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Under the canopy of yellow leaves

Ushered into the venue of the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, one finds a sanctuary, a safe space under the canopy of yellow leaves. Under the shade of trees with leaves slowly going through the withering process is the springing of hope for a better world engaged in conversations and dialogues that promote life at its fullness.

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. 

Webinar explores “Two years after the death of George Floyd: Antiracism, #BLM and the United Nations”

A 25 May webinar explored the theme Two years after George Floyd’s death: Antiracism, #BLM and the United Nations.” As people continue to challenge the systemic racism that has devalued the lives of Black and Brown people globally, many are asking the question: how much progress have we seen in the last two years? why do some of these tragic events spark a stronger call for change than others?

Reflecting on California groundwater abuse

I live in western Oregon, part of the Pacific Northwest long regarded as a verdant paradise, courtesy of rains and snowfall that can exceed 100 inches each year.  The snowfall in the mountains sustains our rivers through the dry summer.  But our climate has been profoundly disrupted.  Where I live, summers are far drier and hot.  But just to the south of us, this climate change has caused a drought worse than any drought in the past 1200 years.  Scientists call it a “mega-drought,” a severe drought affecting massive areas of the western United States for more than two decades.  

COP26: historic moment into what really matters to sustain life

The highly anticipated, long awaited COP26 began 31 October. It has now been six years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP21 and much remains to be implemented in order to fulfil the promises agreed to at that historic moment by the member states. We knew then that the road ahead would be challenging and that changing our systems would require a radical shift in policies and behaviours—but we were hopeful. 

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 thats 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.

In pictures: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Prayers for unity took on a different look and feel this year, but they weren’t stopped by widespread restrictions on face-to-face gatherings. From prayer cards to personal reflections, online gatherings to new connections, the images worldwide convey the spiritual richness of an ecumenical family that came together in prayer.

Taxation and reparations – tools for promoting equity, climate justice and an economy of life

11 July 2019

The side-event will be an opportunity to explore how taxation and reparations can contribute to “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality,” the theme of the 2019 High-Level Political Forum on the SDGs (08-17 July 2019, New York). Rising inequality – often rooted in historical injustices – and runaway climate change are fuelling poverty, social disintegration and conflicts around the world.

Church Center for the United Nations, New York

3rd Explorations in Evangelism meeting: "Evangelism and the legacies of colonization and enslavement"

23 - 28 June 2019

The Explorations in Evangelism is a process of regional meetings co-organized between the Evangelism Programme of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Council for World Mission. The primary objective of the project is to explore the work on evangelism at the grassroots level, in different contexts. In this process, major emphasis is placed on creating spaces, through exposure visits, for personal encounters with local communities, getting a firsthand taste of what constitutes evangelism work in various local contexts.

Toronto, Canada

5th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith Based Organizations in International Affairs

29 January 2019

On Tuesday, 29 January 29 2019, the Fifth Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs will focus on financing for sustainable development and build on this vision of an economy of life as the flourishing of all life. Panel discussions will consider the broad issues of economic justice as addressed in the course of human rights-based development, governance and accountability in the global financial architecture, the implications for environmental sustainability, gender justice and financing social protection.

Conference Room 2, United Nations secretariat, New York

Webinar: Anti-Black Racism and Afrophobia in the Canadian Context

01 October 2018

The United Church of Canada, in partnership with the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, is presenting a webinar on anti-Black racism and Afrophobia. This webinar is part of the church’s participation in the UN International Decade for People of African Descent.

Online

Water and faith communities towards achieving SDG 6

11 July 2018

This official side event of the United Nations High Level Political Forum aims to foster stronger partnerships and dialogue between faith-based organizations and the broader water sector to achieve SDG 6 (water and sanitation) together in the context of Synthesis Report on SDG 6.

Presbyterian Church of Covenant, 310 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, USA

Redesigning the Tree of Life: Synthetic Biology and the Future of Food

02 - 04 November 2017

Organized by the World Council of Churches and the Canadian Council of Churches on 2-4 November, in Toronto, Canada, "Redesigning the Tree of Life" is intended as a participatory learning conference, informed by expert presentations, with time to build relationships and shared learning that make future shared work possible.

Toronto, Canada

HIV and AIDS and Property Rights - Overcoming Barriers to Women's Economic Empowerment

16 March 2017

This interactive panel will focus on the impact that HIV has on a woman’s right to own and manage property. Panelists will address stigma and discrimination toward women living with HIV, including deprivation or dispossession of property rights, and they will share best practices and potential pathways to promote and protect women’s economic equality.

UNAIDS New York Office