The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO), celebrated its 75th anniversary, held a webinar in New York City on 27 October entitled “UN-NGO Relations: Enhancing Multilateralism, Protecting NGO Access, Civic Space, and Democratic Discourse.”
Christians in New York City opened the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on 18 January by participating in a worship service at the Interchurch Center, an office building that houses many church-related organizations and many others focused on intercultural and religious exchange. The service was infused with themes of justice and unity, both from a perspective of African-American history and the urging of Christians today to put their faith into action.
El Rev. Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung, codirector ejecutivo del Consejo de Iglesias de Minnesota, ayudó a formar el equipo de autores de los recursos de la Semana de Oración por la Unidad de los Cristianos de este año. A continuación, reflexiona sobre los retos y esperanzas que el equipo ha puesto sobre la mesa durante la composición del texto.
Le pasteur Curtiss Paul DeYoung, codirecteur général du Conseil des Églises du Minnesota, aux États-Unis, a participé à la création d’une équipe d’auteurs et autrices chargée de rédiger les ressources de la Semaine de prière pour l’unité des chrétiens de cette année. Il revient sur les défis rencontrés et les espoirs partagés lors de la rédaction commune du texte.
Aa the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity opened on 18 January, the World Council of Churches staff and partners gathered in a spirit of unity to “Do good; seek justice,” the theme of this year’s special week.
Rev. Dr Curtiss Paul DeYoung, co-chief executive officer of the Minnesota Council of Churches, helped convene the team of authors for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity materials. Below, he reflects on the challenges and hopes the team brought to the table as they composed the text.
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.
Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith received the Figel Ecumenism Award on 4 February, honoring her work toward unity in the ecumenical movement, particularly from the perspective of churches and ecclesial communities of Africa and African descent.
Women of faith who are African or of African descent held a powerful recent gathering, “Ubuntu: Remembrance, Diversity, and Advocacy in Unity Now!” in which they shared their call to action with a sense of Sankofa, or a season of now while looking back and forward. The event was organized by the Pan African Women’s Ecumenical Empowerment Network (PAWEEN) and Pan African Women of Faith (PAW).
The Perkins School of Theology Alumni/ae Council selected Dr Evelyn L. Parker as the 2021 recipient of the Perkins Distinguished Alumnus/a Award. The award recognizes Perkins graduates who have demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support for the goals of Perkins and Southern Methodist University, outstanding service to the community, and exemplary character.
These days, we are all swimming in the murky waters of theological, political, and social division. Swamped by waves of conflict and pulled down by undercurrents of dysfunction, it is reasonable to fear for the future of our communities of faith. But that’s not the end of the story. As president of Bethany Theological Seminary, an agency of the Church of the Brethren, I have found a deep, clear reservoir of hope in the witness and work of our students and alumni.
В преддверии первого саммита президентов США и России, который пройдет 16 июня в Женеве, Всемирный Совет Церквей (ВСЦ) выразил надежды на мир посредством открытого письма и молитвы.
En una carta abierta, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) compartió sus esperanzas de paz en vísperas de la primera cumbre entre los presidentes de Estados Unidos y Rusia, que tendrá lugar en Ginebra el 16 de junio.
Dans une lettre ouverte et une prière, le Conseil œcuménique des Églises (COE) a fait part de ses espoirs de paix à la veille du premier sommet entre les présidents américain et russe, qui aura lieu à Genève le 16 juin.
The World Council of Churches (WCC), with an open letter and prayer, shared its hopes for peace on the eve of the first summit between the U.S. and Russian presidents, which will take place in Geneva on 16 June.
A House panel in the United States Congress advanced a decades-long effort to pay reparations to the descendants of slaves by approving legislation, commonly referred to as H.R. 40, on 15 April that would create a commission to study the issue. The “40” refers to the failed government effort to provide 40 acres (16 hectares) of land to newly freed slaves as the Civil War drew to a close.
It's the first time the House Judiciary Committee has acted on the legislation.
Speaking during a webinar hosted by the United Church of Christ, panelists from the World Council of Churches (WCC) underscored the importance of churches’ involvement in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is celebrating the life of Rev. Dr Paul A. Crow, who passed away on 23 January. An ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), his lifelong passion was seeking Christian unity.
A special prayer service for those who work at the US Capitol offered an online space on 15 January in which to reflect, lament and hope for transformation in a troubled nation.
In a letter sent to World Council of Churches (WCC) member churches in the United States, WCC interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed the renewed and strengthened solidarity of the WCC amid the violence and lawlessness currently challenging the nation.