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"Churches cannot challenge injustice if they cannot recognize its entrenched presence within the church itself,"€ reads a document by a working group of the World Council of Churches (WCC) programme on Just and Inclusive Communities.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a “dehumanizing practice”, said the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). He said that churches need to work together with other religious partners and governments to eliminate this practice.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit expressed “deepest sorrow” on the death of Patriarch Ignatius IV (Hazim) of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. He passed away on 5 December in Lebanon, at age 92.Â

24.12.12

The newly upgraded status of Palestine in the United Nations (UN) is viewed as a positive step in the direction toward peace and a reaffirmation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) long-term commitment to a two-state solution, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary said on Friday.

More than thirty participants from different Latin American countries will be meeting in Antigua, Guatemala for a regional consultation reflecting on peace and human security in Latin America.

International Review of Mission (IRM), the journal of the World Council of Churches (WCC) which celebrated its centenary this past year, focuses on one of the most recent ecumenical affirmations of Christian mission in its November 2012 edition. The title of the issue is “New Milestone in Mission.”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting individuals and congregations to join “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” through reflections, prayers and action towards overcoming violence against women.

To promote awareness and action against female genital mutilation (FGM), an evening featuring music, reflections, an art exhibition and wine tasting will be held on 3 December at 18:00 at the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, Switzerland.

With millions of people on the move in today's world, a recent World Council of Churches (WCC) conference in Manila discussed migration from a Christian theological perspective. They explored how “dignity and justice” can become a reality for migrant workers and communities.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit congratulated Barack Obama following his re-election as president of the United Sates, wishing him “all the blessings of God’s grace” as he continues work during his second presidential term.

Despite being a wealthy country at one time, Argentina has more recently faced recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt and capital flight. The major down turn in Argentina’s economy was from 1999 to 2000, and is still causing a feeling of incertitude among its citizens.

While peace talks are underway between the Colombian government and FARC rebels (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in Norway, Dr Ricardo Esquivia of the Mennonite Church in Colombia affirmed that “creativity and audacity to advocate for justice in a nonviolent way” is essential at this time.

Through engaging speakers and discussions, participants at a recent consultation on mission and evangelism explored ways, in which theological education and training programmes on evangelism can relate Christian witness to the changing landscape of Europe.

Despite the contributions made by the World Council of Churches (WCC) towards “zero new infections, zero HIV related deaths and zero stigma and discrimination” there is “more we can do,” said Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri.

While others recall the late George S. McGovern primarily as a United States senator and anti-war presidential candidate of the Vietnam War era, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has paid tribute to him as the moderator of an ecumenical conference in 1969 that led to the creation of the WCC Programme to Combat Racism and the Special Fund to Combat Racism.

Arrests of Palestinian civilians and vandalism of their homes at the hands of Israeli military forces is not a new phenomenon in the West Bank. Natalie Maxson, a volunteer for the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel speaks from her experience of meeting a family in Azzun faced with a similar situation.

In offering “’gendered voices’ as a critical contribution to reflection on justice and peace,” Ecumenical Review guest editors Fulata Lusungu Moyo and Sarojini Nadar note the ways in which gender has become a crucial element in ethical and theological analysis because it “recognizes the unequal power relationships which exist between women and men in the context of different racial, class or caste experiences.”

Orthodox churches have reaffirmed their commitment to "unity, justice and peace" saying that the "supreme act of God`s love is the economy of salvation". This and other theological reflections were shared in an inter-Orthodox consultation in Kos, Greece this week.

As violations of human rights and human dignity are on the increase in Asian countries, selected representatives of Asian churches will take part in a regional human rights training seminar in Thailand.