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Tribute to Prof. Charles Birch (1918 - 2009)

The WCC general secretary paid tribute to Prof. Charles Birch, who recently died. Charles Birch was courageous and prophetic in using his knowledge and enormous gifts as an eminent biologist and a theologian.

WCC concerned about anti-homosexual bill in Uganda

The WCC general secretary, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, wrote a letter to Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, saying that the WCC was "saddened and distressed to receive the news from Uganda regarding a proposed law against homosexual individuals [...], which also proposes the death penalty to be meted to homosexual individuals who are HIV positive".

Work on fair, ambitious climate deal is not done yet, says WCC

"The present day reality shows that our sincere efforts have not been enough to bring in the age of social justice and peace," according to a statement delivered to the plenary of high-level segment of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on Friday, 18 December on behalf of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and its ecumenical partners.

WCC Christmas video in many languages

This year's Christmas message from the World Council of Churches (WCC) is available in 17 languages reflecting the linguistic diversity of the WCC member churches: Arabic , Chinese , Dutch , English , Finnish , French , Georgian , German , Greek , Korean , Norwegian , Portuguese , Romanian , Russian , Samoan , Spanish and Kiswahili .

Wanted: peace workshop proposals

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has invited the submission of workshop proposals for the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) to take place in Jamaica in May 2011. Proposals must be submitted by 31 May 2010.

Negotiators at sputtering climate talks must "act now"

With the climate change negotiations sputtering and showing signs of being less than legally binding, ambitious and fair, leaders of churches and international church organizations sent a message to negotiators Tuesday evening imploring them to "not be afraid." The letter, which was signed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the incoming and outgoing general secretaries of the World Council of Churches as well as church leaders from Europe, North America and the Pacific, says the negotiations are at a crucial stage and negotiators need to be steadfast to "act now."

Tourism must change, says ecumenical coalition

"The global tourism industry is a significant contributor to climate change," the Ecumenical Coalition On Tourism (ECOT) has said in a statement calling for a paradigm shift in this "sprawling industry ever in search of new destinations, including some to replace those threatened or disappearing due to global warming".

Presbyterian Church in Nigeria to "preach water"

"The gospel in the 21 st century has gone beyond just preaching and evangelization. The Church must reach out to the poor, sick and thirsty like Jesus did, extending the love of Christ through every possible way", said Rev. Okechukwu Kalu Iro, national director of the Presbyterian Community Services and Development, during the inauguration of the churches’ new Preach Water Foundation on Sunday, 6 December in Lagos, Nigeria.

Bells ring a wake-up call for climate justice

As a wave of ringing bells embraced the globe, churches sent a strong message to world leaders gathered at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen: There is only one world and in order to preserve it, bold action needs to be taken now.

Churches advocate for religious minorities' rights in Turkey

An international ecumenical delegation visiting Turkey at the end of November has encouraged the country's authorities to improve the situation of religious minorities. The exercise of religious freedom, the legal status of churches, including property issues, and the right to religious education were on the agenda.

Theological education, seedbed for churches' renewal

Proper theological education is of strategic importance for the future of Christianity. So is ecumenical formation for the future of the ecumenical movement, according to a world report on the future of theological education.

Samuel Kobia pays tribute to the legacy of Lesslie Newbigin

The Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has honoured the memory of Lesslie Newbigin on the eve of what would have been the late bishop's 100th birthday. In the final Ecumenical Centre chapel sermon he will preach prior to the end of his term as WCC general secretary, Dr Kobia celebrated Newbigin as "an admirable ecumenist" with an "enthusiasm for crossing cultural boundaries". The author of such works as "Can the West be Saved?", "The Other Side of 1984" and "The Gospel in a Pluralist Society", Newbigin is widely read and admired in ecumenical and evangelical circles.

Orthodox and Catholic leader met

Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania , leader of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania and one of the eight presidents of the World Council of Churches, met Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on 4 December 2009.