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HIV—the ongoing challenge to churches and church leaders—

Almost thirty-five years after the advent of HIV and AIDS, churches, church bodies and church leaders are developing competence in handling the enormous personal, communal, cultural and religious dimensions of the epidemic. Yet the challenge is ongoing and global. While the rate of new infections is declining in Africa, for example, it is on the rise in Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Report of the International Consultation "Towards an Ecumenical Advocacy on Rights of Stateless People", organized by World Council of Churches / Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, 27 February - 1 March 2013 in Washington D.C., U.S.A

“Receiving one another in the name of Christ”—

In the time and spirit of the Second Vatican Council, in 1965 a joint working group between the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches was inaugurated. It has served as a catalyst to fruitful collaborations between the two bodies, supported the ecumenical endeavours of each other, and launched special projects of its own.

The essential writings of Philip A. Potter, a charismatic and visionary ecumenist. Includes key writings, many previously unpublished pieces and a complete bibliography and extensive biographical materials

A pivotal figure in the ecumenical movement and in world Christianity during the last 50 years, Philip Potter brought charismatic personality, moral energy and prophetic insight to his leadership of the World Council of Churches in a time of religious and socio-political turmoil.

The global phenomenon of migration—with more than 200 million people now living away from their countries of origin—poses tremendous personal, cultural, economic, and religious challenges. How can Christians and Christian churches best understand and respond to migration? What changes and challenges do today’s migrations signify for the churches themselves? AVAILABLE JMARCH 2015

“An economy of life is not only possible, it is in the making, and justice lies at its foundation.” — PWE Call for Action The enormous economic changes of recent years have highlighted problematic aspects and disturbing trends in our prevailing economic system. It will never be able to eradicate poverty nor safeguard God’s wondrous creation.

This slim volume chronicles the important work that the World Council of Churches has undertaken to understand the crucial connections between poverty, wealth and ecology. It also proposes ways to bring about a just, participatory and sustainable economic system, in which all human beings, other living creatures and our planetary home are cared for. Written for churches and the ecumenical family, it is designed to enable them to address these critical issues in their life and work as an imperative of faith.

In an age of global threats to human health—including, most devastatingly, HIV and AIDS—it is time for Christians to ask: what is the role of faith in healing?

Despite the presumption that baptism is the basic bond of unity between the churches, the path toward mutual recognition remains a long one. Here is a brief yet authoritative guide to the historical, theological, and practical issues involved.

Despite their largely pacifist origins, Christianity and Christian traditions can claim only limited success in their efforts to conciliate conflict, avoid violence, and stop war. Perhaps it is time, say the eminent contributors to this deeply reflective volume, to look at Eastern and Oriental traditions, to the very different perspectives of Orthodox Christian on issues of war, peace, and the justice that must undergird peace.

While known for their robust ecclesiology and rich doctrinal and liturgical identity, the Orthodox churches have not strongly advanced political theology. Yet, for our time of momentous change and tumult, maintains Pantelis Kalaitzidis, such a vision is crucial. For the first time, here is a careful analytical assessment, well informed by historical insights, of the theological stance and public witness of the Orthodox churches in the political arena.

In this inaugural volume of the Doxa & Praxis series, esteemed theologian Kallistos Ware examines the future questions and concerns that await Orthodox Christianity and especially its theological reflection.

In an age of feel-good Christianity, it is perhaps counter-intuitive to stress the cross of Jesus, let alone to insist that it is the indispensable key to Christianity’s global future.
Yet, far from hiding in rosy scenarios of global peace and Christian unity, Olav Fykse Tveit here lifts up the cross—with its promise of suffering and contradiction—not only as a sign of personal reconciliation with God but also as the call, the challenge, and the agent of effective ecumenical Christian witness in the world today.

How can two traditions which seem so different begin to understand each other and find common ground? Is it possible for Orthodox and Evangelical Christians to move from competition to co-operation and mutual respect? What are the key theological issues between them?

"This book distils the theological counsel of a pioneering thinker."—S. Mark Heim

Modern ecumenism often traces its roots back to the 1910 World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh. "Celebrating a Century of Ecumenism" brings readers up to date on one hundred years of global dialogue between many different church traditions, including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Orthodox, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Oriental Orthodox, and more. Eighteen essays by authors representing a wide spectrum of denominational interests outline the achievements of this movement toward unity.

The historic ecumenical journey of the Commission on Faith and Order towards the goal of visible unity in one faith and in one eucharistic fellowship led them to the island of Crete in 2009 and to a fresh appreciation of many facets—historical, doctrinal, social, spiritual—of what it means to be called to be one Church today.

This stimulating volume gathers a rich array of presentations and reports from the Crete meeting, focused especially on the doctrine of the Church and the changing shape of the “visible unity” that Christians seek. Chief among its study projects, and the central focus of this volume, is rethinking the nature and mission of the Church in light of new contextual insights from around the world, deeper appreciation of the early Church’s ecclesial legacy, and highlighting the prophetic and missional roles of the Church today.

Shoki Coe was a pastor of the Taiwan Presbyterian Church who grew up in Japanese-occupied Taiwan and went on to become a champion of Taiwanese democracy, a pioneer of Asian theology, and an advocate of Christianity in the global south. This is his story, well researched and engagingly written by Jonah Chang.

The Just Peace Companion is a guide for individuals and groups to come together around the notion and practice of Just Peace, a holistic approach to peacemaking and social justice.

Churches and the ecumenical Christian community have been intensely involved in environmental issues and climate change. As the scientific community has come to consensus and public disputes have raged, the churches, church leaders, and the WCC have insisted that the ecological crisis is also, and fundamentally, an ethical and spiritual one. David Hallman’s brief, classic text speaks directly to these deeper issues and is here made available in an updated edition.

The prophetic potential of global Christianity— Spanning the continents, three internationally respected theologians here demonstrate how the thought and legacy of Martin Luther can serve in an ecumenical and interfaith context as a resource for a radical yet helpful critique of global economics and contemporary culture.