World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed concern and sadness upon hearing about alleged actions taken against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On International Women’s Day, World Council of Churches (WCC) programme director for Unity and Mission, and Ecumenical Formation Rev. Dr Kuzipa Nalwamba spoke at an event organised by the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations.
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay visited the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey on 12 March. His Beatitude, Archbishop Sahak Mashalyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, welcomed the WCC general secretary and congratulated him on his election, wishing him successful years in his service to the worldwide churches.
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay is visiting the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey, from 10-11 March. This is the first official visit of the WCC new general secretary to a member church since assuming his duties on 1 January 2023.
Sanctions should not harm the support for the most vulnerable, says a report on the impact of sanctions on humanitarian work presented at a side-event of 52nd session at the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva on 10 March.
As a group of 20 international Shia students visited from 4-8 March the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey and the World Council of Churches (WCC), they entered into a dialogue that strengthened interreligious bridges, friendships, and hope for the future.
As young people from the Taize community visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 6 March, they reflected on how the time impacted the way they view Christian unity and the entire world.
Brother Alois, prior of the Taizé Community, along with a group of 60 young people from the community, visited the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 6 March for a time of prayer and sharing.
World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay extended sincere birthday congratulations to Cardinal Walter Kasper, expressing gratitude for the cardinal’s tireless service for Christian unity, particularly for his leadership role in the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
On the day marking a full year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, World Council of Churches (WCC) moderator of the central committee Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm and WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay released a message that marks the day with deep sadness, denounces the ongoing invasion, and calls for cessation of war.
At a special event at the University of Fribourg honoring his work, former acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, delivered a lecture exploring the question: “What future for the ecumenical movement?”
Immediately after the installation on 17 February of Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay as the ninth general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), church leaders, heads of ecumenical organizations, friends, family, and WCC staff shared greetings and welcoming words.
As Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay was installed as the ninth general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), he reflected on how much the day means to him, and he sought prayers from the worldwide fellowship and from all people of good will as he continues his work.
Rev. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus began to teach at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in 2004 and joined the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2007. Most recently he served as WCC interim deputy general secretary and Faith and Order director. Below, he reflects on his fondest memories, accomplishments, and hopes.
The new St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York City hosted a special Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service in a church that was previously destroyed by terrorist attacks on 11 Sept. 2001.
As South Sudan readied to welcome visiting world Christian leaders, church officials in the country articulated a range of expectations, including a strong call for peace and reconciliation.
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, the new general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), reflects on the challenges 2023 may bring, how he will relate to WCC member churches, how he plans to include and inspire youth in the ecumenical movement, and what prophetic leadership means to him.
At an ecumenical service hosted at St Paul’s Anglican Church by the Barbados Christian Council, those gathered prayerfully explored the symbols of stones and water as “the beginning of a decolonized spiritual practice.”
A group of Ecumenical Accompaniers completed their service in Palestine and Israel, handing their ministry over to the next wave, and celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at the same time.