Search results

Letter

Greetings to the Methodist Church of Aotearoa New Zealand on celebration of 200 years

Greetings to the Methodist Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, celebrating 200 years during a Bicentenary Methodist Conference from World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca.

17 November 2022

General Secretary

Statement: public statement

Statement on Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

‘Behold I create new heavens in which life, justice and peace are possible for all’.
(Isaiah 65:17-25)

Indigenous Peoples are created with God-given identities that are beautiful. God was present in their lands and among their peoples before colonizers arrived. When Christians brought the Bible, Indigenous People recognized the voice of their Creator in Jesus’ teachings. They did not hear a call to reject their identities.

16 September 2022

Assembly

From hostility to hospitality: Closing prayers at Karlsruhe

“The audacity to love as Christ loves,” said the Rt. Rev. Joy Evelyn Abdul-Mohan, is “an imperative, not an option” for churches in today’s world. “When we have our agenda inclusive of all, for the benefit of all, then the cooperation and the commitment of all will be assured, and Christ’s audacious love will become more real to us.”

09 September 2022

Tahiti holds ashes in his hand as he reads from scripture

Island nations and churches provide leadership in prayers concerning the climate crisis

The groaning of a Creation awaiting renewal provided context for ecumenical common prayer at the 11^th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Karlsruhe, Germany on the morning of Monday 5 September. The theme for morning prayers was “Christ’s love means compassion for life”.

05 September 2022

Pacific Islanders in kava ceremony meeting

Regional perspectives brought to the 11th Assembly

Participants of the World Council of Churches’(WCC) 11^th Assembly had the opportunity to meet and share with others from their regions on Friday, September 2. The format and discussions of the eight regions demonstrated the diversity of cultures from Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America, and Pacific – and ranged from the issues they wished to make visible in the assembly to regional representation on committees and the election of the WCC presidents.

05 September 2022

Women with disabilities want to belong in churches

The Rev. Mary Chipoka, 37, ordained pastor from Zimbabwe, faces much adversity because of her gender, and because she is deaf.

31 August 2022

Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima is one of the vice-moderators of the WCC Central Committee.

WCC deeply mourns loss of leader Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is deeply mourning the loss of Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima, vice moderator of the WCC central committee.

02 June 2022

Bible studies

11th Assembly Bible study - Transfiguration

Part of a series of Bible studies in preparation for the WCC 11th Assembly, this eighth text was written by Tamsyn Kereopa, a PhD candidate with the University of Otago, New Zealand.

22 December 2021

Rev. Iliesa Naivalu with his wife Ani Naivalu

WCC mourns loss of Rev. Illesa Naivalu, general secretary, Methodist Church of Fiji

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is mourning the death of Rev. Illesa Naivalu, general secretary, Methodist Church of Fiji.

21 December 2021

WCC assembly delegates will have increasing roles in prayer cycle

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) continues its prayer cycle, WCC 11th Assembly delegates can expect to have increasingly larger roles in prayers and reflections. This trend will begin the week of 15 November, when the ecumenical prayer cycle focuses on the people and churches of Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

12 November 2021

Interview

Pacific islands in peril, local churches' leader stresses before COP26

The Pacific islands are in grave danger and at the frontline of global climate change, so that is why the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, known as COP26, in Glasgow is so important for islanders, says Rev. James Bhagwan. He is general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, a Methodist minister based in Fiji, and visited Geneva on his way to COP26, in Scotland's biggest city, Glasgow, from 31 October to 12 November.

26 October 2021

WCC mourns passing of Most Rev. Fereimi Cama, bishop of Polynesia and primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is mourning the death of Most Rev. Fereimi Cama, bishop of Polynesia and primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Cama was also a trustee of the Pacific Conference of Churches.

05 July 2021

Letter

WCC's letter of condolences at the passing of the Most Rev. Fereimi Cama

WCC's letter of condolences at the passing of the Most Rev. Fereimi Cama, the bishop of Polynesia and Primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and a trustee of the Pacific Conference of Churches.

05 July 2021

General Secretary

Statement: public statement

Joint Interfaith Statement on the Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

As the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force on 22 January, the World Council of Churches joined other global faith communities in welcoming the groundbreaking moment. A joint statement endorsed by 156 organizations celebrated the milestone and, at the same time, noted that there is urgent work yet to be done to ensure a nuclear weapons-free world.

22 January 2021

Commission on International Affairs

Morning Prayer for Friday, 13 November 2020

Eternal God, direct our lives today and every day to just and peaceful action...

With the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we pray for the churches and people of Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Today's order of prayer also includes material published by the World YWCA and World YMCA for their World Week of Prayer and World Fellowship.

13 November 2020

Morning Prayer for Thursday, 12 November 2020

God of travellers, migrants and refugees...

12 November 2020

Dear Loving Lord, Creator of all, you created us all in your own image, one image - many colours, one image - many cultures. You made us come together like a rainbow, separate parts but coming together in one creation. Help us to see the beauty you have created in each and every one of us. Dear Loving Lord, we are your creation, hear the cries of your people. You gave us ears to hear and eyes to see, open our eyes to what you want us to see, help us always to look to you to see the wisdom of your way

Morning Prayer for Wednesday, 11 November 2020

10 November 2020

God of growth and discovery, yours is the inspiration that has altered and changed our lives; yours is the power that has brought us to new dangers and opportunities. Set us, your new creation, to walk through this new world, watching and learning, loving and trusting, until your kingdom comes. Amen

Morning Prayer for Tuesday, 10 November 2020

09 November 2020

Advocacy report

We have gathered as God’s people We gather in the name of Triune God. We have gathered as followers of Jesus – the Life, the Truth, the Way. We joyfully answer the invitation of our Lord – come follow me. We have gathered as Holy Spirit-led people. Come now, O Spirit Divine, lead us and fill us today.

Morning Prayer for Monday, 9 November 2020

With the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we pray for the churches and people of Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Today's morning prayer also reflects the World Week of Prayer and World Fellowship organized by the World YWCA and World YMCA.

09 November 2020