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Pacific Christians need to be assertive, WCC president says

As people from "a region which has experienced, and is experiencing, the effects of all the major issues that have affected the world," Pacific representatives need to be assertive "in bringing Pacific perspectives and experience into international forums," said the World Council of Churches (WCC) president from the Pacific region, Mr John Taroanui Doom, addressing participants at the 9th assembly of the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC).

Europe needs Christian unity "now more than ever," says Kobia

"Now more than ever, the unity of the churches in Europe is needed to bear witness to a future that transcends the vision of a common economic and political future, to embrace a future in which abundant life in Jesus Christ gives hope to all people, everywhere," said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, speaking in Sibiu, Romania on 5 September.

African women theologians address children issues

Orphans and vulnerable children are one focus of the 4th Pan African Conference hosted by the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 3-8 September 2007. Topics include sexual abuse, child-headed households, the role of faith based organizations in child care, and many more.

Joy and thanksgiving at release of Korean hostages

Kobia's letter was addressed to the general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea Rev. Kwon Oh-sung as the 19 remaining South Korean hostages, freed by the Taliban on Wednesday and Thursday after six weeks in captivity, were leaving Kabul for Dubai on Friday, 31 August. In his message, Kobia also conveys the assurance of "continued prayer and concern on the part of Christians in every part of the world" to the "families and friends of the two hostages who lost their lives". The WCC general secretary met with relatives of the hostages on his recent visit to South Korea. He had earlier invited the Council's member churches to pray for "a peaceful end" to the crisis and the release of the hostages. Letter to the general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Korea: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=4136 See also our previous press releases: - meeting with the hostages' families: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/all-news-english/displ… - call to pray: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/all-news-english/displ…

Pacific churches are signs of hope amidst new challenges

Churches in the Pacific become "signs of hope" as they "bear witness to the Gospel and work together to address the issues that most concern the peoples of the region," World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said in a message sent to the 9th assembly of the Pacific Conference of Churches.

Kobia honoured by Kenya's ecumenical family

WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has been appointed chancellor of St. Paul's University, Limuru, Kenya. The board of trustees thereby expressed their appreciation for Kobia's position "within the ecumenical family in Kenya and beyond", as well as his "vast experience within the church" and contribution to the university.

Six countries' churches as watchdog for Six Party Talks

A proposal for a parallel meeting of churches from nations involved in the Six Party Talks on the Korean peninsula was endorsed by a broad range of churches over the weekend at a conference in Seoul celebrating the centenary of the Korean Great Revival of 1907 and exploring the churches' role in bringing peace to the divided nation.

100 years of prayer for Christian unity

Churches throughout the world are preparing for next year's Week of prayer for Christian unity which will mark the 100th anniversary of the event. Worship resources in four languages have already been put at their disposal on the website of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

WCC internship programme 2008

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will welcome five young people (aged 18-30 years) to serve as interns in its Geneva offices from February 2008 to January 2009. Interns bring valuable experiences to the WCC at the same time as they undertake several modules of ecumenical learning.

Korean hostages in Afghanistan: Renewed call to prayer

The killing of a second Korean Christian hostage in Afghanistan has led the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) to make an urgent call for prayer among the "entire ecumenical community around the world [...] that the killings of innocent people may stop and that these hostages may safely return to their families."

Patriarch Teoctist: prominent Christian leader, sincere and good promoter of ecumenical relations

Expressing "great sorrow" at the news of the death of His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist, head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, who passed away on Monday, 30 July 2007, at the age of 92, the World Council of Churches' (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia paid the following tribute to "a beloved father of his people, a prominent Christian leader of our times and a committed friend of the ecumenical movement".

Solidarity visit to Palestine/Israel - In pictures

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia and an ecumenical delegation visited member churches and Christian communities in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel from 21-26 June. Taking place immediately after the launch of the WCC-sponsored Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum in Amman, Jordan, the visit aimed to express worldwide church solidarity with the churches in the Holy Land. It also intended to convey concern for the future of both peoples affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Four photo stories about the visit have just been published on the WCC website's photo gallery section .