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Registration open for 11th Annual Symposium on Religion and International Affairs

The World Council of Churches (WCC), in collaboration with UN agencies and interfaith partners, invites global faith-based actors, civil society leaders, policymakers, and international affairs experts to register for the 11th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs, to be held on hybrid mode in New York City on 3 April.

Conference will focus on “Berlin 1884-1885 and Anti-Black Racism: In search of a shared Anti-Racist Ecumenical Vision”

A conference from 17-21 May in Berlin will invite global ecumenists to intentionally engage the outcomes of the Berlin conference in 1884-85, develop a response to the historic and continuing legacies of colonization, and collectively re-envision a de-colonial Africa in a concrete Anti-Racist Ecumenical Action Plan for Decolonization and Reparations.”

WCC makes pilgrimage to Cape Coast and Elmina castles in Ghana

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Reference Group on Overcoming Racism, Xenophobia, Casteism, and all other forms of Discrimination, went on a pilgrimage to historic castles in Elmina and Cape Coast, in Ghana—a visit that exposed the magnitude of sinful injustice perpetuated by European empires and kingdoms on Africans for centuries and whose legacies continue to afflict Africans and people of African Descent around the world. 

Seminar addresses decolonising the Bible

A seminar entitled The word of God is living and active: Decolonising the Bible in the midst of colonial legacies and idolatrous powers” was cohosted on 18-24 November, by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and University of the Western Cape.

Caribbean Rising . . .

On a Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace

This multi-author publication reflects the rhythm of Caribbean orature and storytelling of the many peoples that inhabited the region who brought with them their own expressions of faith.
In the foreword, WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay writes, “It is only natural that when the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace was envisaged by the 2013 WCC assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea, it would be unpacked in the Caribbean region through a decolonial lens. While this project was initiated under the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, its publication at this time serves as a bridge between the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace and the ongoing Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. . .  Caribbean Rising embodies the hope of a new day in the ecumenical movement which affirms that all o’ we is one family. This volume is an overture from the people of the Caribbean to the fellowship of churches in the WCC today. . .. Both globally and locally, Caribbean theologians and church leaders have influenced the ecumenical movement profoundly. This includes the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) involvement in decolonisation and combatting racism.”

Anti-Racist Churches

Ecumenical Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia, and Anti-Discrimination Contextual Bible Studies
Eric Nii Bortey Anum
Masiiwa Ragies Gunda

God’s created world is today groaning under the burdens that God’s creation has had to carry for centuries, caused by our appetite to consume. The spirit of uninhibited consumption led to the exploitation of creation, the enslavement of peoples, the colonization of lands and peoples and the wanton extraction and exploitation of natural resources from far and wide. Entire groups of people have been racially exploited. The World Council of Churches acknowledges that even faith communities, including some of its member churches and their members, have participated and contributed to the many cases of racially motivated exploitation, past and present. <p>

The World Council of Churches stands in solidarity with victims and survivors of racism, xenophobia, casteism, and all other forms of discrimination. Through this booklet, the WCC offers Christian communities a resource to develop biblically-based Christian responses to overcome these scourges.

Anti-Bias Churches

An Ecumenical Anti-(Un)Conscious Bias Toolkit
Dr Elaine Brown Spencer
Dr Masiiwa Ragies Gunda

Unlearning—Undoing—Relearning— Redoing

Unconscious biases and microaggressions are being experienced by many people in society, as well as in faith communities. Faith-based and related workplaces are not immune to these attitudes and practices. While significant investment has gone into mitigating conscious biases, racism, xenophobia, casteism and discrimination, the impact of unconscious biases and microaggressions are equally destructive. This toolkit invites and challenges Christians to intentionally invest in mitigating unconscious biases and microaggressions by employing a diversity, equity and inclusion lens in policies, practices and programming. Inclusive cultures in community and workplaces are more desirable and Christ-like.

"Human Rights in Indonesia” side event addressed crises in West Papua

A side event to the 57th UN Human Rights Council entitled “Human Rights in West Papua,” hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and partner organizations on 1 October, addressed the dire human rights situation in the Papuan provinces of Indonesia, with ongoing violations that include extra-judicial killings, internal displacement due to armed conflict, restrictions on civil liberties, and a growing number of cases of land grabbing.