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A pastor testifies he was tortured in the Philippines

Claims made by the Philippines government to a good human rights track record "are utterly false", Rev. Berlin Guerrero told the United Nations Committee against Torture this week. A victim of torture himself, Guerrero said the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is "remiss in its responsibility to prevent torture".

Pacific church leaders debate displacement by climate change

The challenge of displacement caused by climate change was the focus of the Oikoumene Pasifika 2009, which took place in Nadi, Fiji in April 2009. Oikoumene Pasifika bring church leaders from the Pacific Conference of Churches together to reflect on crucial topics affecting the region. WCC staff contributed to this meeting with presentations on ecumenism and climate change. Church leaders adopted the Moana declaration on "Our Oikos - a new consciousness on climate change and our call to action" .

Pacific church leaders' statement

The challenge of resettlement because of Climate Change was the focus of the Oikoumene Pasifika 2009, which took place in Nadi, Fiji in April 2009. Oikoumene Pasifika bring church leaders from the Pacific Conference of Churches to reflect together on crucial topics affecting the region. WCC staff contributed to this meeting with presentations on Ecumenism and climate change. Church leaders adopted the Moana declaration on "Our Oikos - a new consciousness on climate change and our call to action".

Ecumenical movement

WCC demands release of Sri Lankan ecumenical official

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has urged the government of Sri Lanka to immediately release from detention Santha Fernando, an ecumenical official who has been under arrest for nearly a month.

Dalits' inner strength defeats caste-based discrimination

Caste-based discrimination in India may be 3,500 years old, but something new is unfolding. An emerging liberation movement has consciously chosen not to focus on Dalits' victimhood, but on the latent strength of the Dalit people, drawn from their own history and culture.

US president names WCC Central Committee member to White House panel

WCC Central Committee member Rev. Dr Sharon Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is among 25 religious and secular leaders and scholars appointed to US President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Also on the panel are the leaders of two WCC member churches -  Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church ; and the Rev. Dr. William J. Shaw, of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. - as well as the Rev. Peg Chemberlin, a Moravian clergywoman who is to become president of the National Council of Churches USA in 2010.