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The 5th Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Climate Justice from Poland to Glasgow crossed the English Channel from IJmuiden in the Netherlands to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England on 11 October. They were given a warm welcome on site. 

Auch wenn sie ihren Beruf und ihren Job liebt, wäre Bischöfin Sofie Petersen manchmal wirklich lieber anderswo als in ihrem kleinen gemütlichen Bischofsbüro in Nuuk (Grönland). Am liebsten wäre sie dann draußen in der Natur, würde gerne die frische arktische Luft einatmen und die bezaubernde Landschaft bewundern, in der gewaltige Eisbären umherstreifen und mächtige Wale majestätisch die frostigen Küstengewässer voller Eisschollen durchpflügen.

Although she loves what she is doing, there are times when bishop Sofie Petersen feels a strong desire to be someplace else than inside her cosy diocesan office in Nuuk, Greenland. Preferably outdoors, inhaling crisp, arctic air in a stunningly beautiful landscape where mighty polar bears roam and huge whales gently plough their way through the ice-scattered waters along the coastline.

Aunque le encanta lo que hace, hay momentos en los que la obispa Sofie Petersen siente el fuerte deseo de estar en un lugar distinto a su acogedora oficina diocesana de Nuuk (Groenlandia). Preferiblemente al aire libre, inhalando el frío aire del Ártico ante un paisaje asombrosamente bello donde vagan imponentes osos polares y enormes ballenas se abren paso lentamente a lo largo de la costa entre las aguas cubiertas de casquetes de hielo.

Même si elle aime ce qu’elle fait, il y a des moments où l’évêque Sofie Petersen a le désir impérieux de se trouver ailleurs que dans son confortable bureau diocésain à Nuuk, au Groenland. De préférence dehors, inhalant l’air vif de l’Arctique dans un paysage d’une beauté époustouflante où de puissants ours polaires déambulent et d’immenses baleines tracent leur route paisiblement entre les plaques de glace le long de la côte.

When he was asked last year to take over as vicar in the parish of Ilulissat, on Greenland’s west coast, Loqqi Fleischer was a bit anxious about how the transition from his smaller hometown Uummannaq, further north along the coastline, would work out. Nevertheless, he took on the challenge and was warmly welcomed right away in the new environment.

It is midnight and the sun just about hides for a little while beneath the horizon. The calm sea is scattered with icebergs in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Some are like five-story buildings, with vertical sharp-edged walls rising high above the surface. Others are more like snow-capped hilltops, slowly ploughing through the blank water.

In Grönland ist Konfirmationszeit. In den Kirchen im Land werden die Bankreihen im Kirchenschiff mit Blumen und Kerzen geschmückt. Eine freudige Erwartung ist zu spüren, und für die große Mehrheit der 14-jährigen ist die Zeit gekommen, ihre christliche Taufe bestätigen zu lassen.

It is confirmation season in Greenland. In churches across the country, bench rows are decorated with flowers and candles along the aisle. Joy is in the air and it is time for a vast majority of 14-year-olds to have their Christian baptism confirmed.

Es la temporada de confirmaciones en Groenlandia. En las iglesias de todo el país, los bancos de las iglesias están decorados con flores y velas a lo largo del pasillo central. La alegría se respira en el aire, pues ha llegado el momento de que la gran mayoría de jóvenes de 14 años confirme su bautismo cristiano.

C’est la saison des confirmations au Groenland. Dans les églises du pays, les rangs de bancs sont décorés de fleurs et de bougies le long de l’allée centrale. Il y a de la joie dans l’air et il est temps, pour une grande majorité des jeunes de 14 ans de voir leur baptême chrétien confirmé.

In Greenland, travel by either air or boat is the conventional – and only – way of getting from place to place. The distances between populated areas scattered along the rugged coastline of the world’s largest island are long and there are no roads connecting cities and settlements. Neither railways nor inland waterways exist and some rural areas can only be reached by helicopter. In winter, dog-sled is an alternative, particularly in the north and east.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has helped lead the formation of the first-ever working group on water and climate action in the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD).

On 26 July at the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, there was a marked change in colour at the Interfaith Networking Zone. It was Thursday, and from morning prayers to the evening informal networking, the theme was “black”.

Every two years, the International AIDS Conference provides scientists with a venue to announce new discoveries in how HIV is diagnosed and treated. This year, the 23-27 July conference, held in Amsterdam, was no exception.

Faith-based organizations have been at the forefront of calls to accelerate HIV testing and treatment for children and adolescents. As gaps in infection and treatment between adults and children have become more apparent, there are now more concerted efforts to “super fast-track” services for children. But will they be enough?

A symbolic bridge, carefully constructed over a two-day interfaith conference, connects an interfaith networking zone with a space shared with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS and Unitaid at the Global Village of the International AIDS Conference 2018.

“Science is important. But social change is needed, and social change happens with faith–based organizations.”