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Jeffrey Joe Swenson, husband of World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee vice moderator Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, passed away on 22 August. The WCC extends condolences to Bishop Mary Ann, and many fondly remember Jeff, who nearly always accompanied her in WCC gatherings and in all her travels across the world.

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.

Protopresbyter Leonid Kishkovsky, a widely known and respected priest of the Orthodox Church in America, a prominent theologian and ecumenist, former member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central and executive committees fell asleep in the Lord on the evening of 3 August at the age of 78.

A webinar on moral discernment, held in June, presented a new study document approved by the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission earlier this year.

The study document “Churches and Moral Discernment: Facilitating Dialogue to Build Koinonia,” harvests the fruits of the study process which began in 2015.

The 7th Korea-US Church Consultation was held 24 June online, bringing together Korean and US church leaders to reflect on their mission journey, to share their respective challenges, and to explore joint action plans especially vis-a-vis the new US Administration.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) wrapped up its 65th central committee meeting in Geneva on 29 June, its first online session with many of proceedings carried out via video conference, and the moderator Dr Agnes Abuom declaring “we have agreed, basically, on the programme for 11th Assembly.”

In an ecumenical meeting for North American church leaders on 24 June, prayers and discussion centered on issues that are both deeply painful and seemingly insurmountable: racism, division, vaccine hesitancy, genocide, war. But hope found a way into the virtual gathering as participants supported each other to find ways forward.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace Reference Group and Theological Study Group, which convened in mid-June, brought reflections, prayers and insights that will form a path toward the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022.

Jim Winkler, president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches (USA) and Pastor Peter Noteboom, general secretary of The Canadian Council of Churches, shared reflections on their recent gathering. 

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace Reference Group and Theological Study Group are convening online this week to share reflections and harvest theological learnings.

A third and final webinar on moral discernment, scheduled for 15 June, will present the new study document approved by the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission earlier this year.

Grief and anger in Canada and across the world have followed the news that the remains of 215 children were found on the grounds of the Kamloops Residential School in the western Canadian province of British Columbia.

A webinar on 1 June entitled “Remembering Past Massacres: Honoring the Legacy and Resilience of Victims” will focus on North America and the Caribbean.

On the road to the next UN Climate Conference (the 26^th Conference of Parties, or COP 26), churches and groups from a range of Christian traditions organised a webinar titled, “Raise Your Voice in Faith for Climate Justice,” on 13 May as part of the Global Action and Prayer for Climate Justice.