Search results

Greetings from the World Council of Churches moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm to the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) assembly marking the 60th anniversary of the AACC.

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee met in Abuja, Nigeria, on 8-14 November, the governing body published a statement that included deep appreciation of Nigeria’s “astonishing diversity of cultures, languages, and religions”—as well as appeals to the Nigerian government to address economic injustice and other grave challenges facing the nation.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, from 8-14 November, released a statement on COP28’s responsibility for climate justice. 

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on 8-14 November, released a statement that demands an immediate ceasefire, and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Palestine and Israel. 

Armenian people and churches urgently need “a generous international response to the humanitarian needs of the refugees who fled from Nagorno-Karabakh, especially vulnerable women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, and those without any other means of support,” the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee stated during its meeting in Abuja, Nigeria. 

Report of the WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay at the WCC executive committee meeting convening in Abuja, Nigeria, from 8-14 November 2023.

Address of the WCC moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm at the WCC executive committee meeting convening in Abuja, Nigeria, from 8-14 November.

In a joint greeting to the Lutheran World Federation Assembly, gathered in Krakow, Poland from 13-19 September, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Pillay and WCC moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm reflected on the assembly’s theme, “One Body, One Spirit, One Hope.”

Sermon by the WCC moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm during at the International Meeting for Peace / St. Egidio community on 12 September in Berlin, Germany.

"The Word of God: Compass for Our Time", reflection by the World Council of Churches moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm during at the International Meeting for Peace held on 10-12 September in Berlin, Germany.

Sermon by the WCC moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm at the Ecumenical Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the WCC - Sunday Worship at Saint Pierre Cathedral, Geneva, 25 June 2023

Statement on the Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan by the Executive committee of the World Council of Churches, meeting via video conference on 22-26 May 2023.

 

Statement on the Worsening Global Food Crisis by the Executive committee of the World Council of Churches, meeting via video conference on 22-26 May 2023.

Report of the World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay at the WCC executive committee meeting, May 2023.

Address of bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee at the WCC executive committee meeting on 22 May 2023. 

Lecture of the World Council of Churches central committee moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm delivered at the Kitzingen deanery, a regional church district near Würzburg, Germany.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love (Psalm 33:5)

New technologies are transforming our world and the multiple spaces in which we live, work and witness. These technologies offer us new ways to create, to heal, to communicate, and to navigate the world. However, many such technologies, while undoubtedly offering actual or potential advances in human wellbeing, have also raised concerns regarding their social and environmental impacts and ethical implications, especially in light of the rapidity of their development and application.

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

When approaching the issue of health and wellbeing, we as Christians and churches affirm that the giver and sustainer of life is our Lord Jesus Christ, the healer of our bodies and souls, the one who heals our diseases, who redeems our life from the pit and crowns us with love and compassion (Ps. 103:3-4).

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

(Luke 4:18-19)

The current global context is marked by escalating conflicts, divisions, inequalities, resurgent racism, xenophobic attacks on migrants, antisemitism, violations of the rights of women and other forms of discrimination, threats against human rights defenders, as well as authoritarianism, populist nationalism, and religious and other forms of extremism, that threaten grave peril for the physical security and human dignity and rights of diverse communities and individuals around the world.

As Christians we confess that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it” (Ps 24). We acknowledge our responsibility as stewards and caretakers of God’s unique and abundant Creation of which we human beings are part. And yet we look around our world today, and see that due to our greed and negligence the entire living planet is threatened by accelerating climate change. “The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers…”, “The earth is defiled by its people…” (Isaiah 24:4-5).