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Sermon

Rev. Vivek Varghese reflection for the annual Blessing of the Waters 2023

09 January 2023

WCC Programmes

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will draw together churches across the world to seek justice

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, held 18-25 January, will draw together churches across the globe to “Do good; seek justice (Isaiah 1:17).”

30 December 2022

Launch of Thursdays in Black at St. Paul'

St Paul’s University School of Theology launches Thursdays in Black, pledges to “build Africa without violence”

As a crowd of more than 300 gathered, the St Paul’s University School of Theology officially launched Thursdays in Black, pledging to build an Africa without violence and to join together on a pilgrimage of justice, peace, and reconciliation.

01 December 2022

Students and staff gathered at the school

School of theology at St Paul’s University leads the way in creating safe spaces for promoting gender justice in Kenya

Every Monday, staff and students at the Joshua and Timothy School of Theology, St Paul’s University, in Limuru Kenya hold their weekly fellowship during which they hold prayers, Bible study, and theological debates, and sometimes celebrate holy communion together.

24 November 2022

Bible studies

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Thursdays in Black Bible Study: Exorcising the Silence in David’s House

Thursdays in Black Bible Study "Exorcising the Silence in David’s House" on 2 Samuel 11-13 and Psalm 51, prepared by Rev. Dr Karen Georgia A. Thompson and Rev. Nicqi Ashwood.

24 November 2022

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WCC executive committee concludes meeting with clear path toward peace, justice, and reconciliation

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, elected during the WCC 11th Assembly, has concluded its first meeting, held 7-12 November at the Ecumenical Institute Bossey and at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.

17 November 2022

Publication

Towards a Global Vision of the Church - cover

Towards a Global Vision of the Church Volume I

Explorations on Global Christianity and Ecclesiology, Faith and Order Paper 234

As a part of the reception process of the convergence document The Church: Towards a Common Vision (TCTCV), the ecclesiology study group of the WCC Commission on Faith and Order undertook a wide range of conversations on global Christianity and ecclesiology. This included perspectives from various regions (especially Asia, Africa, and Latin America), denominational families (such as evangelical, Pentecostal, Charismatic, and independent churches), and forms of being church (such as ecclesial movements, new forms of monasticism, and online churches) which have not always been clearly or strongly represented in the discussions on the way to TCTCV.

This first of two volumes offers a taste of the insights, contributions, lively dialogue, diverse perspectives, and mutual exchange of ecumenical gifts between the members of the commission and theologians from around the world, which took place through a series of international consultations between 2015-22.

The fruit of this work is offered with the hope that it will contribute towards a clearer, global vision of the Church in the 21st century.

14 November 2022

Statement: public statement

Global Health and Wellbeing (statement)

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

When approaching the issue of health and wellbeing, we as Christians and churches affirm that the giver and sustainer of life is our Lord Jesus Christ, the healer of our bodies and souls, the one who heals our diseases, who redeems our life from the pit and crowns us with love and compassion (Ps. 103:3-4).

12 November 2022

Executive committee

WCC executive committee statement urges “Christian witness and action for human dignity and human rights"

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee published a statement entitled “Christian witness and action for human dignity and human rights,” in which the governing body confesses “our unfulfilled responsibilities to protect and lift up those whose God-given dignity and worth is not respected.”

12 November 2022

Statement: public statement

Christian Witness and Action for Human Dignity and Human Rights (statement)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

(Luke 4:18-19)

The current global context is marked by escalating conflicts, divisions, inequalities, resurgent racism, xenophobic attacks on migrants, antisemitism, violations of the rights of women and other forms of discrimination, threats against human rights defenders, as well as authoritarianism, populist nationalism, and religious and other forms of extremism, that threaten grave peril for the physical security and human dignity and rights of diverse communities and individuals around the world.

12 November 2022

Executive committee

Moderator of Central Committee

Report

Moderator's address to the WCC executive committee

Report of the moderator of the WCC central committee, bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, to the executive committee of the World Council of Churches, Bossey, 7 November 2022.

08 November 2022

WCC acting general secretary: “We are a fellowship united by faith for action”

In his last report to the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed gratitude to WCC leadership and staff—and shared his reflections on moving forward.

07 November 2022

Ahead of COP27, Christian leaders commit to fighting climate change - instigated hunger

As the world prepares to gather for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt, Christian organizations from Africa, Europe, and North America have committed to work together to end the persistent hunger crisis, worsened by climate change.

25 October 2022

Squid Game and Ganggang Sullae: workshop reflects on youth poverty

During the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly, a group of Korean youth from the Korean Methodist Church hosted a workshop—and they dressed like characters from the Netflix show, Squid Game. The well-known series is a form of social commentary on how inequalities affect vulnerable people. The show addresses poverty, youth, violence, survival, and political conquest—and this provided a creative framework for looking into the current situations of not only Korean youth but also those of many other countries, especially in the Global South.

16 September 2022

Pan-African women tell stories that celebrate who they are

At the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, the Pan-African Women’s Ecumenical Empowerment Network held a hybrid workshop for all to come, learn about their mission, and hear their voices.

15 September 2022

Interview

Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith, WCC president from North America: “the assembly has given us motivation and a model for a way forward”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly elected eight new presidents on 5 September. Below, Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith, WCC president from North America, reflects on the new role, and a vision for how insights gained at the assembly will carry forward.

08 September 2022

Statement: public statement

War in Ukraine, Peace and Justice in the European Region

"War in Ukraine, Peace and Justice in the European Region", statement by the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany

08 September 2022

Assembly

WCC 11th Assembly shares message: “A Call to Act Together”

All are called by Christ’s love to repentance, reconciliation, and justice in the face of war, inequality, and sins against creation, delegates at the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Karlsruhe, Germany, have stated in a message issued on 8 September.

08 September 2022

European churches affirm Christian values of hospitality in response to refugee crisis

The biblical ideal of welcoming the stranger is embedded in the ecumenical work of European churches. Despite restrained resources, they are at the forefront in supporting refugees.

07 September 2022