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Jesus and the ladder to peacemaking: an Easter meditation

Originally published by The Canadian Council of Churches.*

04 April 2024

Pastor Peter Noteboom

First-ever Regional Ecumenical Theological Institute in Cairo was “a place where we were all connecting”

The World Council of Churches (WCC), in partnership with the Association of Theological Institutes and Faculties in the Middle East (ATIME) and the Middle East Council of Churches, held the first-ever Regional Ecumenical Theological Institute in Cairo under the theme “Respect for Creation is the Glorification of the Creator.”

18 August 2023

Iranian delegation visits WCC to strengthen interreligious cooperation

Iranian rector Ayatollah M. Seyyed Abolhassan Nawab and Ms Zahra Sedigh, from the Iranian Mission to the UN, visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 27 July, discussing education and formation, as well as the importance of strengthening the role of interreligious cooperation.

28 July 2023

WCC mourns the death of Julio de Santa Ana

“It was with sadness that we received the news of the passing of Prof. Dr Julio Hector de Santa Ana, a reference of ecumenical theology in a liberating perspective,” said Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). De Santa Ana passed away in Geneva, Switzerland, on 17 April.

20 April 2023

Global Peace Prayer will draw Christians together in hope for better future

A Global Peace Prayer on 22 March will draw Christians together in hope for a better future. A communique from a prayer planning committee explained that Christians are called into prayer and advocacy for peace. “In a global context where war and violence abound, the practice of peace has become even more urgent,” reads the message.

21 March 2023

Interview

Ecumenical theology at chapel, classroom, and office: Odair Pedroso Mateus reflects on serving the WCC

Rev. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus began to teach at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in 2004 and joined the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2007. Most recently he served as WCC interim deputy general secretary and Faith and Order director. Below, he reflects on his fondest memories, accomplishments, and hopes.

08 February 2023

What will we hear?

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.

30 June 2022

Rev Jack Veatch

Two men sitting at a table looking at each other.

WCC acting general secretary offers lecture in Iran on “Serving Our Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: An Urgent Call for Us”

During a public lecture at the Ahlul Bayt International University in Iran, World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca reflected on how we can improve human relations in the post-COVID-19 era.

04 March 2022

Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith receives Figel Ecumenism Award

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.

25 February 2022

Interview

Bishop Mary Ann Swenson at the WCC Central committee meeting, 2018

Prayer life of Bishop Mary Ann Swenson has deep roots

From an early age, Bishop Mary Ann Swenson has tapped into the power of prayer.

31 January 2022

With boldness of faith, joy and peace, Pan African women hold “Ubuntu” gathering

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).

17 December 2021

Bethany Seminary students creatively explore hospitality in the neighborhood—and across the world

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.

04 August 2021

Rev. Dr Jeff Carter

A Middle Eastern landscape under a night sky full of stars, with a bright lightshining above a small house on the horizon.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022: “We saw the star in the East…”

The Middle East Council of Churches, based in Beirut, Lebanon, has been the convener for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022 drafting group. The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Vatican have now published the material in several languages.

08 July 2021

St Gregory Cathedral of the Holy See of Cilicia in Lebanon.

Very Rev. Fr Hrant Tahanian reflects on how Divine Liturgy in Lebanon brings hope for the world

On Sunday 27 June, WCC central committee member the Very Rev. Fr Hrant Tahanian from the Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia) attended Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Holy See of Cilicia, in Lebanon.

06 July 2021

Geneva, Switzerland, Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

On eve of Biden-Putin summit, WCC shares hopes and prayers for peace

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.

14 June 2021

Social card for the virtual celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, by CICU

Less COVID-19 cases, more “hope cases”

The Uruguayan Council of Christian Churches (CICU, by its Spanish acronym), the only ecumenical organization in the country, hosted an online gathering during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It took place last 26 May at 7:30pm (local time) via Zoom. I had the immense joy of participating as a Catholic communicator, currently serving as correspondent for SIGNIS ALC (Latin-American and Caribbean Association of Catholic Communication) and as vice president of SIGNIS Uruguay (the Uruguayan Association of Catholic Communicators).

02 June 2021

Sebastian Sanson Ferrari

Mixed feelings as prayer for Christian unity at Pentecost goes virtual again

In the midst of one of the worst public health crises in the world, Christians in Brazil are upholding their tradition of celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the lead up to Pentecost. For the second year, they will be gathering in prayer without physical gatherings though.

11 May 2021

In Minnesota, sacred stories of racial justice are being created: will the world listen?

How does a group of Christian leaders from Minnesota (USA) focus on writing reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2023 while, at the same time, addressing the urgent racism, violence and white supremacy surrounding them?

06 May 2021