Search results

In a video interview, Dr Andrej Jeftic, director of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Faith and Order Commission, reflects on the commission’s history—and why the commission is relevant today.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey was inaugurated in 1946 at the scenic Château de Bossey—and it’s thriving in unprecedented ways today. It draws not only students but families, theologians, and vacationers who visit the Hotel & Conference Center for many different reasons.

Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, World Council of Churches (WCC) programme director for Public Witness and Diakonia, led a delegation that visited Colombia on 8-11 August to express solidarity with the Colombian churches, government and people as they collaborate in the design, implementation, and advocacy for the construction of peace in the country. Below, he shares his impressions of the visit.

Prof. Dr Fabien Revol, chair of the Ecumenical and Francophone Society on the Theology of Ecology and professor of theology at the Catholic University of Lyon, reflects below on the launch of the book "Penser les relations écologiques en théologie à l'ère de l'Anthropocène" ("Reflecting on Ecological Relations in Theology in the Anthropocene Era”), which is the fruit of a 2021 Theology of Ecology seminar organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in partnership with the Francophone Society.

When Rev. Rita Famos became involved in the youth programmes of her local congregation in Bern, Switzerland, back in the early 1980s, a lifelong commitment to the Reformed Church and the ecumenical movement started to evolve.

Rev. Matthew Ross, who served as WCC programme executive for Diakonia and Capacity Building from 2018-2023, reflects on how the document “Called to Transformation – Ecumenical Diakonia,” which he edited, is being received in ways that affirm the importance of diaconal service and mission.

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke during a brief interview after his opening sermon on 21 June at the World Council of Churches central committee meeting.

World Council of Churches (WCC) president for Eastern Orthodox Churches Metropolitan Vasilios of Ammochostos has three-quarters of his diocese on the island of Cyprus under Turkish occupation, but no Christians are still living in the occupied part.

Rev. Terri Hord Owens, the general minister and president of the Christian Church, the Disciples of Christ (USA and Canada), says the World Council of Churches (WCC) must offer an environment where people can talk on all issues, even if it is uncomfortable or "messy" to do so.

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. Patrick Watt is chief executive officer for Christian Aid.

 

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.

 

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.

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.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated in the southern hemisphere from 21-28 May. Below, Rev. Canon Michael Wallace, vicar for the Dunedin North Anglican Parish Te Pāriha o Ōtepoti ki te Raki, reflects on his hopes for observing the special week in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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.

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.”

Andreas is currently in the midst of a “Cycling for peace” initiative in which he is bicycling from Linz, Austria, to Hamburg, Germany—a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers! Part of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, Andreas is also part of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, which is helping to support his trip.

As he continues on his way, he took time to share some reflections.

Prof. Dr Michel E. Abs, secretary general of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), reflects on how challenging daily lives can be in the Middle East, response to the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye, and plans to commemorate 50 years of the MECC.