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United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk

UN rights chief delighted at child participation during conference on children at WCC

Despite changes in child rights in recent decades, the world faces attacks on democracy, shrinking civil society space, and an unprecedented backlash against universal human rights, and these undermine child rights.

12 June 2023

Thursdays in Black ambassador Tomi Järvinen: “Faith is about belief but it’s also about action”

The World Council of Churches welcomes new Thursdays in Black ambassadors!

Our ongoing series of interviews with Thursdays in Black ambassadors highlights those who are playing a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Tomi Jarvinen is executive director of Finn Church Aid.

08 June 2023

“If your banks don’t care about climate change—ask them why”

Thirteen-year old Ellyanne Chlystun-Githae has a serious message for the adults in the world: “While you are worrying about whether you have enough money to retire, people my age are worried about surviving in a world that is rapidly warming.”

05 June 2023

People outside the chapel in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan

South Sudan Anglican Archbishop: We have sold our sorghum to aid fleeing Sudan refugees

In Renk, a small South Sudanese town on the banks of the White Nile, churches are working to help thousands of people fleeing the war in the neighbouring Sudan.

01 June 2023

Ecumenical accompaniers report violence, intimidation, and demolitions in the West Bank

The latest group of World Council of Churches (WCC) ecumenical accompaniers reported incidents between 14 April and 22 May that ranged from violence to displacement, from harassment to intimidation in the West Bank.

01 June 2023

Weaving the web of peace and justice: a journey for reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula

In an exclusive interview, a prominent figure in the field of peace and justice, the former general secretary of National Council of Churches in Korea and former executive secretary for the Christian Conference of Asia, Rev. Hong-Jung Lee, shared insights into his journey and experiences working towards peace and justice in the Korean Peninsula. Drawing on his extensive experience and involvement in various ecumenical organizations, he shed light on the importance of healing, reconciliation, and the role of churches and Christians in advancing peace in Korea.

31 May 2023

The church grounds of the Community United Church of Christ in Fresno, USA,

Beyond gravel: designing water-wise church grounds

Becoming better stewards of Creation by killing off your church lawn? It sounds odd, but it is exactly what the Community United Church of Christ (UCC) in Fresno, USA, did. Facing increasing drought and water scarcity in their home state California, the congregation embarked on a project to drastically reduce their water use. Thanks to the massive support of volunteers, an entirely new, water-wise landscape was created that offers a lot to discover.

29 May 2023

A communal water tap in an informal settlement of Cape Town.

Water and social inequality: lessons learnt from “Day Zero”

Following three years of severe drought, in 2018 the City of Cape Town faced an unprecedented water crisis, known as “Day Zero.” Severe water restrictions were introduced to avoid Day Zero, the day in which the city would run out of water.

28 May 2023

Dr Rachel Mash

Der Generalsekretär des ÖRK zu Patriarch Kyrill: „Der Krieg in der Ukraine muss ein Ende nehmen.“

Exklusives Interview: Der Generalsekretär des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen (ÖRK), Pastor Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, spricht über ein kürzlich stattgefundenes Treffen mit Patriarch Kyrill sowie die besprochenen Themen, den Beitrag des ÖRK zum Dialog und die weiteren Schritte.

26 May 2023

WCC general secretary to Patriarch Kirill: “the war in Ukraine must come to an end”

Exclusive interview: World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay shares details on a recent meeting with Patriarch Kirill, including topics discussed at the meeting, what the WCC contributed to the dialogue, and steps forward.

25 May 2023

Becoming true witnesses of God’s love

A reflection originally shared at the "Working Together" meeting between the World Council of Churches and specialized ministries, convened 3-4 May in Bossey, Switzerland.

23 May 2023

Jakob Sundmark

Alexandra Masako Goosens-Ishii in the panel

Umweltbeauftragte von buddhistischem Netzwerk schätzt interreligiöse Arbeit

Alexandra Masako Goossens-Ishii arbeitet für ein internationales buddhistisches Basisnetzwerk und sagt, in ihrer Lobbyarbeit stehe zunehmend Agroforstwirtschaft und Agrarökologie im Zentrum, was sich mit ihren Verbindungen zum Ökumenischen Rat der Kirchen (ÖRK) decke.

23 May 2023

Activists call attention to climate change during a protest at the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Specialized ministries roundtable: “we need each other more than ever before”

Leaders from specialized ministries who gathered for a high-level roundtable with the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 16 May reflected on how the ecumenical fellowship can tackle complex and difficult issues with theological reasoning and concrete actions.

22 May 2023

Ein durch den Glauben motivierter Umweltschutz ist für Tony Rinaudo ein wichtiger Aspekt der landwirtschaftlichen Renaturierung (FMNR) von Land

In seiner Jugend wuchs Tony Rinaudo in einer von der Landwirtschaft geprägten Region des Owens Valley im australischen Bundesstaat Victoria auf und ärgerte sich über die Umweltzerstörung, die er dort beobachtete. Sein Glaube brachte ihn dazu, etwas dagegen zu unternehmen.

17 May 2023

Buddhist network's environment representative says interfaith work is essential

Alexandra Masako Goossens-Ishii works for an international Buddhist grassroots network, saying her advocacy work increasingly centres on agroforestry and agro-ecology, which meshes with her World Council of Churches (WCC) links.

17 May 2023

Ole von Uexkull, executive director of Right Livelihood

Right Livelihood's von Uexkull wants WCC-hosted re-greening event to spur global movement

Right Livelihood is known for its awards, sometimes viewed as alternative Nobel prizes, but it came to different prominence when it teamed up with the World Council of Churches (WCC) on a quest to create a global movement to re-green the earth. Ole von Uexkull, executive director of Right Livelihood, based in Geneva, spoke at the 12 May meeting titled “Caring for the Earth, Transforming Lives: Linking Faith & Natural Regeneration.”

16 May 2023

Environmental care driven by faith is core to Tony Rinaudo for Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration

At a young age, Tony Rinaudo got angry at some of the environmental destruction while growing up in an agricultural region of the Owens Valley in Australia's Victoria state and, driven by his faith, did something.

15 May 2023

From exhaustion to excitement—to hope

A reflection originally shared at the "Working Together" meeting between the World Council of Churches and specialized ministries, convened 3-4 May in Bossey, Switzerland.

15 May 2023

Marie Anne Sliwinski