Search results

"We still believe strongly in the work to achieve unity, because it is God's commandment to us and because our globalized world is in great need of unity," said Prof. Andrea Riccardi speaking at the World Council of Churches (WCC).

"Most sincere congratulations" were expressed to the newly elected head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel, by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia.

While the situation on the horn of Africa remains tense, Ethiopians prepare themselves to sound the bell for a new millennium of hope for peace, reconciliation and transformation. The country, home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, follows its own calendar, which dates the birth of Jesus Christ seven years later than the Gregorian calendar. That is why on Wednesday, the 12 September 2007 according to the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopians celebrate the first day of the year 2000. The so-called Ge-ez calendar corresponds also to the liturgical year of the World Council of Churches' two members in the country, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.

"Now more than ever, the unity of the churches in Europe is needed to bear witness to a future that transcends the vision of a common economic and political future, to embrace a future in which abundant life in Jesus Christ gives hope to all people, everywhere," said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, speaking in Sibiu, Romania on 5 September.

Churches in the Pacific become "signs of hope" as they "bear witness to the Gospel and work together to address the issues that most concern the peoples of the region," World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said in a message sent to the 9th assembly of the Pacific Conference of Churches.

Churches throughout the world are preparing for next year's Week of prayer for Christian unity which will mark the 100th anniversary of the event. Worship resources in four languages have already been put at their disposal on the website of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

Expressing "great sorrow" at the news of the death of His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist, head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, who passed away on Monday, 30 July 2007, at the age of 92, the World Council of Churches' (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia paid the following tribute to "a beloved father of his people, a prominent Christian leader of our times and a committed friend of the ecumenical movement".