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Ecumenical accompaniers report violence, intimidation, and demolitions in the West Bank

The latest group of World Council of Churches (WCC) ecumenical accompaniers reported incidents between 14 April and 22 May that ranged from violence to displacement, from harassment to intimidation in the West Bank.

01 June 2023

Weaving the web of peace and justice: a journey for reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula

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.

31 May 2023

The church grounds of the Community United Church of Christ in Fresno, USA,

Beyond gravel: designing water-wise church grounds

Becoming better stewards of Creation by killing off your church lawn? It sounds odd, but it is exactly what the Community United Church of Christ (UCC) in Fresno, USA, did. Facing increasing drought and water scarcity in their home state California, the congregation embarked on a project to drastically reduce their water use. Thanks to the massive support of volunteers, an entirely new, water-wise landscape was created that offers a lot to discover.

29 May 2023

A communal water tap in an informal settlement of Cape Town.

Water and social inequality: lessons learnt from “Day Zero”

Following three years of severe drought, in 2018 the City of Cape Town faced an unprecedented water crisis, known as “Day Zero.” Severe water restrictions were introduced to avoid Day Zero, the day in which the city would run out of water.

28 May 2023

Dr Rachel Mash

WCC general secretary to Patriarch Kirill: “the war in Ukraine must come to an end”

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.

25 May 2023

Becoming true witnesses of God’s love

A reflection originally shared at the "Working Together" meeting between the World Council of Churches and specialized ministries, convened 3-4 May in Bossey, Switzerland.

23 May 2023

Jakob Sundmark

Activists call attention to climate change during a protest at the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Specialized ministries roundtable: “we need each other more than ever before”

Leaders from specialized ministries who gathered for a high-level roundtable with the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 16 May reflected on how the ecumenical fellowship can tackle complex and difficult issues with theological reasoning and concrete actions.

22 May 2023

Alexandra Masako Goosens-Ishii in the panel

Buddhist network's environment representative says interfaith work is essential

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.

17 May 2023

Ole von Uexkull, executive director of Right Livelihood

Right Livelihood's von Uexkull wants WCC-hosted re-greening event to spur global movement

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.”

16 May 2023

Environmental care driven by faith is core to Tony Rinaudo for Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration

At a young age, Tony Rinaudo got angry at some of the environmental destruction while growing up in an agricultural region of the Owens Valley in Australia's Victoria state and, driven by his faith, did something.

15 May 2023

From exhaustion to excitement—to hope

A reflection originally shared at the "Working Together" meeting between the World Council of Churches and specialized ministries, convened 3-4 May in Bossey, Switzerland.

15 May 2023

Marie Anne Sliwinski

Often overlooked, financed emissions represent untapped potential for bold faith-based climate action

Around the world, faith institutions are championing climate action, from international efforts like advocating with world leaders to national movements pushing for green energy legislation. But many of their concrete actions take place at the most local of levels, greening their buildings and facilities.

05 May 2023

Rabbi Jacob Siegel and Dahlia Rockowitz

Webinar explores obstacles, opportunities, and strategies to combat racism

A World Council of Churches webinar on 25 April explored obstacles, opportunities, and strategies to combat racism, xenophobia, and racial discrimination in the church and in the world. Speakers led an exploration of overcoming obstacles in order to continue the quest for racial justice.

04 May 2023

Bossey students deepen their knowledge on human rights in a symposium with WCC and United Evangelical Mission

Strengthening the link between Christian perspectives and practical action for human rights, a symposium on human dignity and rights took place in the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey on 25-26 April.

27 April 2023

Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame elected to chair UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame was elected to chair the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She is also a commissioner for the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, as well as an active member of the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network.

24 April 2023

People wearing yellow vests reading 'EAPPI' gathered in a church where a pastor is giving them a blessing.

Ecumenical accompaniers help people feel safer in Palestine and Israel

"The soldiers went away because you were watching.”

“I am able to herd my sheep near the military base because I feel safe in the presence of ecumenical accompaniers, and settler harassment is much less when you are around.”

“We feel safe when the ecumenical accompaniers are present.”

24 April 2023

Visiting communities in southern Türkiye from 4-6 April 2023, the delegation met with churches in Mersin, Iskenderun, and Antioch, including communities in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, Latin Catholics and others.

During solidarity visit to Türkiye, WCC and ACT Alliance witness great needs yet great collaboration: “the churches are all working together”

After returning from a solidarity visit to Türkiye, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and ACT Alliance general secretary Rudelmar Bueno de Faria appear in a video interview speaking about what they saw, how churches are working together, and their unique reflections on their visit—held 4-6 April—took place during western Holy Week.

13 April 2023

How to stop killer robots: Technology is outpacing diplomacy at UN talks

The year 2023 marks a decade of diplomatic debate about autonomous weapons – so-called ‘killer robots’. This decade has also seen accelerating development of such weapons systems in a number of countries. But efforts in the context of the Convention on Certain Conventional

05 April 2023