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Seven Weeks for Water 2024, week 1: Water for peace in the Middle East region

The first reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Dr Munib Younan,* bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and former president of the Lutheran World Federation. In this reflection, the author, as a Palestinian, in line with this year's theme of "leveraging water for peace,” reflects on Isaiah's promise of free water for the thirsty in the context of the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza that has worsened the water situation in Gaza to catastrophic levels.

Moderator`s address - Faith and Order commission meeting, Indonesia, February 2024

I am pleased to offer a word of welcome at this historic moment, the gathering of the new Faith and Order Commission here in North Sulawesi in Indonesia. As far as I know, this is the first time our Commission is meeting in Indonesia. We are thankful for the opportunity to gather here, and immensely grateful for the hospitality the local church is offering to us.

Commission on Faith and Order

Exploring Christian identities and local perspectives on ecumenism

After four years as general secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen has returned home to Denmark, filled with confidence in the future of CEC and its growing influence on European affairs. With a clear mandate to sharpen CEC’s purpose and profile fulfilled, and strategic directions for the future affirmed at last year’s general assembly in Estonia, he now continues an extraordinary ecumenical journey, a journey where the search for his own Christian identity has played a significant role.

WCC urges World Economic Forum to consider longer-term good of all people

As the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting commenced in Davos beginning 15 January, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay urged the gathering to renew its commitment to multilateral cooperation for the longer-term good of all people. 

The forum is convening under the theme Rebuilding Trust.” 

Tackling sexual violence in war

War has always tragically impacted women and children, but the traumatic effects of weaponizing women in war have long been swept under the carpet.On 8 December, the World Council of Churches (WCC) held a hybrid discussion watched globally as part of the 16 Days Against Gender-based Violence. 

Faith, Science, and Climate: WCC and LWF host dialogue with IPCC expert

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) came together for a dialogue titled "Encountering Faith and Science." The session featured Ramon Pichs-Madruga, one of the three vice-chairs of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), sharing key insights from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report.

Blending local and global ecumenism in Asia

After being postponed twice because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th General Assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) finally got underway in late September and early October 2023 in Kottayam, India. Under the theme "God, renew us in your spirit and restore the creation,” CCA member churches across Asia gathered to stake out the direction forward and evaluate accomplishments and challenges since the last assembly in 2015 in Jakarta. 

WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing holds inaugural online meeting

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing held its inaugural online meeting on 20 October, where 23 of the 26 members participated. The newly-established commission will foster deeper engagement of WCC member churches in WCC's work on holistic health and healing. It will also assist the council in calling the attention of member churches and ecumenical partners to gaps and challenges on health and diaconal matters and suggest ways Christians may act effectively upon those issues in their respective communities.