Church leaders in South Sudan have welcomed as encouraging, messages of hope delivered to the people by global Christian leaders, on the eve of the postponed joint ecumenical pilgrimage of peace to the world’s youngest nation.
The World Student Christian Federation, after holding its General Assembly 23-30 June, shared a message of its shared vision and values that celebrate the central place of Christian faith in young people’s journey together toward justice and peace.
Media accreditation to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly, to be held in Karlsruhe, Germany, 31 August – 8 September 2022, remains open.
The Fifth International Conference on Receptive Ecumenism was held in Sigtuna, Sweden on 27-30 June, exploring the theme “Transforming Ecumenism – listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” (Rev 2:7)
Rev. Dr Hanns Lessing, from the Evangelical Church of Westphalia, is acting general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. He moderated a confessional meeting of reformed and united churches at the meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee. Below, he shares highlights from the meeting.
The 2022 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, to be held 15-22 September, will be an opportunity for the world to come together in prayer to end the occupation of Palestine.
Churches in Africa and disabled persons organizations are condemning the use of disabled children as beggars and slaves, amid media reports of cross-border smuggling of the children between Kenya and Tanzania.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting proposals for exhibition stands and artistic performances as part of the “Brunnen” space of the WCC 11th Assembly, taking place in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August – 8 September 2022.
Organised by the Geneva Interfaith Forum during the 50th session of the Human Rights Council, the event addressed the importance of defending the rights of persons who are forced to move in the context of climate change.
I believed Christian unity to be an ideal we strive for, perhaps analogous to the saying "if you shoot for the moon, you'll land in the stars." In the times I have seen Christian Unity manifest, often in times of prayer and most often when hands and feet are moving to answer prayer, it has been fleeting, almost illusory.
“As Baptists, we are concerned to strengthen our voices closer together and be in closer fellowship for the ecumenical vision. We see our presence in the Baptist World Alliance gathering coming up as a possible forum to do this,” said Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. and Bread for the World in Washington, DC, during the Baptist confessional meeting that took place at the recent World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee meeting.
As a six-year-old boy, Abu El Walid Dajani began helping his father manage the New Imperial Hotel near Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem. The historic property is owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, and leased before 1967 to the Dajani family to run as a hotel. Now 77, Dajani has become the manager. But the threat of eviction is derailing a way of life his family has known for generations.
In 1895, student leaders from ten North American and European countries met at Vadstena Castle in Sweden to form the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF). Among its founders were John R. Mott (US), Karl Fries (Sweden), Martin Eckhoff (Norway), Luther D. Wishard (US), Johannes Siemsen (Germany), and J. Rutter Williamson (UK). The WSCF was the first international student organization and together with YMCA and YWCA, it is one of the oldest youth movements still in existence.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is celebrating the life and legacy of Archbishop (Ephorus) Willem T.P. Simarmata, who was the moderator of the Christian Conference of Asia. He passed away on 17 June at a hospital in Medan, North Sumatra, in Indonesia. He was 68 years old.
Nine translations are now available for the publication “Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity: A reflection on the theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, Karlsruhe 2022.”
Oberkirchenrat Dr Marc Witzenbacher serves as coordinator of the local office of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe. In this interview, he shares how the city is preparing to welcome visitors from all over the world.
