In a joint message on gender-based violence, sexual abuse, and faith communities, 26 World Council of Churches (WCC) Thursdays in Black ambassadors lament that the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence continues unabated—and call on faith communities to prevent such violence in their own spaces.
As Brazilian artist Janine Marja Schneider pieces together the “Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance” tapestry, she brings mixed emotions to her endeavors. On one hand, she’s inspired to bring the stories of women from around the world to life on the colorful blocks that cascade downward like liquid. On the other hand, with every stitch, she more deeply absorbs what brings these women together: it’s what they’ve survived.
There are 181 blocks—and every single one tells a story. Arranged in colorful strips that flow like liquid, they will gently move when people pass by them at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe.
Nine translations are now available for the publication “Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity: A reflection on the theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, Karlsruhe 2022.”
The World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee, in a public statement, called upon WCC member churches and ecumenical partners “to condemn or reiterate their condemnation of sexual and gender-based violence and of any form of violence against women, children and vulnerable people; to declare such rejection of the equal dignity of all people and such violence a sin; and to implement guidelines for the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.”
During a blessing of a peace quilt received as a gift from the women of the Mennonite World Conference, the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee affirmed its commitment to pray for and advocate for an end to gender-based violence.
A newly released volume, “Transformative Spiritualities for the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace,” provides a selection of reflections from indigenous perspectives to women’s voices, from black communities ́ to campesino/as ́ struggles, from specific Christian traditions to sister faiths.
As the World Council of Churches’ first substantial digital publication and its largest free collection, the Faith and Order Papers open a new frontier for scholars, ecumenists, and anyone interested in traversing the twists and turns of the path towards Christian unity.
The joint publication of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and ACT Alliance, offering resources to strengthen the diaconal capacity of the churches and to advance cooperation with their ecumenical partners, will be presented online on 9 June at 15.00 CET.
Eighteen Thursdays in Black ambassadors gathered on 12 May to discuss how to build on the momentum of many creative efforts across the world to move toward a world free from rape and violence.
As the World Council of Churches (WCC) fellowship prepares for the WCC 11th Assembly to be held in Karlsruhe, they also expressed their wish to prepare for the spiritual life and experience of the assembly.
Do you love languages? Do you believe that everyone should be able to use their own language to share and access knowledge and information, and share their concerns — online and offline? And are you willing to share your translation skills to help bridge the internet's linguistic divide?
If you do, we invite you to join and volunteer your translation skills to the "100 Languages in 100 Days Challenge."
After the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee, during its February meeting, approved a set of Gender Justice Principles, the WCC’s work of implementation is just beginning. The principles clearly define the WCC’s own approach to gender justice and apply to WCC staff, governing bodies, commissions, and reference groups. The WCC executive committee will review and evaluate implementation of the principles.
A new publication from WCC, “Coexistence: Peace, Nature, Poverty, Terrorism, Values (Religious Perspectives)” by Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, is now available in hard copy and as an eBook.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has set a deadline of 1 June for receiving quilt patches that will become part of a "Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance" tapestry for display at the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe.
Our series of interviews with Thursdays in Black ambassadors highlights those who are playing a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Marcelo D. Leites is general secretary of the World Student Christian Federation.
During a Women’s Pilgrim Team Visit held on 8 March—International Women’s Day—women from North America and other parts of the globe continued to explore the theme “Stony the Road: Women’s Voices of Faith, Courage, Resistance & Resilience.”
The visit was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in collaboration with the National Council of Churches (USA).
In the lead-up to International Women’s Day, World Council of Churches (WCC) deputy general secretary Prof. Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri offered reflections on “Women, Pain and Resilience from the African and ecumenical perspective.” The webinar, held on 4 March, was organized by the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
For each assembly, the central committee submits an accountability report, describing and offering an assessment of the activities of the WCC between the assemblies; in this case, since the 10th Assembly, in Busan, Republic of Korea, in late 2013.