Search results

Children deliver rallying cry to Summit for a New Global Financing Pact: “replace the existing colonial economic model”

Children who gathered prior and during the New Global Financial Pact, held 22-23 June in Paris, delivered a clear message to President Macron and world leaders: the existing colonial economic model must be replaced with one that prioritizes humanity over profits.

06 July 2023

Boy lays out the framework for the roof in circles

WCC reaffirms importance of diaconal service and mission

Rev. Matthew Ross, who served as WCC programme executive for Diakonia and Capacity Building from 2018-2023, reflects on how the document “Called to Transformation – Ecumenical Diakonia,” which he edited, is being received in ways that affirm the importance of diaconal service and mission.

04 July 2023

Climate change comes under churches' microscope as a justice issue

The climate emergency is already causing serious food insecurity on a global scale, members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee heard at a plenary session on 23 June—and they added that climate justice is a matter of both faith and action.

24 June 2023

What a woman!

These words described the dreams of the kind of woman a young woman aspires to be, illustrated by moving images of women’s involvement in the history of the ecumenical movement. This performance poem was just part of an inspiring meeting of the women of the ecumenical movement that were present at the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee meeting on 22 June.

23 June 2023

Water pours from a faucet into a person's hands

Human rights advocates celebrate democratic control of water in Nigeria

After a years-long battle against proposed water-related legislation in Nigeria that had high potential for privatizing water, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Water Network in Nigeria celebrated the defeat of the proposed law, and pledged to continue to protect water as a human right.

07 June 2023

The church grounds of the Community United Church of Christ in Fresno, USA,

Beyond gravel: designing water-wise church grounds

Becoming better stewards of Creation by killing off your church lawn? It sounds odd, but it is exactly what the Community United Church of Christ (UCC) in Fresno, USA, did. Facing increasing drought and water scarcity in their home state California, the congregation embarked on a project to drastically reduce their water use. Thanks to the massive support of volunteers, an entirely new, water-wise landscape was created that offers a lot to discover.

29 May 2023

WCC general secretary to Patriarch Kirill: “the war in Ukraine must come to an end”

Exclusive interview: World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay shares details on a recent meeting with Patriarch Kirill, including topics discussed at the meeting, what the WCC contributed to the dialogue, and steps forward.

25 May 2023

As Pope Francis shares Season of Creation message, WCC amplifies goal “to advance ecological justice and peace on the common Earth”

As Pope Francis presented a message in preparation for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay offered reflections that amplified the message centered around the theme “Let Justice and Peace Flow.”

25 May 2023

Activists call attention to climate change during a protest at the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Specialized ministries roundtable: “we need each other more than ever before”

Leaders from specialized ministries who gathered for a high-level roundtable with the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 16 May reflected on how the ecumenical fellowship can tackle complex and difficult issues with theological reasoning and concrete actions.

22 May 2023

boy holds sign that reads "You are never too young to change the world", during a climate march in NYC 2019

WCC roundtable with specialized ministries speaks of “changing the world to what God wants it to be”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) convened a high-level roundtable with heads of specialized ministries partners on 16 May. The leaders advised WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and provided input into the strategic direction of the WCC.

16 May 2023

WCC joins organizations presenting “Water Justice Manifesto” at UN Water Conference

A “Water Justice Manifesto”—signed by 500 organizations including the World Council of Churches—was presented at the UN Water Conference on 23 March, from the General Assembly Plenary hall podium, at the high-level segment, by the People’s Water Forum members.

24 March 2023

WCC delivers messages to 3rd World Forum on Human Rights in Argentina

The World Council of Churches (WCC) delivered two video messages to 3rd World Forum on Human Rights in Argentina on 22 March.

22 March 2023

WCC welcomes Presidium of the Synod from Church of Sweden for study visit

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and Ecumenical Institute in Bossey welcomed the Presidium of the Synod from Church of Sweden for a study visit on 20-21 March.

21 March 2023

Report on sanctions impact launched at the UN Human Rights Council

Sanctions should not harm the support for the most vulnerable, says a report on the impact of sanctions on humanitarian work presented at a side-event of 52nd session at the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva on 10 March.

10 March 2023

On International Women’s Day, award-winning church sign language interpreter urges space for deaf women

At the St Andrew’s Presbyterian of Church East Africa in Nairobi, Judy Kihumba is the voice between the hearing and the deaf worlds in one of Kenya’s oldest churches.

08 March 2023

Blog post

"Spiritualizing" the COP15 "Kunming-Montreal" agreement: Religious leaders urgently need to unite and harmonize with interfaith actions for halting biodiversity loss

On the occasion of the upcoming World Interfaith Harmony Week 2023, which is observed annually from 1-7 February at the United Nations, my thought goes to the urgent call for biodiversity protection from the COP15 held in Montreal, from 7-19 December 2022.

02 February 2023

Lucas Andrianos

WCC welcomes visit from global Christian leaders to South Sudan

As Pope Francis travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo, then with Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, and Rt. Rev. Iain Greenshields, moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, to South Sudan on 3- 5 February, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay said he welcomes and supports the visits.

01 February 2023

Dr Stuart J. Kingma: An inspiring champion of public health, passes away

Dr Stuart J. Kingma, who worked in the Christian Medical Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC) from 1975 to 1984, passed away on 19 December at the age of 88 years.

30 December 2022