attending COP28.

13 December 2023

"We are going to keep struggling, advocating, and fighting for climate justice”

Gloria Pua Ulloa is gender justice and youth programme officer for the Evangelical Service of Diakonia, an ACT Alliance member. She is part of the ecumenical delegation at COP28.

06 December 2023