Search results

WCC climate work looks to unite a global voice on climate change, justice, food, and health

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) Climate Working Group meets this month, the advisory body is looking forward to offering the fruits of its work for reflection and, most important, action at the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe. Below, Rev. Henrik Grape, senior advisor on Care for Creation, Sustainability, and Climate Justice, reflects on climate justice work in the lead-up to the assembly and beyond.

16 August 2022

Pastorin Dr. Lydia Mwaniki spricht über feste Verwurzelung von Geschlechtergerechtigkeit – und Hoffnung für die Zukunft

Pastorin Dr. Lydia Mwaniki ist überzeugt, dass Gottes Ruf an sie, ihm zu dienen, sie schon vor ihrer Geburt erreichte, als sie noch im Mutterleib war. „Als meine Mutter im vierten Monat schwanger war und Feuerholz hackte, sagte sie zu Gott, ‚wenn du mir einen kleinen Jungen schenkst, wird er in deinem Haus dienen‘“.

15 August 2022

Rev. Dr Lydia Mwaniki reflects on deep roots of gender justice—and hope for the future

Rev. Dr Lydia Mwaniki believes her call from God to serve actually began when she was in her mother’s womb. “When my mother was four months pregnant and was splitting firewood, she said to God, ‘if you send me a baby boy, he will serve in your house."

11 August 2022

International seminar commemorates life of Dr Paulose Mar Gregorios

Opening an online international seminar commemorating the life of Dr Paulose Mar Gregorios, World Council of Churches (WCC) deputy general secretary Prof. Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri shared thoughts on his ecumenical contributions.

10 August 2022

Delegates and participants from African churches get ready for the WCC 11th Assembly

Over 100 delegates and participants to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly from African churches gathered virtually during an Africa region pre-assembly on 29-30 July to pray, share, discern, reflect and prepare for the assembly, which will be held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August-8 September.

04 August 2022

Women-Church-Leaders-meeting-18May2022 - 14.jpeg

Rev. Edna Navaya: “We’ll be able to transform the church”

Rev. Edna Navaya, is moderator of the Presbyterian-Blantyre Synod, Church of Central Africa, Malawi. She was among African women church leaders who gathered in May for an inaugural “Ecumenical Women’s Initiative for Leadership and Learning.” Below, she reflects on the path to becoming ordained, as well as the importance of gathering women leaders together to exchange ideas and share experiences.

04 August 2022

Students complete interreligious studies at Bossey, celebrate graduation

Twelve students who earned a Certificate in Advanced Studies in Interreligious Studies graduated from the Bossey Ecumenical Institute on 21 July, celebrating six weeks of thriving and learning together.

29 July 2022

Prof. Dr Sarojini Nadar: “I believe knowledge is power, and critical for justice work”

Prof. Dr Sarojini Nadar is director of the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, University of Western Cape, South Africa. Below, she reflects on outcomes from the inaugural “Ecumenical Women’s Initiative for Leadership and Learning” held in May.

28 July 2022

As conflicts continue in South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, Christian groups pray, highlight concerns

In South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the peace and reconciliation work of pastors, priests and lay Christians remains critical for the people, as the global church and ecumenical groups amplify their concerns over the complex but separate conflicts in the two African countries.

26 July 2022

Education, ambition, independence: Mathilda Johnson shares hope for her sisters in Africa

Mathilda Johnson is world vice president of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women. She also serves as lay president for the Methodist Church in The Gambia. Below, she reflects on her childhood, her top women’s issues, and her hope for her sisters in Africa.

20 July 2022

Women-Church-Leaders-meeting-18May2022 - 9.jpeg

Bishop Vicentia Kgabe: “It might sound cliche, but I had to learn to love God’s people”

When 16-year-old Vicentia Kgabe told her family she wanted to be a priest, they couldn’t understand why.

06 July 2022

GEM School grounds economic justice biblically

The first face-to-face GEM School held since 2019 has opened in Berlin, Germany, with a focus on ecological and feminist economics.

06 July 2022

A boy rings a bell to call students to class at the Jairos Jiri School in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Churches in Africa, disability organizations condemn smuggling of disabled children for begging

Churches in Africa and disabled persons organizations are condemning the use of disabled children as beggars and slaves, amid media reports of cross-border smuggling of the children between Kenya and Tanzania.

01 July 2022

African faiths launch climate change justice network

On 23 June, at a climate change consultation in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, African faith leaders launched a climate justice network to coordinate their work and increase visibility, as the first respondents to ecological crises at the grassroots.

24 June 2022

Boy looking out of the window of the train

As Europe feels the suffering of war, WCC Lutheran member churches share perspectives on war and peace

Sharing the concerns of World Council of Churches (WCC) Lutheran member churches around the world, a Lutheran confessional meeting took place during the recent central committee meeting at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva.

24 June 2022

WCC general secretary-elect Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay: “If we learn to trust the work of the Holy Spirit, we can find each other even through difficulties”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee elected Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay as the ninth general secretary at its 17 June meeting. Below, Pillay reflects on his longstanding passion for ecumenism and his expectations for the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe.

23 June 2022

Eastern African religious leaders urge Democratic Republic of Congo to embrace dialogue as means to resolve grievances

In a 21 June statement, religious leaders in eastern Africa released a statement on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They reaffirmed their commitment to peace, security and democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the eastern African community at large.

23 June 2022

Awaiting world church leaders, South Sudanese churches hold ecumenical prayers

At ecumenical prayers in the capital city, Juba, South Sudanese church leaders called for unity, peace, and reconciliation, as their nation continued to struggle with instability and conflict, a decade after independence.

20 June 2022