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When the World Council of Churches (WCC) launched the Programme to Combat Racism after years of in-depth theological reflections and prayer in 1971, South Africa's insidious racist apartheid policies were in full throw. The programme brought the WCC into the world's spotlight. Yet racism did not start 50 years ago. And it did not end with the casting out of apartheid at the end of the 20th century. During that era, figures such as Nobel Peace Prize laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela fought racism in society and the church.

Zwinglio Mota Dias used to make jokes about problems with the spelling of his first name in Brazil and elsewhere. In Brazil because of the first half of it. Elsewhere because of the second. Born to a Presbyterian family, his parents wanted to name him as a tribute to the great Swiss reformer of the 16^th century, Ulrich Zwingli.

At a side event during COP26, indigenous voices rang on the theme “Making Peace with Nature: Heeding the Call of Indigenous Peoples.” Held on 3 November, the virtual event drew enthusiastic supporters who waited outside the door of the meeting room in a show of solidarity.

The Ecumenical Jury at the 26th International film Festival for Children and Young Audience Schlingel in Chemnitz, held 9-16 October, awarded its prize to “Mon cirque à moi (My Very Own Circus),” directed by Miryam Bouchard (Canada 2020).

With many people in Canada living far apart from each other, and the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many churches to go online, reaching church members has become a creative process that combines digital and non-digital efforts.

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.

Daniel Högsta est coordinateur de campagne pour la Campagne internationale pour l’abolition des armes nucléaires. Il nous fait part ci-dessous de ses réflexions sur le lien entre le changement climatique et les armes nucléaires, ainsi que sur les progrès réalisés au niveau mondial en vue d’un monde sans armes nucléaires. 

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.