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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

WCC central committee makes global appeal for response to needs in Ethiopia, Horn of Africa

In a public statement, the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee expressed grave concern for the people of Ethiopia and urged churches and organizations everywhere to answer urgent needs with humanitarian aid.

17 June 2022

Act on food crisis now, urges WHO special envoy at WCC-led meeting

The world faces a global crisis on food exacerbated and brought to the fore by the war in Ukraine, but humanity can and must take remedial steps in economic and climate justice, a World Council of Churches-led meeting has heard.

27 May 2022

A woman carries the Bible into a Catholic Mass

Visit to Sudan highlights importance of strengthening solidarity with churches

The churches of Sudan – and especially the Sudan Council of Churches as their ecumenical forum – have suffered from a serious lack of attention and support by international ecumenical partners since the separation of South Sudan in 2011.

29 April 2022

Members of the ecumenical solidarity visit to Sudan

Ecumenical solidarity visit encourages cooperation between churches and people of Sudan

To accompany the churches and people of Sudan in the midst of significant changes and challenges in the country, a delegation of World Council of Churches (WCC) along with its ecumenical partners is undertaking an ecumenical solidarity visit to Sudan.

22 April 2022

Man dressed in Orthodox religious garb speaking at podium.

Fr Ioan Sauca: “God is on the side of those who are suffering”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has, since the first day of the war in Ukraine and even in the months before, been working and praying earnestly for peace in this conflict and throughout the world. From the beginning, the WCC has called for an immediate end to armed hostilities, to stop the war and has appealed also for an immediate end to indiscriminate attacks with an escalating impact on civilians in Ukraine. WCC News met online with the WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca to get the latest update on the work of the WCC.

14 April 2022

Christian Association of Nigeria calls for more security after lethal attack on train

After an armed gang in northern Nigeria killed eight people, injured two dozen more, and abducted some of the 400 passengers on a train, the Christian Association of Nigeria repeated demands for greater government security.

14 April 2022

WCC expresses deep concern over worsening security situation in Nigeria

World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed deep concern about the worsening security situation in Nigeria, and the impact on the people and churches of the country.

18 February 2022

A young boy holds the palms of his hands together by his face in prayer. Other school children look on.

South Sudan ecumenical leader: Don’t give up on war-torn country

An ecumenical leader in South Sudan has appealed to the world not to give up on his country, which during the first decade of its independence has repeatedly slid backward into political and ethnic violence.

19 January 2022

African man wearing a black medical face mask stands in front of a poster at a museum.

Rev. Frank Chikane: “You can’t do unity at the expense of justice”

When Rev. Frank Chikane was leading the South African Council of Churches in calling out injustices of the apartheid system, their work did not stop even after the council’s office building was bombed to the ground in 1980s. Moderating the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches (WCC) since 2016, Rev. Chikane has been engaged in addressing injustices in many parts of the world. WCC Communication asked Rev. Chikane to look back at his term at the commission and the ongoing calling of churches to address injustices in the world today.

13 January 2022

View over Johannesburg, South Africa, with jacarandas blooming.

Engagement in international affairs has enabled churches to take a firm stand against injustices

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) has facilitated churches’ engagement in a wide range of critical issues of the world since the last WCC Assembly in Busan, concluded the 58th meeting of the WCC CCIA, gathering church representatives in Johannesburg and online in the 75th anniversary year of the Commission’s creation.

15 November 2021

The smoke of a controlled explosion destroying weapons, carried out by "Transforming Guns into Hoes" in Mozambique

'Sad' situation in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado discussed at ecumenical conference that urges international action

The northern Mozambique province of Cabo Delgado was summed up by Rev. Arnold Temple, bishop emeritus in the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone, as "a sad story.”

05 November 2021

Prayer services for South Africa will call for unity, mark Nelson Mandela’s birthday

On 18 July, prayer services in South Africa will mark Nelson Mandela’s birthday and will also be an opportunity to pray for unity.

The Religious Forum Against COVID-19 has elected to observe the day in both a nationally broadcast prayer service as well as observing 67 minutes of prayer that evening.

16 July 2021

Rev. Fr James Oyet Latansio, general secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches.

World’s newest nation has ‘little to celebrate’ ten years after independence, says South Sudan Council of Churches head

South Sudan came into existence ten years ago this week, but there is little to celebrate for the world's newest nation, Rev. Fr James Oyet Latansio, general secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches.

15 July 2021

South African Council of Churches appeals for calm in the midst of looting

A 12 July statement from the South African Council of Churches notes with deep concern the violence and destruction of property that is engulfing the nation. “This violence is resulting in untold suffering,” the statement reads.

13 July 2021

Churches are protective pillar for children and women, say Christian women leaders in Nigeria

As children and women in Nigeria become targets of rising insecurity and violence, churches are moving to offer support to the victims, while amplifying their voice against the challenge, according to senior Christian women leaders in the West African nation.

08 July 2021

President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and his wife in the Uppsala cathedral

WCC mourns passing of Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s founding president

Zambia’s founding president, Kenneth Kaunda, passed away at the age of 97. He led his country for 27 years and championed Africa's struggles against apartheid and HIV.

22 June 2021

Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, retired Roman Catholic archbishop emeritus of Abuja, Nigeria,

Nigeria cardinal says the country is still viable, despite overwhelming security challenges

The “Nigeria Project” is both viable and desirable, despite a security crisis overwhelming the West African nation, said Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, retired Roman Catholic archbishop emeritus of Abuja.

18 June 2021