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The World Council of Churches (WCC), closing the Week of Prayer for Overcoming Racism and Xenophobia, drew people together to reflect that humans are made in the image of God. 

During a prayer service organized online on 21 March, the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, associate general minister, Justice & Local Church Ministries, United Church of Christ, reflected on what it means to stay silent in a world full of injustice.

A webinar on 1 March—Zero Discrimination Day—will explore the theme “COVID-19, Casteism and Caste discrimination: How to mitigate pandemic-reinforced inequality and discrimination.”

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.

During a special service concluding the Church of Sweden’s General Synod on 24 November, Archbishop Antje Jackelén made an official apology from the Church of Sweden to the Sámi for historical abuse.

In preparation for the upcoming Africa & African Diaspora Conference, the World Council of Churches (WCC) hosted a two-part pre-conference webinar discussion on 15 October. The Africa & African Diaspora Conference is scheduled for 23-29 October.

During its online meeting, 9-13 November, the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee addressed vital international developments, approved plans for 2021 and pledged support and solidarity with churches across the world at a time of multiple concurrent crises.

World Council of Churches (WCC) interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca offered reflections on the newest encyclical of Pope Francis, Fratelli tutti. Subtitled “On fraternity and social friendship,” the document is the Pope’s third encyclical.

Christians have a moral responsibility to speak out and teach people to say no to racism, xenophobia, exclusion and discrimination.

It’s 70 years since the World Council of Churches was founded in Amsterdam on 23 August. In addition to a commemoration service in Amsterdam on 23 August, the WCC, its member churches and partners are planning a variety of events to move forward on our ongoing Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, and at the same time honour and learn from these 70 years of ecumenical endeavour. Dr Abuom, from the Anglican Church of Kenya, is the moderator of the WCC Central Committee. She is the first woman and the first African in the position in WCC’s history. In an interview, she reflects on the evolution of the WCC in the past 70 years.

During a service at the Riverside Church in New York City, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit brought a greeting that explored what kinds of wisdom churches can bring to today’s world from Matthews 11:19.

The Archives of the WCC in Geneva have provided both research materials and a space for public consideration of “the ecumenical movement and Cold War politics”.

"Churches cannot challenge injustice if they cannot recognize its entrenched presence within the church itself,"€ reads a document by a working group of the World Council of Churches (WCC) programme on Just and Inclusive Communities.