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March on Washington: “We must reset the moral compass of the nations”

A continuation, not a commemoration: at the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., religious and civic leaders spoke before thousands of demonstrators who turned out despite intense summertime heat on 26 August.

28 August 2023

News

WCC general secretary, with USA churches, explores how to strengthen relationships

A World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation led by WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Pillay visited New York City and Washington, DC this week, meeting with United Nations representatives, the Papal Nuncio, the National Council of Churches in North America, other church leaders, and ecumenical organizations and state officials.

22 July 2023

News

As WCC delegation visits US, focus goes to prayer, reflection, and action

A World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation, led by WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, is visiting the USA this week, traveling to New York City as well as Washington, D.C. to bring together ecumenical leadership.

20 July 2023

News

WCC mourns the passing of Edgar Avitia Legarda

The World Council of Churches (WCC) joins the Methodist family and people across the world who are mourning the death of Rev. Edgar Avitia Legarda, a passionate ecumenical bridge builder.

07 July 2023

Interview

Calling for Christian Unity requires “both a prophetic and pastoral approach”

Rev. Dr Curtiss Paul DeYoung, co-chief executive officer of the Minnesota Council of Churches, helped convene the team of authors for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity materials. Below, he reflects on the challenges and hopes the team brought to the table as they composed the text.

18 January 2023

Interview

In Chile, “Churches’ ministry of reconciliation is key”

Bishop Izani Bruch, from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile, serves as the Evangelical chaplain of the Government House at the Palacio de La Moneda, in Santiago since April 2022. Below, she shares insights about the current situation of the country from the perspective of Christian responsibility.

29 November 2022

News

Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS

For children with HIV, inequality must be addressed, urge faith-based leaders

An interfaith breakfast held in conjunction with the 77th session of the UN General Assembly brought into focus the urgent need for policymakers to better address key gaps to end inequalities in HIV services for children.

26 September 2022

News

On Juneteenth, WCC calls for serving those most affected by sins of racism, capitalism and militarism

On the anniversary of Juneteenth, remembering the enslavement of African peoples in the United States and their emancipation announced in 1865, leaders from the World Council of Churches (WCC) urged an end to hate speech and to the sin of racism.

19 June 2022

Feature story

Vigil outside the McKendree United Methodist Church in Nashville, USA

Wrestling with the racial pandemic

How are churches in North America dealing with issues of race, recently so conspicuous and contested in US and Canadian society?

15 February 2022

Feature story

With boldness of faith, joy and peace, Pan African women hold “Ubuntu” gathering

Women of faith who are African or of African descent held a powerful recent gathering, “Ubuntu: Remembrance, Diversity, and Advocacy in Unity Now!” in which they shared their call to action with a sense of Sankofa, or a season of now while looking back and forward. The event was organized by the Pan African Women’s Ecumenical Empowerment Network (PAWEEN) and Pan African Women of Faith (PAW).

17 December 2021

Blog post

Social card for the virtual celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, by CICU

Less COVID-19 cases, more “hope cases”

The Uruguayan Council of Christian Churches (CICU, by its Spanish acronym), the only ecumenical organization in the country, hosted an online gathering during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It took place last 26 May at 7:30pm (local time) via Zoom. I had the immense joy of participating as a Catholic communicator, currently serving as correspondent for SIGNIS ALC (Latin-American and Caribbean Association of Catholic Communication) and as vice president of SIGNIS Uruguay (the Uruguayan Association of Catholic Communicators).

02 June 2021

Sebastian Sanson Ferrari

News

Mixed feelings as prayer for Christian unity at Pentecost goes virtual again

In the midst of one of the worst public health crises in the world, Christians in Brazil are upholding their tradition of celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the lead up to Pentecost. For the second year, they will be gathering in prayer without physical gatherings though.

11 May 2021

Prayer

Prayer for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021 in Brazil

Published by the National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC)

11 May 2021

Feature story

In Minnesota, sacred stories of racial justice are being created: will the world listen?

How does a group of Christian leaders from Minnesota (USA) focus on writing reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2023 while, at the same time, addressing the urgent racism, violence and white supremacy surrounding them?

06 May 2021

News

Rev. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus speaking at the GCF gathering in Bogota

WCC congratulates Global Christian Forum on third anniversary of Bogota global gathering

The World Council of Churches (WCC) shared a congratulatory message with the Global Christian Forum on the forum’s upcoming third anniversary of its global gathering in Bogota, and the publication of the record of that event.

06 May 2021

Interview

Portrait photo of Rev. Fr Dr Alkiviadis Calivas

Rev. Fr Dr Alkiviadis Calivas: “the message of the Resurrection is always there”

As Rev. Fr Dr Alkiviadis Calivas celebrated Easter with his children and grandchildren near Boston, Massachusetts (USA) he reflected with joy on the differences between this year and last year, on the everlasting message of the Resurrection, and how we free ourselves from fear in order to find hope.

03 May 2021

Interview

Rev. Romi Bencke, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Brazil

In Brazil, Rev. Romi Bencke is not afraid to ask: “What are the walls that divide us?”

Rev. Romi Bencke, general secretary of the National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil, believes that being an ecumenical leader means having the courage to ask the most difficult questions even in a polarized society.

09 March 2021

News

Ecumenical Fraternity Campaign in Brazil brings “strong sign of hope and reconciliation”

As the Ecumenical Fraternity Campaign begins in Brazil, World Council of Churches interim general secretary Rev. Dr Ioan Sauca shared his hope that the campaign will bring a unique opportunity to express concrete solidarity and support to the work of churches engaged in expressing Christian unity.

17 February 2021

Photo essay

Collage of some of the Week of Prayer pictures shared by Christians in different places

In pictures: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Prayers for unity took on a different look and feel this year, but they weren’t stopped by widespread restrictions on face-to-face gatherings. From prayer cards to personal reflections, online gatherings to new connections, the images worldwide convey the spiritual richness of an ecumenical family that came together in prayer.

01 February 2021

News

US National Prayer Service: “the only way to ensure domestic tranquility is to establish justice”

As the 2021 Biden-Harris National Prayer Service unfolded at the Washington National Cathedral on 21 January, dozens of prayers and a message from Rev. Dr William Barber II together gave a clarion call for repairing the breach in America.

22 January 2021