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The World Council of Churches (WCC) has paid tribute to its former general secretary, Rev. Dr Philip Potter, who was born on 19 August 1921, and led the council from 1972 to 1984, a time of global religious and socio-political change.

Stephen Brown is editor of The Ecumenical Review. Below, he reflects on the legacy of Phillip Potter, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary from 1972 to 1984. An upcoming webinar on 23 August will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Potter’s birth, as well as introduce him to a new ecu-menical generation, that they may be inspired by his legacy, his passion, his commitment, his spirituality and his love for the Bible.

Thursdays in Black ambassadors are organizing a series of Bible studies, beginning 5 August, that will help people reflect on and respond to gender-based violence. The first series of 6 reflections is being launched to recognize National Women’s Month in South Africa, and particularly Women’s Day in the country – August 9.

A diverse selection of 26 young people designated as stewards for the World Council of Churches (WCC) gathered online from 14-16 June 2021 to take part in an orientation of stewardship and ecumenical formation, designed to build awareness, develop leadership, and strengthen global solidarity, as well as an orientation on their participation in upcoming major WCC meetings. 

More than 140 people met online in a spontaneous “Gathering in Grief” to mourn Rev. Phumzile Mabizela, who passed away the morning of on 5 July. Mabizela was the executive director of INERELA+ (the International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV), co-moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance HIV Campaign Strategy Group and a member of the International Reference Group of WCC Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Council for World Mission (CWM), on 14 June, opened a four-day online event, “Anti-racist in Christ? Ecumenical Christian Repentance, Reflection and Action on Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia.”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is participating in the 109th International Labour Conference, which is running from 7-19 June.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is publishing “Because God Loves Me—Affirming My Value in Christ,” a new curriculum written in French that is designed to help children ages 7-12 address gender-based violence.

Though the curriculum, edited by Yvette A. Kelem and Blandine E. Ackla, was developed for use primarily with churches and church groups in Africa, it is relevant and accessible for other French-speaking populations as well. 

 

Originally planned to gather tens of thousands of participants in Frankfurt but reshaped as a “digital and decentralized” event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany’s third Ecumenical Kirchentag (church convention) has opened with a call for a Christians to overcome their divisions.