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Desmond Tutu turns 90 with an outpouring of love from the world

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, one of South Africa's most famous persons, has turned 90 with a Eucharist service celebration at Cape Town's St George's Cathedral, receiving an outpouring of love from around the world. Tutu made a rare public appearance on 7 October at the iconic Cape Town cathedral, the site of prayers and protests during the apartheid era, where he attended a special thanksgiving service.

Un servicio conmemorativo rinde homenaje a la difunta Rev. Prof. Dra. Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel, “una dirigente pionera y visionaria”

Familiares, amigos, colegas y estudiantes de la Rev. Prof. Dra. Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel participaron en un servicio conmemorativo virtual en su honor en el que lamentaron el fallecimiento de la presidenta del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) para África. Plaatjies van Huffel, conocida como una líder eclesial transformadora en el África subsahariana, falleció el 19 de mayo.

Churches in southern Africa stand against violence, xenophobia

Churches across southern Africa are publicly saying #EnoughIsEnough,” with many denominations and congregations continuing to issue strong statements, arrange special prayer events, and speak out against rising levels of violence.

Both the Dutch Reformed Church and the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) have been discussing gender justice and how to keep the momentum going on the unprecedented public demand for change.

“Love will find a way”

World Council of Churches leaders spoke on the theme “Hospitality: On a Pilgrim’s Way of Justice and Peace" at a symposium on 23 August at the Protestant Theological University Amsterdam.

“El amor encontrará un camino”

Los dirigentes del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) hablaron sobre el tema “Hospitalidad: en un camino de peregrinación hacia la justicia y la paz” en un simposio el 23 de agosto, en la Universidad Teológica Protestante de Ámsterdam.

Ideas and advocacy of Brigalia Bam still vibrant today

Most South Africans know of Brigalia Bam as chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), where she served from 1999 to 2011. Previously secretary general of the South African Council of Churches, and already an IEC commissioner, she was chosen by then-President Nelson Mandela from the list of parliamentary nominees for this critical role. In a country that had recently been on the brink of racial civil war, she guided South Africans with humour, tolerance and impartiality along the path of inclusive democracy.

#WCC70: Churches as “freedom agents”

In 2018 we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the World Council of Churches. In order to create a lively firsthand account of the ecumenical fellowship and of our shared journey, member churches have contributed stories of people, events, achievements and even failures, all of which have deepened our collective search for Christian unity. This story was written by Olle Eriksson, a Namibian who worked for 35 years (1968 – 2003) with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission and Lutheran World Federation.

#WCC70: Las iglesias como “agentes de liberación”

Las minorías blancas gobernaron tres países del sur de África durante muchos años, incluso después de que la mayoría de las antiguas colonias de África lograran la independencia. Veinte o treinta años de guerras amargas y sangrientas precedieron a la independencia de Zimbabwe (antes Rodesia) en 1980 y de Namibia (antes África Sudoccidental) en 1990, y al gobierno de la mayoría en Sudáfrica en 1994.

Ecumenical groups join in UN forum on business and human rights in Geneva

The huge impacts of businesses on the communities in which they operate often bring benefits, but companies can disregard and even harm people’s rights in pursuit of economic gain. The WCC, ACT Alliance and the Lutheran World Federation hosted a side event at the 6th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva on 28 November, in this context.