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WCC expresses solidarity, urges advocacy for the human rights and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples across the world

In a public statement released by the leadership of the WCC central committee, the WCC encourages continued advocacy, with Indigenous Peoples and on their behalf in defence of their human rights, to protect the use of human rights language, to promote Indigenous Peoplesright to self-determination and the right to participate in the decision making process within churches and in society.”

WCC statement urges confronting racism, revisiting “complicity of some religious bodies”

Declaring that “there is no justification in either faith or science for the racism, xenophobia and discrimination that we are witnessing in the world,” the leadership of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee adopted a public statement that condemns these social forces.

The statement was prepared by the Public Issues Committee at the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Water as a divine gift, and justice issue

The importance of water for Christians around the world cannot be overemphasized.  From Genesis 1:1, where we read that “a wind from God swept over the face of the waters” to its sacramental role in baptism and the Eucharist, water is integral to the faith.

Ukraine: Responding to humanitarian need

When the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, churches had already been responding to humanitarian need in the country for eight years, since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.  The work being undertaken by churches in meeting the needs of those displaced by the war is not new, but the scale is staggering as 14 million people have been displaced in the six months since the invasion began.

Are you a #ThursdaysinBlack trailblazer?

On the final day of the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) 11th Assembly, participants are contributing to a strong visual statement of their solidarity for a world without rape and violence through the Thursdays in Black campaign.

WCC releases minute on consequences of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war

The World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly released a minute entitled Consequences of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war,” in which it reiterated its condemnation of the use of chemical weapons and cluster munitions, the targeting of civilians, hospitals and public infrastructure, and all other war crimes, beheadings, torture and other atrocities witnessed during the conflict.

WCC 11th Assembly presents minute on building peace on the Korean Peninsula

The World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly presented a minute on ending the war and building peace on the Korean Peninsula. The minute notes that the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, South Korea, drew the attention of the worldwide ecumenical movement to the ongoing search for peace, reconciliation and reunification of the divided Korean people.

WCC assembly statement calls for global ceasefire, renewed commitment to peace

Recognizing the deep need for, renewed dialogue within the ecumenical movement,” the WCC 11th Assembly released a statement strongly affirming the commitment of the WCC and its member churches to peace making through inter-religious dialogue and cooperation at all levels,” and calling for a global ceasefire in all armed conflicts around the world.

Promoting human dignity through art

“Affirming justice and human dignity”  was the theme of the fourth thematic plenary of the World Council of Churches(WCC) 11th assembly on 6 September. The presentation featured a wheelchair dance performance by Fadi El Halabi, a wheelchair user and Ms. Karen Abi Nader, an international artist. In the freestyle dance, Halabi effortlessly spinned around his wheelchair and,  with slow coordinated moves together with his dance partner, threw hands in the air symbolizing the joy that can only be felt when all exclusionary and disempowerment practices in church and society are addressed.