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As the world marks the 16 Days of Activism on Gender Based Violence, religious leaders, human rights activists, and development partners in Tanzania joined on 5 December to discuss the human rights of girls and women, including those with disabilities, in a forum titled “Wealth of Knowledge and a Wealth of Care.”

As part of the Barbados Gospelfest, Caribbean co-coordinator of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network Rev. Dr Gordon Cowans offered a public lecture on 22 May, exploring the theme “Touching Lives of Persons With Disability: Freed to Simply Be.”

The upcoming Barbados Gospelfest, set for 21-28 May, will express churches’ affirmation and celebration of persons with disabilities in musical and other creative ways.

The Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network Pre-Assembly kicked off 29th August in Karlsruhe, Germany with an induction of new persons with disabilities into the ecumenical movement.

Four World Council of Churches (WCC) pre-assemblies are about to convene, drawing hundreds of people eager to, in a safe space, share their honest reflections and life challenges. The pre-assemblies include Indigenous Peoples, Ecumenical Youth Gathering, Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, and Just Community of Women and Men.

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.

In a meeting held 9-11 November, the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism evaluated its work and impact on mission and global Christianity. The commission, since the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan in 2013, prepared the WCC Conference on World Mission and Evangelism, which took place in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2018.

The World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism released on 10 November a new publication “Call to Discipleship: Mission in the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace,” a collection of study documents of the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism 2018-2021.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism opened its online meeting 9-11 November, convening to evaluate its work and impact from the 10th WCC Assembly in Busan in 2013 to the 11th WCC Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022.

On 10 November, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism will release a new publication, “Call to Discipleship: Mission in the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace,” a collection of the commission’s study documents from 2018-2021.

The World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism will hold an online meeting 9-11 November to evaluate its work and impact from the 10th WCC Assembly in Busan in 2013 to the 11th WCC Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022.

Idara ya Mawasiliano ya Baraza la Makanisa la Kiulimwengu (WCC) imechapisha miongozo mipya ya ndani ili kuhakikisha yanakuwapo mawasiliano jumuishi na yanayofikika. Hivi karibuni, idara ya mawasiliano ya WCC imekuwa ikifanya jitihada za kuwa na mawasiliano ambayo ni jumuishi zaidi na yanayofikika. Mfano mmoja wapo ni ule ambapo utengenezaji wa tovuti mpya ya WCC ulizingatia mahitaji ya ufikiaji kwa watu wenye ulemavu. Mfano mwingine: WCC imekuwa ikifanya majaribio ya ukalimani wa lugha ya ishara kwenye mikutano ya mitandaoni. Mwaka 2021, timu ya mawasiliano ilichunguza njia zaidi za kuhakikisha kazi ya mawasiliano yetu inakuwa jumuishi na inadumisha ufikiaji wa hali ya juu tunapojiandaa kwa ajili ya Mkutano Mkuu wa 11 wa WCC utakaofanyika Karlsruhe—na zaidi. Yote haya yalilazimisha kuwepo na uhitaji wa kuwa na miongozo kwa ajili ya mawasiliano jumuishi na yanayofikika.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Communication has published new internal guidelines to ensure inclusive and accessible communication. In the recent past, WCC communication has been stepping up efforts to have a more inclusive and accessible communication. One example is that the development of the new WCC website took into consideration accessibility needs of persons with disabilities. Another example: the WCC has been testing sign language interpreta-tion in webinars. In 2021, the communication team explored even more ways to ensure our communication work is inclusive and maintains high accessibility as we prepare for the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe—and beyond. All this necessitated the need to have guidelines for inclusive and accessible communication.    

“Persons with disabilities as well as other persons in the community see the church as a pillar of support to their complete wellbeing,” said Anderson Gitonga, executive director of United Disabled Persons of Kenya at a virtual dialogue, held 5 May, on promoting mental wellness of persons with disabilities in Kenya during and beyond COVID-19. “There is need for the church to explore further ways to build communities of support within communities to promote mental wellness of persons with disabilities during COVID-19.”

In a recent meeting, the World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism discussed how COVID-19 has reshaped mission and the church.

A webinar held 22 October gave space for persons with disabilities to share their reflections. Entitled “From Lamentation to Transformation,” the event, first in a series of webinars on COVID-19 perspectives, highlighted hope through stories, practical support, and social change as experienced by persons with disabilities.

On 22 October at 15.00 CET, persons with disabilities across the globe will share their experiences related to COVID-19 and the transformation that has come out of it during a public webinar entitled “From Lamentation to Transformation: Persons with disabilities in the context of the COVID-19.”  

Persons with disabilities may be even more vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have also shown resiliency and wisdom that can be shared across the world.